Sunday, July 3, 2011

Chinese military plans to make combat simulator available to citizens (Yahoo! News)

New shooter could be used as a recruitment tool

A first person shooter video game is helping China's soldiers train for wartime scenarios, and it may soon be available to everyday citizens as well. Called Glorious Mission, the game is much like the popular shooter Counter Strike, but specially designed for China's People's Liberation Army. It features realistic weaponry, clothing, and tactics used by the PLA, and was developed under the close supervision of both the Chinese government and the army itself.

For troops, Glorious Mission offers the ideal testbed for new combat methods and helps to sharpen their skills. The game is playable in three different modes, including training, solo, and team scenarios. Soldiers can test their combat wits in large-scale battles with as many as 31 other players. Just like the real PLA, players must go through basic training before being allowed to take on the duties of a soldier. A publicity officer for the Chinese military stated that the game will likely be available to the public in the not-too-distant future.

Glorious Mission might make an effective recruitment tool for the PLA, which is already the world's largest military force with over 3 million active service members. The United States also uses video games to boost enlistment. The America's Army shooter series, which debuted in 2002, is one of the U.S. Army's ways of creating military interest among young people. There are over 25 versions of the game available today, all of which focus on realistic military scenarios, just like Glorious Mission.

China Daily via The Next Web

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