America's Army offers America's youth unique opportunity

The rhetoric of the website for America's Army is very inviting and educational. It is obvious that the makers of the website want gamers to feel like they are having a unique experience. I think the object of this website and the game itself is to educate young gamers on the United States Army. On the website under the game features, the game is described by saying, "It provides players with the most authentic military experience available, from exploring the development of soldiers in individual and collective training to their deployment in simulated missions in the War on Terror." If I was a young gamer who enjoyed playing militaristic video games, I would want to play this one. Most people think of military operations as secretive, but this game allows gamers into a world where they can understand the process behind such military operations. One feature of the game is called "Real Heroes." This allows gamers to be introduced to veterans of the Army. It even offers special points for the meeting of these veterans. I feel that this promotes education, something most video games lack. The visuals of the website are what one would expect them to be, patriotic and militaristic. Although there are pictures of men with guns, at least they are soldiers with guns and not gangsters or terrorists as displayed in other video games. There are also visuals of American flags and other patriotic symbols. The intended audience of the website is obviously young gamers interested in playing the game. The website provides information on how to play the game and the unique features that the game provides. I also think that the website is geared to the parents of gamers. I think that these days, with all of the media coverage of video games promoting violence amongst adolescents, parents are more aware of what their children are being influenced by. Also seeing as how it has the connection to the United States Army, the web site has a reputation to maintain. The website would appeal to parents because of its recognition of military veterans. On the website, the production of the game is stressed, especially the influence of real life soldiers. If I was a parent I would be much more supportive of my child playing "America's Army" opposed to one of the main stream video games such as "Grand Theft Auto." In the "about" section on the website it describes the main emphasis of the video game as "through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal growth and makes them integral in America's army." Althoughg obviously this rhetoric is biased to a point, if I was a parent who read this I would be impressed. I would tend to agree with Navy Veteran Boyle when he states that the website "indoctrinates the ideology of war." However, I do not see this as a negative thing. I think it is a positive thing that the Army is reaching out to young adolescents to educate them on the ways and the processes that are included in being a soldier. War is a very real thing in our society, and I think that educating youth about it is better than keeping them in the dark. If this video game is a tool for recruitment, then at least the gamers are being educated on what they would be signing up for. I do not think that this game promotes violence. I think it promotes involvement in the Army and defending America, neither of which I find to be negative. Although there is a section of the website that shows and describes different guns used in the game, I feel like if gamers were not playing this game they would be playing other games involving guns that do not carry the positive message that "America's Army" does. I do not think that violent video games are a good or positive hobby for youth. However, the reality is that youth seem to be attracted to those kinds of video games. I think that the Army realizes this and uses it as not only a way to educate youth on the army but also as a way to serve for recruit of potential soldiers. This could be seen in a negative light as exploiting young gamers, but I think that it should be viewed as a positive alternative to violent video games and the United States Army trying to reach out and educate the youth of America on things that are normally left in the dark to them.