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Microsoft, USO Links Troops Worldwide Via Xbox

Posted by simoniker on from the fragging-the-family dept.

Thanks to Reuters for their story reporting on Microsoft and the U.S. armed forces' plans to expand a program bringing Xbox Live to troops overseas. There's a press release on the USO site with more details, including a U.S. Air Force lieutenant's comments: "Xbox Live allows me to play my favorite games with friends and family as though I am sitting on the couch right next to them back home in Garden Grove, Calif. We share stories, laugh and poke fun at each other in real time as we play." We previously covered a pilot scheme using the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and a spokesman "...said the program was such a success it will be expanded to nearly every Air Force base around the world."

52 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Awesome... by malakai · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think that's great for troops.

    I wonder though, if MS has to offer access to the voice chats to security personel for the appropriate armed forces.

    I know mail and e-mail is screened, as well as phone calls (espcially on big targets like aircraft carriers). I wonder if MS had to put in code on the server to allow the voice streams to be tapped.

    Cool none the less. I wouldn't mind playing Ghost Recon against some troop clans.

    --
    -Malakai
    A Dragon Lives in my Garage
    1. Re:Awesome... by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      most likely they'll be just playing while in public rooms & etc.. you can tap the entertainment room easy enough.

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:Awesome... by malakai · · Score: 1

      Think of giving away the position of your air-craft carrier by playing an opponent in some game that allows group-map functions, and you plot a waypoint at your exact location.

      Then you wink and say into the mike "know what i mean? know what i mean?, nudge nudge, nod nod, say no more, say no more".

      Course, the uselessness of that info is astronomical.

      --
      -Malakai
      A Dragon Lives in my Garage
    3. Re:Awesome... by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      'course, if you put into that way there's no way to screen all the info anyways on big enough operation, if you allow any contact at all.

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  2. Commercial by musikit · · Score: 3, Interesting

    umm wasn't there a commercial for like splinter cell or something game like that one taht promoted this?

    1. Re:Commercial by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 2, Informative
      I believe you're referring to the SOCOM commercial..playable online with only a PS2. Of course, the government wouldn't have to pay XBox Live subscription fees if they want with a Sony solution AND more people have PS2's so there'd be a higher likelihood that friends and families back home would be able to take advantage of this and play with/against the troops. Of course, MS was founded in the states and Sony was not so that may play a role - as it should. Let's help our economy before we help anyone else's.

      Zenith is a manufacturer of many electronics goods and was founded in Chicago in the 1920's. Think about that next time you're at Best Buy.

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    2. Re:Commercial by t0ny · · Score: 1
      However, when you are looking at what console is the best-looking, it is always the XBox.

      Likewise, MS probably has some kind of technical involvement in helping them make this happen; Sony is most likely not contributing resources to help our troops (nor do I expect them to).

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    3. Re:Commercial by gamgee5273 · · Score: 2, Informative
      Okay, I'm not here to flame you - I come from a union family and underatand completely where you're coming from with this.

      But, I do have to speak up a bit: Not being an Xbox owner, can anyone say where the box is being made? I have to suspect it's somewhere in Asia, not the States.

      For the sake of argument, I'm going to assume it is Asia util someone can come up with the answer: Sure, while a chunk of cash goes to Redmond, they still are losing money on the Xbox and still have to pay for the workers in Asia. Thus, is it really helping our economy for that segment of MS to be financially failing?

      Arguably, supporting US developers and publishing houses (which MS is, yes, I agree) is a better way to make the claim that you are supporting the US economy, no matter the console manufacturer's country of origin. SOCOM, for example, was published by Sony Computer Entertainment America but was developed by Zipper Interactive, which is an American company (based, ironically enough in an Alanis sense, in Redmond). I would make the argument that this is a better use of our dollars going back into our economy than buying an Xbox over a PS2 or a GCN because MS is located in the States.

