Hit the jump forthe latestin the Army’s efforts to recruit psuedo-adults via the lure of sexy, sexy video games.
The Global Gaming League is a gaming community site that blends game news and play. Founder Ted Owen describes it as “ESPN meets MySpace for gamers. Video gaming is a culture. The Army has been a very forward thinker. They get it.”
“The consumer model for traditional media is changing,” said Gary Bishop, deputy director of strategic outreach for the U.S. Army. “We’re grappling with the challenge of how do we better use new media to tell the Army story. Online is probably the best way.”
“ESPN meets MySpace for gamers”? I’m amazed he couldn’t work the terms “synergy”, or “proactive” into that statement. I don’t think I’ve seen marketing-speak this thick since that night I got drunk and fell into the grave of Theodore Levitt!
Absolutely no one is going to understand that joke, so don’t strain yourself trying to.
I do concur with Mr. Owen on one point: the army has a rich history, and a detailed story thatshouldbe told, remembered and revered by all the people who have benefited from the sacrifices made by soldiers throughout the history of the US. I get the feeling, though, that any efforts the Army is making to tell that story through video games are going to leave out all the parts about having your head blown off by an Iraqi sniper, or the fact that youvery rarelyget to respawn after you die.
In the end, this is a very thinly veiled attempt to convince children, who aren’t even old enough to drink whiskey, that they ought to risk their lives for their country. I’m not one to say that they should or they shouldn’t, but I have agigantic soapbox, and that soapbox told me last night that these underhanded recruiting tactics arereally creepy. After reading this whole thing, I felt like I had to go take a shower.
In lye.
(* — I only bring that movie up to point out thatLori Pettyisamazingly sexy, and I would like to have all of her babies. What can I say? I’m into strong chicks.)
