War Play

A behind-the-scenes look at how the military uses video game technology to train soldiers, treat veterans, and entice new recruits.

How does the U.S. military train its soldiers for new forms of armed conflict, all within the constraints of diminished defense budgets? Increasingly, the answer is cutting-edge video game technology. Corey Mead shows us training sessions where soldiers undertake multiplayer “missions” that test combat skills, develop unit cohesion, and teach cultural awareness. He immerses himself in 3-D battle simulations so convincing that they leave his heart racing. And he shows how the military, which has shaped American education more than any other force over the last century, fuels the adoption of games as learning tools—and recruitment come-ons. Mead also details how the military uses games to prepare soldiers for their return to the home front and to treat PTSD.

Military-funded researchers were closely involved with the computing advances that led to the invention of the Internet. Now, as Mead proves, we are poised at the brink of a similar explosion in game technology. War Play reveals that many of tomorrow’s teaching tools, therapies, and entertainments can be found in today’s military.

This meticulously researched investigation reveals the surprising connections between the Pentagon and the multibillion-dollar gaming industry:

Serious Games: Go inside the development of cutting-edge tools like America’s Army, a video game designed as one of the most effective military recruiting platforms ever created. PTSD Treatment: Discover how immersive virtual reality simulations are helping veterans confront combat trauma and find new paths to healing. The Classroom Arsenal: Uncover the military’s little-known but powerful history of shaping American education, from standardized tests to the computers in today’s schools. The Future of Conflict: A sobering look at the next frontier of warfare, where drone operators, virtual battlespaces, and cyberwarfare are redefining the meaning of combat.