      And, as a postscript to your final thought:

      Zenith is not the paragon of "Made in America" that you might think it is. From zenith.com's "Corporate History" section: In November 1999, Zenith became a wholly owned subsidiary of LGE. LGE is, of course, one of the Korean companies that seems to make everything but the kitchen sink...

    4. Re:Commercial by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1
      Ah, thanks for that bit about Zenith. Do you know of any big electronics companies that are still based in the U.S.?

      I realize that most manufacturing is not done in the United States, but I'd like a company to at least have the headquarters in this country. And yes, increased X-Box sales do help the American economy. Lots and lots of game development takes place in this country - the more consoles out there, the more development taking place.

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
    5. Re:Commercial by Allanon01 · · Score: 1
      Of course, the government wouldn't have to pay XBox Live subscription fees if they want with a Sony solution AND more people have PS2's so there'd be a higher likelihood that friends and families back home would be able to take advantage of this and play with/against the troops
      But not all PS2 games use the headset so people can talk to each other. The whole point is so the service member can feel like they are back home with friends and family and not being able to talk to them really doesn't accomplish that goal. On the other hand, all XBox Live games have voice communication.
    6. Re:Commercial by gamgee5273 · · Score: 1
      I don't know of any of the big electronics companies that are located in the US...

      (looks around)

      We've already established that Zenith is owned by LGE (Korea), Magnavox is owned by Phillips (Dutch), RCA is owned by Thompson (French).

      Here's a shocker: Apex Digital is located in Ontario, California (I always thought they were Korean). I can't find any other American companies.

      I do think you and I are on the same page because we're talking about driving game development and, therefore, sales, for American companies. Zipper is the example I wanted to use, because, even though it's on the PS2, it's a strong developer with some great experience (SOCOM, SOCOM II, and many of their coders worked on SIMNET, the combat simulation the military uses). The kicker here is that they developed everyone's fav new Xbox game: Crimson Skies.

      Now, will CS drive people to buy an Xbox? I don't think so (I would like to play it, but it isn't enough for me to buy the console). But does CS, and the succes it will probably see on the Xbox, coupled with the success SOCOM II is having on the PS2, mean that we have an American developer growing stronger? Yes, I agree with you that it does. And that, definitely, helps the economy (or at least the local and state economies in Redmond and Washington, respectively).

      But, really, I don't think buying a PS2 or a GCN hurts the American economy. Just buying Japanese games only might, possibly, dent it because only the developers working on a US localization may be the only US employees involved in the project.

      This is getting complicated. :)

  3. Ok... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful


    I'm all for making troops life easier while in a combat zone, but uh, shouldn't more money/time/expertise be used towards something a little more useful? Say....water or electricity for the population of the country the army is currently occupying.

    On a side note, i'd like to play some AA against some of these guys :)

    1. Re:Ok... by Prince_Ali · · Score: 1

      We already give huge amounts of money on food and water and electricity for various countries. I don't think that a few bucks for X-Box live are poorly spent. I do however believe you are against the soldiers being comfortable, but you are unwilling to say that. Otherwise why would you want money used to make them comfortable reallocated to another purpose which receives many magnitudes greater funding.

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    2. Re:Ok... by BigDork1001 · · Score: 1
      I'm all for making troops life easier while in a combat zone, but uh, shouldn't more money/time/expertise be used towards something a little more useful? Say....water or electricity for the population of the country the army is currently occupying.

      You mean like the $87 billion that was approved earlier this year?

      As an Airman trust me when I say that stuff like this can be very big for morale. And something that needs to be raised right now, especially in the combat areas is higher morale.

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    3. Re:Ok... by saden1 · · Score: 1

      More importantly, shouldn't there a bidding war to do this the the USO? There doesn't seem to be competition to win a bid to do this and MS is getting a pass without any competition. It doesn't seem fair to the taxpayers.

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    4. Re:Ok... by VividU · · Score: 1

      Theres nothing that comes even close to Xbox Live. Not even close.

