Blog Assignment #6: Primary and Secondary Source

Primary Source:

America’s Army. 2008. U.S. Army. 22 Jul. 2008.

            < http://www.americasarmy.com/>

 

The America’s Army game was originally created by the MOVES Institute at the Naval Postgraduate School. It is now financed by the government and distributed across America for free.  The U.S. government has political values of militarism and supporting the war effort, which are both displayed in the game. It is distributed to help with U.S. Army recruitment. This is proven not only by the graphics and scenes of the games, but by the virtual army experience it provides its players with. In allowing players to experience soldiering in the most realistic way possible they are attempting to reel in minors for recruitment. The intended audience is minors and young adults. The hopes of this game is to produce positive feelings towards the army from players thinking the army experience is “cool,” and wanting to take part in it for real. It is a game of persuasion to make young individuals want to be just like the soldier they are controlling in the game. This game was produced during a time of war with Iraq, when recruitment numbers are supposedly low, and the U.S. military is desperate for Americans to enlist. Due to this they are turning to American minors using video games to reel them in. The message of this video game is a complete suggestion for the players to take part in the action on their screen in real life. The purpose is to get young recruiters to join the army when they are eligible and those who are eligible to want to enlist as soon as they can.

“Launched in July 2002 the America’s Army game, which is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB, has become one of the most popular computer games in the world.”

I think this is a negative thing because for the young Americans in our nation to become engaged in such violence can be bad for our country’s future and possible for their own lives if they are persuaded enough to actually join the army. It is true that this game is popular because minors and young adults love to participate and see action like that. Our nations popular culture thrives on it. The fact that this game is so exploited and out all over America supports my idea that the military and government are targeting minors for recruitment. It is blatant that it is desired by the makers and distributers of this game, to think the army is great and want to have a part in it’s action. I do not view this as positive I view it as destructive.

“So, when the Army began making the America’s Army game to provide civilians with insights on Soldiering from the barracks to the battlefields, it sent its talented development team to experience Army training just as a new recruit would.”

I think this is definitely a great idea into putting the idea that they want to be a recruit themselves into children’s heads and I highly disagree with it. From virtually training as an army recruit and having fun doing so, a child could easily think it to be the same in real life and want to enlist in the army once they are able. This does not sit well with me. A video game is much different from real life but the creators and distributors want the young players to think it’s the same, and that if they like playing the game they will like being in the real military. This again supports my idea that the military and government are targeting young children to enlist and fight in the war with Iraq. It is a method of persuasion and serious method of deceit.

“Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America’s Army.”

The description of the game as well what the game displays itself gives children a positive outlook on the military, the war, and most importantly, joining the military. The values emphasized are values that many of the young players want to have for themselves and will mistakenly feel that they have to be like their character in the game in real life to have them. It is deceitful to make these children believe that to have these values and be successful in the game they will be just as successful in the military, but that is the goal of the creators and distributors. They want the children to think that they will be able to integrate into the army perfectly.

-This source also promotes the go army website which I might use in my paper as well.

 

Secondary Source:

 “Army Recruits Video Gamers.” CBS Evening News. 30 Mar. 2004. 20 Jul. 2008.

            < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/30/eveningnews/main609489.shtml>

 

This news was reported by CBS. CBS is a broadcast network and one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States. They are always one of the first to exploit what is going on the world currently. They cover numerous events and issues, so of course the war with Iraq has been a main topic for some time. Their intended audience is the American people. It is their goal to keep the nations citizens updated and aware of what is going on in their country and all around them. From this article their specific intended audience are those who disprove child recruitment. It is to make them aware of the military’s attempts to persuade our nations children into enlisting. A report like this might also anger enough people to act out and put a stop to what is going on around them and make a change. The larger context in which this news report is coming from is the war with Iraq. This is what is causing our own children to be persuaded and targeted for recruitment. The main message is that our nation’s children are in danger and are being targeted by the military in ways that affect everyone. The purpose of this news report is to send out a warning and open the public’s eyes to what is really happening.

“It’s a video game created by the U.S. Army to win over the hearts and minds of American teenagers.”

This idea is completely true, and I find it to be really sad. Our own army has infiltrated what is today’s entertainment for kids in order to recruit minors and increase their falling enlistee numbers. The game was designed to reflect a positive image on war and enlisting in the army through what the army claims to be realistic portrayals of the army experience. This supports my idea that the U.S. Army is making its way into the minds of minors in order to persuade them into recruitment. It was created for this reason and I find it to be disgusting.

“’We look at all the things that the Army is doing that is under the control of the Army that captures people’s attention and the game is number one,’ says the game’s creator Col. Casey Wardynksi.”

The Army is now using video games to force positive outlooks on the military into young Americans’ minds. This is immoral and unjust. It is an idea that will work, and most likely convince enough minors to want to make the game real and join the army once they are able to. However, this disturbs me and I completely disprove of it. The game is a hit, as the military and government knew it would be. Children love action like this and love to take part in it from their living room. Once the game is over, and they want more, they will be left to take the next step and enlist, thinking it will be just like the game. If the game is fun, why wouldn’t the real army be? This is another quote that supports my idea that the Army is using many methods of persuasion to gather up recruits for the war. Video games is a clever way to get themselves into the minds of minors and teens and warp their judgement. 

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