The lack of “other organizations” in FPS games
OK, reading through FM3-24 (that counter insurgency field manual) there are a couple of things that hit me straight away about the discrepancies between pop-gaming and desired reality. Most significant of them is the discussion of the need for coordination between military and non-military entities.
This is perhaps the most glaring difference I can think of right now between the depiction of the undertaking of counterinsurgency (COIN).
In a broad, grotesque generalization of both military and gaming COIN I’m going to say that FPS focus on creating the hero “army of one” image where you single handedly (tactically and very skillfully) blast (point and click with auto-target) your way to victory. On the other hand, FM3-24 states that:
As important as they are in achieving security, military actions by themselves cannot achieve success in COIN…Essential though it is, the military action is secondary to the political one… (sections 1-29 and 2-1)
And the document goes so far as to explicitly state that Focus[ing] special forces primarily on raiding (section 1-29) is and “Unsuccessful Practice” - yet that’s what’s most “fun” in an FPS: The adrenaline pumping raid on an enemy stronghold.
I cannot think of a mainstream FPS that deals with COIN which included anything to do with coordinating with NGOs, politicians, community organizations or other non-military entities except to escort, assassinate, interrogate, or provide civilian shields for terrorist in missions where the primary goal is to “kill the bad guys”
Obviously, as a military game the player has to be engaged in action (that is why they bought it) and the action should be military in nature (i.e. killing or defending against (by killing) bad guys) because it is a military based game. Driving down a road in front of an aid convoy and keeping a starving populace shouting at you in a language you don’t understand in order without shooting would be a hard sell in an action game.
So, quick thought o’ the day:
Is there a medium somewhere, where you can get this coordination idea across in a meaningful way without glorifying the go-it-alone rambo/delta force military only, military always underpinning?