      The Friends List alone makes the deal.

    5. Re:Ok... by mausmalone · · Score: 1

      Not only is it good for morale, but I was under the impression that MS was supplying the funds (as it's basically a big advertisment for them.... every soldier in Iraq will want an X-Box when they get home).

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    6. Re:Ok... by mausmalone · · Score: 1

      MS is the only big-3 gaming company that's US-based. So, it stands to reason that the US military would be more comfortable working with them than with a Japanese company.

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      -=-=-=-=-=
      I'd rather be flamed than ignored.
    7. Re:Ok... by danbeck · · Score: 1

      Why don't you sit down and figure up just how *little* money it would actually cost to put xboxes in R&R rooms on bases and then subtract that from the billions of dollars it could cost to re-work a utility infrastructure. Drop in the bucket? Hardly.. more like the oxygen atom of a water molecule in the bucket.

    8. Re:Ok... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      More importantly, shouldn't there a bidding war to do this the the USO? There doesn't seem to be competition to win a bid to do this and MS is getting a pass without any competition. It doesn't seem fair to the taxpayers.

      How, exactly, would one bid on something like this? MS bids to give each center 17 XBoxes and 3 games per box, Sony bids to give each center 20 PS2s and 4 games per box?

      Read the article, MS donated the XBoxes, games, and monitors. If Sony and Nintendo want to donate games, consoles, and TVs/monitors, they should feel free.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    9. Re:Ok... by BigDork1001 · · Score: 1

      I dunno. I've played X-Box a lot and the only reason I own one is because it was given to me for free. I still haven't gone out and bought any games for it. With the exception of Halo which I've played to death I really am not interested in much X-Box has to offer. Perhaps when Halo 2 comes out.

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    10. Re:Ok... by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      That's because you're a Big Dork.

      The one game you mention, you've 'played to death'. Yet you are not interested in much that Xbox has to offer. Try some other games- they're good.

      I recommend Top Spin quite highly.

      --
      No reason to lie.
    11. Re:Ok... by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      I don't think that this is 'exclusive'. If other entertainment companies want to donate, I'm sure the military will take it.

      I used to be posted at a remote site, and I loved it when we would get this kind of stuff. We got movies on VHS about a week after they came out in the theater in the US. Twice a year we would get a huge box of sports equipment, everything you could imagine. That was cool.

      --
      No reason to lie.
    12. Re:Ok... by eticket · · Score: 1

      You have to have sometime to decompress no matter what you do. This is an excellent way to do it for them and the USO is not part of the goverment they are a private organization

    13. Re:Ok... by DeltaSigma · · Score: 1

      Perhaps one should ask the soldiers if they would rather have video games, or get out of there sooner.

    14. Re:Ok... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      I don't think that this is 'exclusive'. If other entertainment companies want to donate, I'm sure the military will take it.

      That's pretty much what I was getting at. The article clearly states that MS donated the stuff, and there's nothing stopping Sony or Nintendo from making matching donations. I'm sure MS gets a tax writeoff, as well.

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      -PainKilleR-[CE]
  4. So.... by quandrum · · Score: 1

    Do the officers in the infirmary now have to watch people play Crimson Skies and buzz out everything but the sex words, signing off their censoring with Irving Washington? Seriously, even besides XBox live, how do they maintain operational secrecy in an internet world?

  5. Re:I wont be content by malakai · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think a single decade is all that is required to begin rolling out semiautomonous and full automonus aircraft, and ceasing development on new manned air-craft.
    After that point, we'll see the planes we know and love today be retired (and their pilots).

    What's really lacking is a full redundant, mesh based communication infrastructue that can be quickly deployed. Where every node in the mesh, be it an aircraft or a satellite, or a autonomous drone, can relay and respond.

    A top-down approach would put these nodes closer and closer to the action, until they meet ground based nodes (humvees, portable station deployed on sand dunes...etc).

