In Real Life

The Best Video Games Can’t Predict What Kim Jong-Un Would Do To Win War

It is curious that there are far more games on a Soviet invasion of West Germany that never happened than a Communist assault on South Korea that actually did. It is even more curious that there haven’t been more games on a Second Korean War, given how volatile the region is.


April 25, 2012
In Real Life

Where Video Games And Real Military Training Meet

Analyst PW Singer, of the Brookings Institution, has written several books examining how warfare and the military operate in the 21st century. He’s previously written on the intersection of combat and entertainment.


January 9, 2012
In Real Life

America’s Most Lethal Sniper: "War Sucks"

Sniping is a key part of gaming. Whether you’re playing Call of Duty or Team Fortress, you’re often either being sniped or doing the sniping. It’s become such a common game feature that it’s easy to forget real people are doing real sniping in the armed forces. Like Chris Kyle.


December 3, 2011
In Real Life

War Crimes In Games Draw Red Cross Scrutiny

One of the world’s largest and most respected humanitarian groups in the world is investigating whether the Geneva and Hague conventions should be applied to the fictional recreation of war in video games.


November 10, 2011
News

The Problem With War Video Games

On Monday night I attended a Modern Warfare 3 launch party at a national video game retailer. I was particularly pleased with the diversity of the crowd. I was not the only lady in the house! I spoke with students, an investment banker, a librarian, a building manager, mums, dads, kids, etc.


July 1, 2011
In Real Life

You Can’t Press Pause In This Call Of Duty

Some people think video games and UAVs are desensitising us to war. Tell that to James Brabazon, frontline journalist for the BBC, and he’ll tell you about the horrors he’s witnessed during the Liberian rebellion that can’t be unseen.


June 30, 2011
News

Somewhere Between Predator Drones And Battlefield Have We Lost Sight Of The Horrors Of War?

Predator drones and other high-tech weaponry are turning war into video games and making the use of military force a more, perhaps too, palatable option, an Al Jazeera op-ed piece argues.


June 24, 2011
In Real Life

The Brutal, Beautiful Video Game Art Of Bjorn Hurri

Bjorn Hurri is an artist who has been working on video games for years now, having lent his skills to Dead Space 2, Viking: Battle for Asgard and the last three entries in the Total War series.


June 16, 2011
News

Libya Is Quickly Becoming A Level From Twisted Metal

Just this morning we showed you a chopper-rocket-packing truck of the Libyan rebel army. Looks like it wasn’t the only one they’ve got: we found another hybrid missile pod pounder, firing away across flaming war wreckage. The scene is apocalyptically surreal.


June 14, 2011
In Real Life

Man Behind Ninja Gaiden Reveals His Favourite Retro Games

The creative force previously behind Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series, now on the upcoming Devil’s Third, Tomonobu Itagaki, says he has wanted to make games since he was a teenager. He just didn’t want to make video games.