U.S. Army Unveils Official Videogame Accessories

[chiefohara]

Are the people who would buy these kinds of products really the ones you want to recruit into defending the country?

We recruit rapists and dropouts. You think we're really looking for the best of the best? We fired some of our top Arabic translators in a war on terror in the Middle East because they were homer sexuals. We didn't even care that it left us understaffed in crucial positions.

I do want to point out there's a certain amount of appeal to higher recruiting numbers even if they don't make the cut. There was a decent amount of press coverage of military recruiters specifically targeting people they knew had no chance of making it just to meet their quotas.

Any other issue with American recruitment aside.

I'll have to take your word for it on the first point, but the second point does make a lot of sense to me unfortunately. Our Defence Forces fluff numbers like there is no tomorrow as well.

 

[Mumorpuger]

I like that rifle's clown-nose!

 

[Something Amyss]

In fairness, it's a fairly old phrase, not so much in use, except by old farts like myself. Nothing to forgive.

Ah. Yeah, I probably wouldn't have taken it literally if I had heard it before. Like I wouldn't nitpick someone who called someone a douchebag....

>.>

I'll have to take your word for it on the first point, but the second point does make a lot of sense to me unfortunately. Our Defence Forces fluff numbers like there is no tomorrow as well.

The first part's google-able if you care, but I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. The latter, well, it seems like some things are just universal. XD

 

[Blunderboy]

In fairness, it's a fairly old phrase, not so much in use, except by old farts like myself. Nothing to forgive.

Ah. Yeah, I probably wouldn't have taken it literally if I had heard it before. Like I wouldn't nitpick someone who called someone a douchebag....

>.>

Yeah, that was rather rude and snippy of me. I do apologise.

 

[gigastar]

So the US Army is selling toy sniper rifles with clown noses?

When you consider that most of this stuff is Move peripherals, its kind of hard to take it seriously.

 

[tcurt]

I wonder if this will be considered a "New Low" by the vet who's going after the Modern Warfare commercial.

My first thought as well. Or the previous MW commercial with Jimmy Kimmel. Or the America'a Army game. It all seems tasteless or just sales. You don't get to pick and choose.

 

[loc978]

I remember back in 2006, when I still kept up with Army advertising and such (what with being a part of said organization at the time) there was a joke about the "Army Strong" campaign... that they had only spent 100 million dollars per year, per word on it (at a time when some combat arms units were short on SAPI [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Arms_Protective_Insert] plates due to budget constraints, har har).

Glad to see that tradition is still going strong. Army strong.

 

[Nouw]

Now all it needs to do is fire cream-pies and the clown-gun is complete.

 

[Zhukov]

I wonder if this will be considered a "New Low" by the vet who's going after the Modern Warfare commercial.

Ayup, that was the first thought to enter my head as well.

 

[Zer0Saber]

Throat mics? you don't have to listen to the fan they have on full blast, but you will have to listen to them chugging mountain dew. cool none the less.

 

[BoogieManFL]

Would have been a more enjoyable read without the judgement.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

I wonder if this will be considered a "New Low" by the vet who's going after the Modern Warfare commercial.

Pretty much the first thought that occurred to me.

Well, y'know, after <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/critical-miss/8741-Norks-in-the-Hooters>this...

EDIT - Also all of the weapon controllers are for PS3 only, the 360 only gets the headset and other gear. Possible link (given the timing) to Microsoft's <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114949-Kiss-Your-XBLA-Avatar-Guns-Goodbye>guns'r'bad policy? Or a case of 2 and 2 making 5?

 

[Robert Ewing]

Very smartly done on the Recruiting subtlety US army...

Also, isn't this trivializing war? OH GOD, THAT VET IS MAD.

 

[zidine100]

so..... from a country which goes out of its way to say video games are bad because there too realistic and are training the youth to become killers, allows the army to try and make it more realistic. Just throwing that out there.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

What exactly is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?

Did you mean "what good is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?"

Because I don't think its location changes what it is.

It's a colloquialism. You know, a turn of phrase. Like 'smart arse' or 'douche bag'.

In all fairness, I pissed myself when I read his answer! 1up for the literal answer! I did think he was just trying to be funny at first though! Then realised he actually didn't understand!

I want to know what it is too! I cant imagine that it is a backpack you wear when gaming, but if it is for carrying the console and kinect, then sign me up!
I'm in the UK forces myself, and I move a lot! The amount of times I have wedged my xbox in the footwell of my car, wrapping it in a pillow, its surprising it is still working! I could do with a specific use bag, and if its Camo too? All the better!

Alternatively they could make something like Webbing, with pouches for waterbottle and peripherals (how long before they come for Kinect?) Imagine hafing a plastic gun holstered at your hip, and a waterbottle you have to actually use/pretend to use to heal yourself... preferable whilst crouching to symbolise being behind cover!!

Complete with a Sgt shouting and screaming expletives at you if you forget to do it up again... 'Pouch today... Safety catch tomorrow... and who will defend you when you shoot your mate in the head...?' Ahhh... The fond memories of initial training!

 

[Blunderboy]

What exactly is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?

Did you mean "what good is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?"

Because I don't think its location changes what it is.

It's a colloquialism. You know, a turn of phrase. Like 'smart arse' or 'douche bag'.

In all fairness, I pissed myself when I read his answer! 1up for the literal answer! I did think he was just trying to be funny at first though! Then realised he actually didn't understand!

I'd love to type a witty response thanking you for your support, but as an Atheist, I cannot bring myself to believe in your existence. It?s nothing personal, just a thing I have with Deities.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

What exactly is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?

Did you mean "what good is a 'gaming backpack' when it's at home?"

Because I don't think its location changes what it is.

It's a colloquialism. You know, a turn of phrase. Like 'smart arse' or 'douche bag'.

In all fairness, I pissed myself when I read his answer! 1up for the literal answer! I did think he was just trying to be funny at first though! Then realised he actually didn't understand!

I'd love to type a witty response thanking you for your support, but as an Atheist, I cannot bring myself to believe in your existence. It?s nothing personal, just a thing I have with Deities.

Haha! Strangely enough this user name was meant to be ironic, in the fact I don't believe in God myself, or am the type of person who thinks so much of myself that I think I am some sort of messiah!... but that was before I learnt that sarcasm really doesn't go well online! :S -At least its 'thegod' not 'lovesgod', that would just be terrible!

OT: I also wonder if the instruction manuals for the weapons will instruct you to sleep with your rifle until you are at one with your new peripheral, and then make you learn and recite a chant declaring your undying loyalty to it...?

 

[GoddyofAus]

I guess you can mark down Andy Chalk as a Social Conservative.