    I say 20 years though for fuly functional bi-ped soldiers that can be controlled remotely and have enough autonomy to respond/react quickly to environment and beat speed of light latency in their control systems. Such that a controller at 'home' can move the unit (WASD config of course) but the unit can make choices on how to move (i see a rock, i'm going to step over it, i'm not going to wait 250ms for my controller to hold my hand and walk me over the rock).

    --
    -Malakai
    A Dragon Lives in my Garage
  6. What do they play? by Johnny+Mnemonic · · Score: 2, Funny


    So the question is: are they playing Splinter Cell, or Dance Dance Revolution? Wouldn't you get tired of getting shot at in RL, that simulating it just wouldn't be the same?

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  7. Imaginary Events by illuminata · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft Rep: Hey guys! We've got you some games and XBox Live accounts!

    Troops: (Cheering)

    Troop #1: So, buddy, what games do you have for us?

    Microsoft Rep: How about some Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad.

    Troop #1: Uh...

    Troop #2: Anything else?

    Microsoft Rep: Ghost Recon?

    Troops: (Silence)

    Microsoft Rep: Ghost Recon... Island Thunder? Rainbow Six 3? Counter Strike?

    Troop #3: How about ESPN NFL Football?

    Troop #4: Or Midnight Club II?

    Troop #5: Or Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX? Come on!

    Troops: (Raise eyebrow at Troop #5)

    Troop #1: Hey, what kind of fucking joke is this?

    Microsoft Rep: Oh shit...

    --


    Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
  8. Re:Not to troll but... by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not only are they great entertainment that excesizes their training and teamwork, but when they're on the move it can double as body armor!

    =Smidge=

  9. Nintendo Wars by Baron_Yam · · Score: 1

    Actually, there's no real reason this couldn't be done right now. Build a MMOFPS environment, and add models and behaviours for each side's equipment... you would need to limit the number of players and equipment to match a nation's real-world counterparts as well.

    You could host the servers in neutral country, monitored by a neutral agency, and have that agency collect and destroy the real-world analog of anything destroyed virtually, along with some other form of payment for troops killed virtually. After all, we don't want those pesky Suicide Booths from the old Star Trek, do we?

    1. Re:Nintendo Wars by Baron_Yam · · Score: 1

      Just one more thought on virtual wars - while it's unlikely to ever be used as a method of resolving conflict in the real world, that's because of people, not the technology.

      If the US military can get a computer to accurately simulate everything going on in a huge nuke blast, they can build a game server(farm) that could effectively handle a couple of million troops and their equipment.

  10. Pilot scheme, eh? by Dave2+Wickham · · Score: 1
    We previously covered a pilot scheme using the U.S. Air Forces in Europe
    Did they select the US Air Force for their pilot scheme on purpose, or was it coincidence???

    OK, this post is pretty crap... I know it is... Why am I hitting submit?
  11. -2 Troll? by malakai · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    hahah wtf?

    where did that come from? Off topic _maybe_, but troll on perdicting autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles in future warfare?

    Come on, what a waste of mod points.

    --
    -Malakai
    A Dragon Lives in my Garage
  12. War Games by molafson · · Score: 3, Funny

    What I don't understand is why a bunch of soldiers would want to spend their downtime playing war games (e.g. Crimson Skies) on the XBox. Don't they get enough of the real thing?

    That's like an accountant going home and playing a slightly more exciting Excel/Quickbooks simulator.

    On the other hand, the soldiers can play racing games or sports games, which are okay I guess, but still not optimal for relaxation. (Better solution: drink some beers and watch Monday Night Football.)

    1. Re:War Games by wickedj · · Score: 1

      How about a nice game of chess?

    2. Re:War Games by CVaneg · · Score: 1

      I was always more fond of Global Thermonuclear War. Unfortunately, the only winning move is not to play, so it got boring pretty quickly.

    3. Re:War Games by Dr.+Bent · · Score: 1

      , the soldiers can play racing games or sports games, which are okay I guess, but still not optimal for relaxation.

