Game Recognize Game…

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — October 29th, 2004

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Game Recognize Game…

(Beboxing the theme to Mission Impossible)

 

This war on terrorism the U.S. is engaged in should be deemed G14 Classified: Mission Impossible. But it's okay, they say everything's under control; the terrorist cells will be destroyed, peace in the Middle East is achievable and attainable and Iraq will be restored to a sovereign, democratic nation in no time. Bush reassured the nation that it's "all good" during the debates. He even put to rest Daniel Farley's question about the reinstatement of the draft by saying, "We're not going to have a draft, period." 

 

I don't know about you, but that's a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I feel a whole lot better. Finally Bush was speaking truth; there is a bill before Congress - the Universal National Service Act of 2003 - which was struck down in the House by a unanimous 402-2 vote and is still pending in the Senate. In a nutshell, the bill is:

 

A bill to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons/people (aged 18-26) in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes ( www.hslda.org).

 

I am a young person living in the States and I am between t0he ages of 18 and 26...me, myself, personally, I am not going anywhere even if that bill did pass. That trek across the Atlantic isn't exactly the "suicide mission" that the members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company from the Army Reserve faced when told to lead a supply convoy from Tallil to Taji, Iraq (108.4 miles); however, it does get the Red: Severe Level on my Homeland Security Advisory System.

 

So, when Bush says that the all-volunteer Army is working and we're not going to have a draft I agree with him, and I don't agree with Bush on most all things. Especially when we've got military life imitating videogame art because PS2 and Xbox could quite possibly be the best recruiting instrument U.S. Military money didn't buy.

 

Don't agree, check this:

 

Released in February of 1986, the 8-bit NES broke the mold that Atari Pong - Home Version ('74), Atari VCS/2600 ('77), Mattel's Intellivision ('79) and ColecoVision ('82) had established. And the first game for Nintendo was Mario Bros./Duck Hunt Combo pack with the gun. I remember it like it was yesterday, I spent hours in front of in my Nintendo playing Duck Hunt. See, back then I wasn't the best shot in the world. So what did I do? I put the gun to the TV screen so I could hit the ducks as they flew by. You laugh, but everybody did it. I guess times don't change because I still spend hours on the sticks only this time it's 132-bits of power and her name is Sonya. 

 

Practice does make perfect. I've moved above and beyond Duck Hunt, that's child's play. It's all about the covert government stealth mission of Metal Gear Solid, the team unity and strategy of SOCOM: Navy Seals and the "We Must Protect This House" attitude of Medal of Honor. 

 

You can't tell me anything. With Sonya, I am invincible online; the enemy doesn't know what's coming. They think they see me and the next thing you know, poof, like that I am gone. I've been practicing and I am prepared. 

 

But my question is, what exactly are millions like myself preparing for?

 

Could it be that I am in denial of my addiction and have become a videogame-aholic who lives in a perpetual videogame mental-mind state where I must be the best gamer in the world? Or are videogames the next big tool for the Military Draft?

 

First, I am not an addict, I am not in denial and I don't have a problem. JUST LEAVE SONYA AND ME ALONE. Second, Bush said the U.S. Armed Forces are doing just fine and don't need any more help. But the U.S. troops are being spread thin. They barely have enough money and supplies to protect a routine, 19-person supply convoy. I think the propaganda that the Bush administration was feeding them two years ago has spoiled by now. It's time they got their nourishment from some good ol' home-cooked truth.

 

Here's an appetizer, they say it's all innocent fun and videogames, right? With Socom: U.S. Navy Seals, my generation has the ability to lead a team of Navy Seals through missions where they complete objectives by plotting against and silencing the enemy. And if you're killed, it's cool, you'll just restart the mission until you've satisfied all the objectives. They call it hours of mindless entertainment. I call it basic training in the comfort of your own home. 

 

I am not at all knocking the videogame industry because they're my source of escapism and help me unplug from this world. Please believe, on the 17th of November, I will be copping MSG3: Snake Eater and I might even check out that new flight simulator Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. Why play into the government's hand, because I'm an addict remember; anything for that videogame high. 

 

It just seems strange that in these three years after 9/11, there has been an influx of games released for the shooter than any other genre. Gamers are able to assume a new identity and be a member of a U.S. organization trying to eliminate a global threat. This is captivating the minds, hearts and attention of gamers by taking war to an interactive and entertaining level: glorifying government infiltrators, spies and assassins. You're telling me that there's no subliminal messaging, the U.S. military is not indirectly benefiting from this phenomenon and it's all in my imagination? Videogames may have warped my perception of reality, but not that much. 

 

Syphon Filter 3: The Omega Strain stated it plainly, "The Best Weapon We Have Is You." They're not just talking about in the videogame.

 

Let the youth of this country play the games for an extended period of time, give them a choice or either school or playing the videogame and see how much voluntarily enrollment in the U.S. Forces increases. Who needs a mandatory draft; parents act now and get your sons and daughters games that they'll really benefit from the in the future. Hurry supplies and Military space is limited. 

 

Pick your Armed Force's slogan: Play...We've Been Waiting For You, The Few, The Proud, The Gamers, Be All That You Can Be on your TV screen, An Army of (PS)two or videogames, Accelerate Your Life.