Army, Navy seeking out better video game tech
Soldiers reportedly find current military simulations dated; Army investigating new program to find replacement for Bohemia Interactive's Virtual Battlespace 2.
The US Army and Navy are reportedly looking into ways to make virtual training more exciting for new recruits.
According to an article in National Defense Magazine, both the Army and Navy are seeking contracts for the creation of updated virtual PC simulation games that will look and play more like Call of Duty than the games already available.
"The industry needs to find a way to get past the older code that's sitting out there," Havok vice president of sales and marketing Brian Waddle told the publication. "[Soldiers] look at these simulators, and they don't take them seriously because they don't look as good as what they're playing in their living rooms."
According to the report, the Army is looking for a first-person, massively multiplayer online shooter to replace Bohemia Interactive's Virtual Battlespace 2. It is offering a contract of approximately $44.5 million over five years to the winning application, which must include the ability to integrate more players across larger landmasses and accurately re-create territories like Afghanistan.
For its part, the Navy is also looking for games that will be able to train sailors in specific tasks, including a training program that will run on Crytek's CryEngine 3. The Navy will offer three separate contracts of $100 million each.
Content you might like…
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Biden: No legal problem with taxing violent games
United States Vice President Joe Biden believes there is no legal restriction on ability to tax violent media. Full Story
- Posted May 13, 2013 12:50 pm PT
-
Just Cause dev promises 'holy f**king sh**' moments in future games
Avalanche Studios co-founder says developer's ambition is for action, not moments that make players cry; steampunk-style game on hold. Full Story
- Posted May 15, 2013 6:33 am PT
Featured Stories
-
Bungie shoots down Destiny for PS Vita rumor
Developer confirms image suggesting version of upcoming shared-world shooter in development for Sony's latest portable is a fake. Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 5:08 am PT
-
Ubisoft planning to release games more frequently
Assassin's Creed and Far Cry publisher says its network of 26 studios and over 7,000 developers will allow company to ship major franchises more regularly. Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 4:42 am PT
-
Metro: Last Light dev responds to workplace conditions claims
4A Games creative director Andrew Prokhorov thanks Jason Rubin for telling the studio's story, but says, "We deserve the ratings we get." Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 12:44 pm PT
-
EA opens DICE LA to make Star Wars games
DICE head would also like to poach top talent from rivals Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Full Story
- Posted May 15, 2013 3:28 am PT
-
EA dropping Online Passes - Report
Future EA games won't require Online Passes; the service is being scrapped after tepid player response. Full Story
- Posted May 15, 2013 8:28 pm PT
Related Game
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Publisher(s): Activision
- Developer(s): Treyarch
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- ESRB: M