      How many times have you seen football players playing Madden on G4 or TechTV? If people love what they do, they'll want to do it all the time. It doesn't matter if it's football or sweep and clear operations in urban terrain.

    4. Re:War Games by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      Its like a bunch of computer geeks using their computers in their spare time reading discussion groups about computers.

      We would NEVER do THAT!

      --
      No reason to lie.
  13. Last News by skahshah · · Score: 1

    Hyperpower Defeated by Ridiculous Country
    Everybody Busy Playing in Diego Garcia Air Force Base... Ridiculous Navy from Liechtenstein Take Base and Disarm Everybody... No One Notices... Commander Happy to Surrender After 36 hours Playing Without Sleeping... Ridiculous Liechtenstein Air Force (L.A.F.) Laughs... International Conference To Be held In Geneva To Prohibit Weapons of Mass Distractions...

  14. Nice joke, but.. by Inoshiro · · Score: 1

    "Microsoft Rep: How about some Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad."

    Content download only there, no online multiplayer!

    There should be stricter enforcing of packaging policy via what can say online enabled in what size if they only have content download vs. true online multiplayer.

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    1. Re:Nice joke, but.. by illuminata · · Score: 1

      Well, hey, the troops in my storycan be pissed about that too.

      --


      Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
  15. Re:I wont be content by Rob+Parkhill · · Score: 2, Funny

    Come on, we all know that future wars will be fought by giant robots.

    To suggest anything else is just silly.

    --
    "Tomorrow's forecast: a few sprinkles of genius with a chance of doom!" - Stewie Griffin
  16. Re:I wont be content by t0ny · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think that will be the time to start worrying. Once it becomes trivially easy to kill people, and you can do it without even seeing it 'in real life', it will take any remaining shreads of humanity out of war.

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  17. Re:I wont be content by Rayonic · · Score: 1

    it will take any remaining shreads of humanity out of war.

    You say that like its a bad thing.

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  18. Re:Not to troll but... by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

    Well, should we give them a license to kill every Iraqi they see?

    It's not a conventional war- we just have a bunch of people sitting around waiting for something to happen. They are there to provide a presence- wear a uniform, and drive around (swerving around mines).

    Its not like they are busy all day- I don't think they were playing with Xboxes during the initial phases of the war.

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    No reason to lie.
  19. How bout other games by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
    You know, I'm sure enough guys in the service love playing video games, why not make money doing it? How cool would it be if your clan could pay a fee, and be able to play against a squad of actual soldiers in your favorite games, like Desert Combat for bf1942.

    I'm sure everybody remembers that Xbox commercial where the marines trounced the kids playing that xbox game. I know for a fact that many clans would pay to be able to do this and test their skills against people who do this in real life.

    --
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  20. Re:reminds me of cigarettes during WWII by MMaestro · · Score: 1
    You mean they weren't smoking before they went off to war? Next you'll be telling me that they didn't drink before they went off to war.

    In term of psychological benefits for soldiers while in combat and the extremely well documented information on post tramatic syndrome affecting soldiers when they come home, I think a little nicotine won't hurt when some of these same smokers came back with lost limbs and/or lost sanity. (We've all heard stories about some soldier committing suicide after coming back from the warzone.)

  21. Made in Mexico by gearheadsmp · · Score: 1

    My v1.1 Xbox was assembled in Mexico, according to the sticker.

  22. Oh no....!!! by M.C.+Hampster · · Score: 1

    "We're Robot Jox! We're already dead!

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  23. Getting a bearable connection by wackybrit · · Score: 1

    What interests me about this story is the connection method. Getting a low latency mid-band is not easy. Nor something they should be throwing good resources after just so some soldier can play XBox.

    What would be the best way of getting air force bases (in places as far flung as, say, Afghanistan) onto XBox Live at a decent speed with a decent latency? Satellites are ruled out straight away. Microwave links to places with more reliable landline connections?

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