Video Games as Training Aids?

Training Training and Tactics
1

Bear with me, please. I promise this is a serious question. I’m not a game player. I don’t think I’ve played a video game since the last time I played Wolfpack, in the arcade, in 1980 or so, and I don’t think that killling a lot of zombies on my TV screen will make me a gunslinger in real life. That having been said, I’ve been wondering about this, so here goes.

Are there any commercially available video games/game systems that are useful as training aids? It seems to me, at least in theory, that a video game using a handgun or long gun-type controller could be a useful adjunct to dry fire practice; helping with things like reaction times, sight acquisition and transitioning between targets. That having been said, I never hear about any that actually are. If so, any recommendations? Thanks.

2

The military uses some systems as training aids, but for limited purpose and as a cost savings. I am not aware of any game out there that is better than dry-fire and live-fire training.

Working in the Sustainable Range Program, the virtual systems in the Army used for small arms are viewed as a large waste of money…

3

I am a gamer, BUT I too know the difference between reality and virtual. There was a game a few years back called Full Spectrum Warrior that was usd by the armed forces as a training aid in some capacity. I do not know how that panned out for the armed services, but I am sure you can find a used copy Gamestop for cheap.

First person shooters (FPS) are very fun, but video game designers dont know the first thing about the nuances of shooting. The ability to be just as accurate with an MP5 as an M14 at long range is a good example. Another problem is the tunnel vision. That is a problem that will last for another decade in my opinion. Obviously motor skills are far different, as you illuded to in your post. There are some half assed solutions to this, but they are really useless. Video Games also limit your mobility, flexibility, and inginuity.

Online play is awesome. It is one thing to kill a bot, but something so much more to kill a thinking opponent. That being said, people are not always rational, intelligent, mature, or even thoughtful in online play. So far the best online FPS is “MAG.” What makes this game so good is the sheer size of the battles. This game is only online so I would recommend starting with “Call of duty: modern warfare” to get your bearings and get good. When you think you are good, go online and play others and start the learning curve all over.

I do believe that there are things to learn in an FPS, and they are a great occupation during down time. I think this would be about a first grade education level when a Bachelors degree is required.

I hope this helps.

4

What?

PJ

5

Look, I am not advocating games as a training aid, but there are things like pieing corners, using cover, and things like that you dont think much about on the 100 yard line at our local shooting range.

6

Anything you might pick up in a game is either factually suspect or physically misleading.

The possible exception might be what a sight picture looks like (not accounting for drop, aim stability, etc)

I do think you can apply things you have learned in actual training to a video game but probably not the other way around.

7

Private citizen, I totally agree with a minor exception to the last line. All in all, I think we are on the same page. DONT bet your life on anything to do with a video game. They are great entertainment though.:smiley:

8

if i could, i would have a WEAPONEER in my living room.

i cant think of anything else that would be the least bit beneficial. why waste time with something less effective, when you could be putting rounds into the backstop?

9

I have played video games before, but that is a rare situation when it happens.

That being said, virtually taking cover in a video game, is light years away from actually doing it.

Same could be said for a movie. A guy gets shot at and takes cover. Lesson over.

Sure it might show the concept of it, which is kinda common sense, but has zero bearing on the practical application of it, how to do it, body mechanics etc.

Same could be said for working corners.

PJ

10

Games are great for what they are games.

I’m 22, so I’ve grown up around video games, I really… thinking about it… haven’t bought a new one in…3 years?

I have a PS2, here’s what you’re going to realize. I just quit putting money into that stuff, YMMV, it is fun, and I’m not going to tell you you’re a loser for playing video games, they’re fun, I just don’t have the time or much interest anymore.

It might be good to stimulate the mind, but… beyond that, it doesn’t teach you motor skills, can give you unrealistic expectations of weapons (I mean lets be honest, the guy programming these games haven’t done combat tours, and probably haven’t handled realistically… any of the weapons that they’re depicting, or shot them, maybe not even seen them), they don’t keep track of ballistics, wind shift, etc.

Any benefit I think you could get from a video game, for the same amount of time invested in shooting, hell just handling guns and practicing reloads, dry firing, etc, would eclipse it by a very high magnitude.

That being said, they’re fun.

If I was you, (I know it’s a little bit more expensive, but really… not really if you think about it) I’d try to go find some IDPA, 2-gun or three-gun matches in your area.

Thinking about it, the expense of an entry fee and what you’re going to pay in bullets and gas for one shooting event, is probably what you’d pay for a video game. (50-60$) Also consider the people you might meet that can teach you things, people you can pair up with and maybe shoot with down the road, etc.

I’m getting antsy anticipating my first competitive shoot.

As far as tactics? I can’t think of anything I’ve learned off the top of my head in probably the thousands of hours I’ve played video games as a teenager and kid. Most of it’s “Running and gunning”, you utilize cover in certain games, but, eh.

