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US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-idkfa-allowed dept.

Wired reports that the US Defense Intelligence Agency has just acquired three PC-based video games which they will use to train the next wave of analysts. The games are short, but they have branching story lines that change depending on how a trainee reacts to various problems. Quoting: "'It is clear that our new workforce is very comfortable with this approach,' says Bruce Bennett, chief of the analysis-training branch at the DIA's Joint Military Intelligence Training Center. Wired.com had an opportunity to play all three games, Rapid Onset, Vital Passage and Sudden Thrust. The titles may conjure images of blitzkrieg, but the games themselves are actually a surprisingly clever and occasionally surreal blend of education, humor and intellectual challenge, aimed at teaching the player how to think."

9 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. And in these games... by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Funny

    It gets confusing because they all pretend to be medics.

  2. Names by Migraineman · · Score: 5, Funny

    >Rapid Onset, Vital Passage and Sudden Thrust. The titles may conjure images of blitzkrieg,
    >

    Sounds more like pr0n.

    Seriously, video games are a simulation environment. Makes sense to use them as training tools. This is news, why?

    1. Re:Names by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Rapid Onset, Vital Passage and Sudden Thrust
      Actually, it sounds like my honeymoon.

      Didn't last very long. The honeymoon, I mean. The marriage is still going as of 7:38am, April 24, 2008. I have a feeling death is my only way out now, since my immigrant wife (Eastern Europe,now a citizen) found out about our Second Amendment and RFID technology.

      Now, what were we talking about?
      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:Names by DrLex · · Score: 4, Funny

      >>Rapid Onset, Vital Passage and Sudden Thrust. The titles may conjure images of blitzkrieg,
      >>
      > Sounds more like pr0n.

      Or titles for upcoming Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal movies.

  3. Start game by with+a+'c' · · Score: 5, Funny

    You wake up and the room is dark. _

    1. Re:Start game by karijne · · Score: 5, Funny

      You wake up and the room is dark. _ > Open eyes You can't see any eyes to open.
  4. Re:thinking about it... by Psmylie · · Score: 3, Funny

    That should be: Cogito cogitare, ergo cogito esse. You need to use the infinitive (cogitare, esse) in those cases, not the present active indicative.
    Centurion: Understand? Now, write it out a hundred times.
    Brian: Yes sir. Thank you, sir. Hail Caesar, sir!
    Centurion: Hail Caesar! And if it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off.
    --

    psmylie's dictionary: Godzillion (noun) Any number large enough to destroy Tokyo

  5. Oh that's great... by argStyopa · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...our next national intelligence estimate will state that the #1 threat to the USA is a grue.

    --
    -Styopa
  6. Re:How to Think by obervoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Of course video games are used to teach us how to think. I can attribute much of my college dating career "knowledge" to what I learned from the Leisure Suit Larry games, or atleat LSL 1-3. Who says you can't learn anyhting from video games. Come to think of it, my college dating career was rather abreviated.