US Troops Get European Xbox Gaming Centers

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an EStripes.com article discussing the 17 new Xbox gaming centers being installed at the US military's European Air Force bases. According to the article, airmen "..located in the Azores could race a virtual motorcycle against an airman stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany - then team up with someone from Izmir, Turkey, to win the Super Bowl on 'NFL Fever.'" This gaming network, being installed at a cost of nearly $200,000, is even trying to get the top brass involved, as the organizer of the scheme "..suggested to his deputy commander that the colonels from the different bases in Europe should have a commandwide Xbox death match."

Comments

They work hard and play hard

[nicholasharbour]

With all the military cutbacks over the past ten years or so, troops are working longer and harders shifts and deployments. Morale needs to be maintained and the most effective way to do it is to get things the they guys actually like to do! What else would you spend the morale money on? a clown? some interesting literature?
When it comes down to it, they like to play video games. The troops can play video games for 2 hours and feel more refreshed for another 24 or 36 hour shift. Also, please try to remember that most of the people over there only make about $15k a year so it is not too much to ask for a nice benifits package :)