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View Full Version : The Escapist, Issue 22: "Do You Want to Play a Game?"

Evil Avatar
12-06-2005, 12:55 PM
The war and gaming have had a long history together, from the slow and strategic Chess to today's flashier, electronic counterparts. This week, The Escapist takes a look at this long-time relationship of war and gaming in issue 22: "Do You Want to Play a Game?" (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/)

Feature contributor Allen Varney looks at the appeal and history of wargaming, and at the rare breed that is the wargamer in "Les Grognards." (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/22/4) Shawn "Kwip" Williams returns this week and, with the help of his father-in-law, gives veterans' perspectives on modern video games in "Apocalypse Not." (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/22/10) In "Kuma\War: Frontlines of a New Medium," (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/22/14) Mark Wallace discusses Kuma's take on episodic content, with their Kuma\War missions featuring rapidly-developed scenarios ripped straight from the news headlines. And The Escapist's resident Contrarian, John Tynes, explores the appeal of fascism in an increasingly democratic world, and gives his reason why gamers play war games in "The Contrarian: Why We Fight." (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/22/18)
TheKeck
12-06-2005, 01:09 PM
Great issue. The thing that stuck out for me most, though, were the comments of Dave Grossman in "Apocolypse Not".

......He opened fire on a group of
students in a prayer circle, hitting four of
them in the head, one in the neck, and
three in the upper torso. Grossman
points out the incredible amount of skill
this demonstrates; skill that this 14-year
old could only have learned by playing
videogames......

I understand that there are people who could have this horribly warped sense of reality, but I expect more from an ex-Army Ranger and West Point professor.
Nite_Moogle
12-06-2005, 01:21 PM
Great issue. The Apocalypse Not article gives refreshing perspective that what we consider "realistic" will never be as close to the real thing. Which is very, very good.

TheKeck: I think that he is pointing out that's remarkable because he only fired one shot per target from range. Not that I want to talk about it more.
Spigot
12-06-2005, 01:30 PM
Ah, I love The Escapist. I have all of the issues in PDF format on my flash drive to read at work (stupid lack of internet at work!).

Unfortunately, I'm only up to about issue 9 so far. Some of the more recent issue look very interesting but I'm going to read them in order, gul darn it!
TheKeck
12-06-2005, 01:47 PM
Some of the more recent issue look very interesting but I'm going to read them in order, gul darn it!

Quite a daunting task at this point, but I would say it's worth it. It's a lot easier to just have been reading them all from the beginning. :)
TheKeck
12-06-2005, 01:48 PM
TheKeck: I think that he is pointing out that's remarkable because he only fired one shot per target from range. Not that I want to talk about it more.

I would disagree, but I'll not belabor the point, since you said you aren't really interested in talking about it more. :)
Spigot
12-06-2005, 04:47 PM
Quite a daunting task at this point, but I would say it's worth it. It's a lot easier to just have been reading them all from the beginning. :)

Well, I've had a 'subscription' since day one but just didn't get around to actually reading the silly things until a month or so ago. Now it's my time waster at work when I have nothing else to do.

Everyone's busy and I have diddly-squat to work on? Pop in the USB drive and read a couple articles. It's fun AND informative!
TheKeck
12-06-2005, 04:56 PM
Well, I've had a 'subscription' since day one but just didn't get around to actually reading the silly things until a month or so ago. Now it's my time waster at work when I have nothing else to do.

Everyone's busy and I have diddly-squat to work on? Pop in the USB drive and read a couple articles. It's fun AND informative!

I agree. And I wasn't trying to knock you. I was just saying that I've been able to read every issue in the week it came out, so it hasn't backed up on me. I don't think I'd have the persistence to go back and read through them all otherwise. :)
Spigot
12-06-2005, 05:56 PM
I agree. And I wasn't trying to knock you. I was just saying that I've been able to read every issue in the week it came out, so it hasn't backed up on me. I don't think I'd have the persistence to go back and read through them all otherwise. :)
That's ok. I'll forgive you, this time... :)

If I didn't have the spare time at work, I don't know if I'd be able to read the archives, but I tell ya, when I was stuck there overnight on Saturday with nothing to do it sure was nice to have a couple issues to read.
Schnoogs
12-06-2005, 08:37 PM
Interesting site...The Contrarian article leaves a LOT to be desired but otherwise it was a good read.
TheKeck
12-06-2005, 08:46 PM
That's ok. I'll forgive you, this time... :)

If I didn't have the spare time at work, I don't know if I'd be able to read the archives, but I tell ya, when I was stuck there overnight on Saturday with nothing to do it sure was nice to have a couple issues to read.

Makes sense. :)