But on a weekday night, if you’ve got the spare money to blow on a gaming system are bored, realize what it is, recreation.

As a side note I’m going to visit my Dad next week and meet up with my brother, I can tell you, we’ll probably be playing Wii Frisbee Golf or some other Wii game at night, shooting guns, jet-skiing, golfing, bowling, (If we get it assembled… shooting pool) during the day, maybe the last two at night.

Getting back to video games I also came to the conclusion, though I haven’t been to the gym in awhile, that I didn’t feel satisfied or feel like I had anything to show for the amount of time I’ve spent in video games in my life, at the end of the day, you turn the console off, turn the T.V. off, and you’ve just spent 2-4 hours in front of a screen, with nothing to remember, nothing to show. Could’ve gone to the gym, done some homework (I’m in college) cleaned something, read a book, something, anything.

I just don’t see spending money on Video games as a good idea anymore, and haven’t for some time. I’d rather get out doors to be honest with you.

Now given I spend a lot of time on here and other gun boards, but at least I’m trying to learn most of the time, if not, I find something else to do.

11

There was a guy on ARFcom who was picking out his long gun based on what he liked to shoot in some damned video game.

I friggin couldn’t believe what I was reading. :rolleyes:

12

I’m not a gamer. Last time I put a quarter in anything was probably Pac Man around 1982.I played some Clancy stuff around 10 years ago but just never really got into video games.

That said, I could see how a first person simulation could be a valuable tool for teaching some things like procedures and certain tactics and strategies. And this is probably how the military uses them.

Having watched online gamers with headsets they have learned effective use of communications. Assuming there is no God Mode you would learn about real life ammo management. You could learn coordinated attack “theory” and how to adapt your mission strategy when the enemy does something unexpected.

Basically you could learn everything EXCEPT how to shoot and run around with all that gear. And for that reason, these simulators would probably be a more valuable training tool for officers and NCOs than for the guys doing the actual shooting.

13

I play COD4. There is NO, I repeat, NO training value in playing it or any game similar to it.

14

I play a lot of FPS games and I’d have to say that about the only useful thing in them is communication.

15

If you really want to use video games as a training tool then pick up a home laser shot system.

We had one were I worked at in the Marines. We had glock 17s and 1911s and a ton of software. We would constantly stay back at work and try to beat the high scores.

Laser Shot is an amazing tool and will make you better. You just have to be able to afford the $5,000 price tag. Check out their website they also have other alternatives.

Subsequently we also had access to a laser shot video game live fire simulator. The screen and all was all video game, but we shot live fire. The infrared grid would pick up the bullet that was shot on the screen and the game would react. You could shoot a bad guy and he would stop shooting back or continue shooting until you shot a vital area.

We had a balloon game that you shot balloons that moved all around the screen and exploded if you hit them.

www.lasershot.com

The game also shot back at you with a paintball marker if you decided to turn it on for the simulation.

Someone posted something about how the military hated the simulators … those units are usually with other than infantry units like cooks and candlestick makers for range training so they could just qual on the range. The FATS system is what it is called. They are still being used in the Marines we called it the ISMT.

Laser shot is a bajillion times better … times two. In my unit in the marines we had a laser shot system for use at anytime day or night.

16

Thanks all for the input. (And thanks for taking the question seriously!) I will take a look at the lasershot website, but I can tell you, I don’t see a $5,000 system in my future any time soon, even if it does look cool.

17

Agreed…

Video games are an impediment on situational awareness.
They also absorb time which can be used for dry fire or FOF scenarios.
Video games build fine and complex motor movement , both of which would not be used in an actual fight to survive…

Games like medal of honor do give you a little insight as to the latest gear, garb and jargon…

18

No.
Video games are entertainment.
They will make you a better fighter/shooter about as much as watching “24” will.

You know the guy that has nothing entertaining to say other than to quote movie lines or rip-off comedians? Do you want to be the tactical equivalent of that?

19

The analogy that immediately comes to mind is NOT family-friendly, so I’ll bite my tongue…

No, they aren’t good for anything other than a training aid for working on some fatbody skills.

For the price of toys you could get a .22 AR and hose lead on the cheap.

20

They seem to be better suited for the thought process of “ok, I’m confronted with this, what should I do?” but fall very short of training you on what you’re actually capable of.

Many times in videogames, I find myself wishing I could barely lean out of cover, or change my position height to match whatever I’m behind, or get underneath a car to make a shot. The actual ability of what you can do is very limited and not applicable to the real world in my opinion.

But, there are situations like pieing a corner, where games can teach rudimentary concepts, like having your gun up before you peek out from cover, or basic angles of cover. (Although many videogames will confuse cover and concealment greatly)

In short, they’re useful for very basic thinking exercises, but they have no substance as far as “training” your body and gear to accomplish an actual task.