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Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-11 23:18
by hyraclyon
First always wanted to join the military, but recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have put me off the idea. As a soldier you fight not for what you think is right, but for what the man with the higher rank thinks is right. I could never drop my critical thinking and as a soldier would constantly be argueing with my officers so it's a no-go for me. And on video games influencing this, not at all.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-11 23:18
by Bellator
I've never wanted to become a professional soldier of any kind. But, we have compulsory national service in Finland, so I will do six months of service (in the infantry, if its up to me).

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-11 23:30
by Epipen
I always wanted to join the army, thats why i like military games like pr :)

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-11 23:57
by Just_A_Thought
Tim270 wrote:Interest in history/military equipment/modern affairs rather than a desire to serve. Im way to scared of the thought of having legs blown off etc to ever serve... unless a cause just enough occurred.

But generally I would say that on the whole military games go hand in hand with co-ordination and teamwork, which I would say is a reason in its own right that the community is drawn to military games on the basis of playing in co-ordination with other players, rather than a desire to simulate/play the role of a soldier.
Pretty much my view as well.
I've been playing military simulations since Squad Leader (ie. a LONG time), in part also because of the historical side, but I've never had any desire to join.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:02
by obZen
No. I was in the military for 4 years, I never wanted it as a career choice, I wasn't infantry nor did I ever want to be infantry.

I joined it as a mechanic, they taught me how to be a mechanic, it was part time work and I got a lot of good money out of it considering my age, I look back and am glad for the time I had but I don't want to be in it anymore.


And games had nothing to do with it, they were all incredibly unrealistic, even PR is far from what the real thing would be, but it's the closest there is. Running around using reflexes to pop off headshots with a mouse I always found quite off.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:33
by OSOK1LL3R
I have always been interessed in military history, equipment and tactics, but I have never considred it as a career.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:40
by Maverick
I have always wanted to join the military, however, I have several factors against me, I have a choice between the Army and the Marines, I am 17 years of age, and I have been in the MCJROTC program at my high school for 4 years and that has also influenced me to join. my gf wants me to join the Army, because you get 2 years stateside, USMC, you get 1 year stateside, but playing Project Reality since .3, has really influenced me to learn more about weapons, locations, teamwork, leadership, dedication, the importance of staying alive.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:41
by goguapsy
I must say that I've always been interested in the military, simply always, but just recently have I decided it would become my career.

I'm 16.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:44
by usmcguy
I have always been interested in the military because my dad and alot of my family have been in all the united state's military branches so i wanted to join the military ever since i was a little kid visiting my dad's base and stuff so i got older and started playin war games and I plan on enlisting in the marine corps and to answer your question no it was not war games but they kinda strengthened my want to enlist i am 15 now.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 00:57
by Truism
It'd be a gross oversimplification to say I joined the military because of video games, but they were certainly a very strong influence in the decision making process that led to it. If you want to ask more specific questions feel free to PM me to arrange something.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 02:50
by Zrix
Been interested for a long time, even before I started playing games. Games and movies have probably contributed some, but even after doing my compulsory service some form of military career is still an option after I finish my studies.


Edit; And technically I was employed by the military for a while, but it was a temporary job so not really a career.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 03:15
by Spec
It's interesting how many PR players are in the military or interested in becoming a soldier :)
I personally never wanted to be one, and playing games certainly didn't make me change my mind^^

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 03:23
by BloodBane611
[R-MOD]Jigsaw wrote:This. Still mighty tempted to join as an officer but there are several things such as current job/family/gf that hold me back from going to sign up. I voted 3, always been interested but play videogames as part of that interest.

21 yo.
Same for me as well. Been interested in the military since I was about 11 or 12, but a lot of RL things that I would have to leave behind if I went for it

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 03:24
by OkitaMakoto
22, applying for Marine OCS. Gotta say most of it is through finding PR. Other games it was like, ok cool, guns and explosions, but just surface level. PR really got me into the studying of the military, working with a lot of the DEVs, etc.

Now, Im hoping, just hoping as a pipedream that I can get work as a Marine on simulations software, but if not, Ill find something else in the military(or out). But at the same time, I cant say it was only PR, hah, thatd be crazy. It was alot of things. My bro joining the army and going to Iraq, meeting a Marine at the Buddhist temple, reading more and more Marine/military literature... SO its a mix of 1 and 3. PR helped increase my "understanding" in terms of meeting people in the military, etc, and I always had that possibility in my head :)

Though, at the same time other games I feel didnt have a huge influence, if I hadnt of found PR I might have still joined... its a chicken and the egg thing though: does playing games make me wanna join or does the fact that i wanna join make me play the games ;)

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 03:24
by USMC scout sniper
Hotrod525 wrote:As far as i can remember, i always wanted to join military, it's my passion, it's my way of life seriously, i dont imagine myself doing something else than that, there is no "civilian" counter part of carrying a rifle for miles, firing thousands of bullet each year's, firing M18A1, M72A5, HMG's, GPMG's, SAW, Carbine etc... doing shit load of **** XD like crossing river in the winter etc etc etc... i'm like born the be a soldier :) and now i'm my first combat deployment is coming pretty soon :)

21, Armor crewman.
I wish good luck to you,soldier. :-)

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 04:12
by Amir
I'd like to join the army but as there is no volunteers army in Belgium ( where I live atm ) I can go. I still have the option to go to the army in Kazachstan but that's much, much worse then the Belgian army.
I'm moving to Canada at age of 18/19 so maybe I'll give it a try there ? :D

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 04:13
by sparks50
I would definably reconsider it if the army brings back the rally point.

The 60 sec cap is hurting our troops! Obama needs to take a look at that.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 04:15
by Hawkeye92
I'd say video games have influence me in some way or another to join the military. Perhaps I would have planned to join regardless but I firmly believe that video games if nothing else helped solidify my ambitions. Believe it or not, the game that has interested me the most into my future path was not a First Person Shooter or war related at all. Microsoft Flight Simulator helped me realized I wanted to be a pilot at a very yound age (9 or 10). Since then I've been a huge enthusiast of anything flight related. My ultimate goal is to become a Naval Aviatior. War games have only fueld the fire more.

18 Years old, Enrolled in the Naval ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for the Fall 2010 Semester.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 05:55
by gazzthompson
I would also like to add, if you was to answer this question in 20 years time you would probably get VERY different results.

Re: Have video games influenced a decision for you to join the military?

Posted: 2010-07-12 06:39
by Looy
Never wanted to join the military and PR or any other game has not made me consider it. Not anti-war or anything, it just sounds like too much hard work and I'm not patriotic enough to risk my life for my country.