Example: Speedball (a form of paintball on smaller fields with man-made cover that is typically suitable for one person) is very good for developing communication skills. I play walk-on games where the people on my team do not know each other at all. I get them to designate which bunker they will be sprinting for, so we dont end up with ppl running through other teammates’ firing lanes or mulitple ppl trying to fit behind a one person bunker. You also learn quickly to improvise communication using terms that strangers can universally understand.

For example, when calling out opposition’s positions: “back stand-up second from the left on me”. “he’s posted on me!” will inform your teammates of the particular opponents position and the fact that the opponent is occupied, either firing or preparing to fire as soon as I expose myself. This also teaches one not to get tunnel vision and become fixated on trying to eliminate a particular person.

Come to think of it, I’d like to write a series of articles regarding paintball as a training tool. Depending on the kind of reception this comment gets.

Thanks. Happy Memorial Day.

JnB

Agree with you on the sniper spawns. When I played AA back in my school days, I loved playing not the sniper, but the spotter. I was great at protecting my shooter. I too always hated how we spawned with the ME. And great points about possible sniper missions. I’m a sniper game/movie lover myself; there are so few good ones.

If you like the history stuff, I encourage you to use the Magical Info-Highway to do some research on your own. If you want the good stuff, though–accounts of fantastic German High Command wargames, copies of old unclassified “what if” battleplans developed by pie-in-the-sky planners at echelons above reality, etcetera–you have to go to a library and read the hard copy. So much of the relevant material has never been put into digital format. It’s sad, really–a lot of our younger soldiers and even officers think that if it’s not on the net, it’s not worth knowing. A discussion for another time.

You might take a look at the game Full Spectrum Warrior and its sequel FSW: Ten Hammers. It shares many of the Hell’s Highway features you cite as virtues. It has a similar emphasis on unit roles and discipline and is (appropriately) unplayable as a run-and-gun shooter. It was a PC game initially and was later ported to the PS2 and XBox.

(“Hey First Sergeant, 1st Platoon is gonna be in the barracks today playing video games”

“You gonna WHAT???!!!!”)

Now a couple of random thoughts.

1) I have never seen any video game do anything similar to unit boundaries and control measures. While 1st Platoon may be able to physically run around anywhere on the map, if they cross Phase Line OPAL prior to pre-assault fires, they get to enjoy the pleasure of 105mm fires inside the minimum safe distance; or if they go east of AO DOG, the C Company mortars light them up.

2) In game FRAGO’s. I’d love to see have to shift from a squad attack on an OP to establishing a base of fire for another unit. Or to set up a blocking position. Games always seem to have the player as part of the main effort, and that is about as realistic as the run & gun scenarios that drive most of us nuts.

3) Sniper & Scout team insertions prior to attack. I HATE it when the snipers all spawn with the main element. Then they have to sprint to an overwatch position which really defeats the purpose of getting eyes on the objective. Further, “Sniper Missions” tend to focus on a simple assassination scenario. How about missions where the sniper needs to recon from multiple vantage points, then choose an overwatch position to support the main attack?

Ok, enough ranting for now, but great write-up!