Abstract:

The notion of video games as the sole preserve of teenagers idling away in an arcade is as outdated as Donkey Kong. Soldiers, as well as firefighters and physicians, now use them as part of their training. They are not playing Mortal Kombat or Madden football; rather they are using games to mirror everyday situations they encounter in their work. Ever since flight schools used simulation as a method for training pilots, the value of simulated activity has overlapped with the necessity of functional training. In contrast to its stereotype as stodgy and out-of-touch, the military embraced game-based simulations earlier than other institutions, according to gaming industry observers. The effectiveness of games in training and delivering content lies at the heart of what is called the "serious games" movement, which is led by advocates who believe that games can be effective training tools. A Serious Games summit was recently held in the Washington, DC, area to showcase many of the game elements that are being used to train the military and other professionals. While some fear gaming in the school or workplace, many games already play an educational role. One could argue that the increasing sophistication and the multiplicity of scenarios used in games are becoming more like a simulated environment and less like a game played merely for escape.