America's Army - Operations 1.9 for Linux Released

Primer writes "Icculus has done it again: The Linux port of America's Army: Operations version 1.9 is now available. This latest version features many improvements in the interface, punkbuster, and a new map. The file weighs in at a hefty 504 megs, but luckily there are plenty of mirrors, plus a very well seeded torrent. Get it while it's hot!"

Comments

Re:Canada?

[snoozerdss]

From The Website:
Q: I am not in the United States, can I still play the game?
A: Yes! Although all of the official servers are located in the United States, there is no restriction on who can play Americas Army. We want the whole world to know how great the U.S. Army is.

The wrong crowd?

[HiredMan]

If we remember that this game was essentially designed as a recruitment tool - doesn't porting it to Linux seem an odd choice?

I understand the Army could certainly use more hackers in the ranks but how large is the intersection between your average Linux gamer and some one who might be convinced to enter the military because of a video game experience?

Maybe this just release just amplifies the weirdness (at least to me) of thinking that a video game will convince people to join up when you can see the real thing on TV at night and it's clearly NOT the same thing.

=tkk

Re:The wrong crowd?

[cymen]

Check out his resume. He is contracted to do the ports.

Conservatives use Linux too

[jgardn]

You are prejudiced. You assumed that most users of Linux are long-haired Army-hating hippies.

You forget that many people that use Linux, in fact, many people who run Open Source projects are conservative and love the Army. I am glad that the Army took the time to make a game for the Linux platform. I think it is a good idea to target the Linux users. I think the Army needs forward thinking people who are technically inclined and familiar with Linux and the Open Source development model, conservative or liberal.

I am going to download it and show my friends. Maybe my two friends who are in the Marines won't be interested -- one of them is in Iraq right now. But my other friends who love to make a buck and spend it on charities will enjoy it.

As far as the video game not being representative of reality, I don't think the commercials and radio spots do much to represent reality either. The point is to get the people who listen to the ads or play the game to think about the Army as an option for their future.

If one person steps into a recruiting center to ask about what life in the Army would really be like, then they would've succeeded.

(And I don't want to hear any crap about recruiters that lie. When a recruiter lies, they go to prison, and the person they lied to is allowed to go home. Try joining the Army and telling your sergeant in drill camp that your recruiter never told you it would be this hard. You'll see first hand how seriously they take that.)