SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - US Army to spend $3.7 million on an anti-smoking video game

Posted: Jul 11 2009 09:28 pm

Quote:

War and cigarettes have a long and fabled history. Lucky Strike was practically an unofficial sponsor for American soldiers during World War II, and that brand will forever be tied to that period in history. Well, it seems that the U.S. Army is looking to distance itself from this longstanding association, with a little help from our good pal videogames.

The Texas Medical Center reports that a new anti-smoking game, Project Combat, is being developed by behavioral scientist Alexander Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D. at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The game is based on another Prokhorov-designed anti-smoking game, Escape with Your Life, and is being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense for a cool $3.7 million (I bet there are quite a few game developers who would take up smoking to secure that kind of budget for one of their games).

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/697275/US-Army-Spending-37-Million-On-Anti-Smoking-Videogame.html

imo, total waste of money. didnt tobacco help build this country? that and cotton?

Posted: Jul 11 2009 09:49 pm

Yeppers. In fact they're discussing a military-wide ban on smoking, period.

http://www.kxxv.com/global/story.asp?s=10709162

I don't smoke (well, I'm not addicted to nicotine, and the occasions I do smoke my pipe are never in uniform), but I still think its kind of stupid on the one hand--personal freedom and all. On the other, the military is not there to grant its soldiers personal freedom, it is there to ensure the country is protected. If they can tell someone they aren't at liberty to leave base, and can legally court-martial them if they disobey, I don't see why they shouldn't ban smoking if its the best interest of promoting the health and fighting ability of its soldiers.

That said, if the ban does go into effect, it'll go the way of underage drinking in the military: people will do it anyway, and most will turn a blind eye unless its really obvious or becomes a problem.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

"hey lets waste money on crap that nobody is likely to give a damn about when we could use it to fix the economy"

I just lost a little faith in the US military

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

Hacker wrote:

I just lost a little faith in the US military

I would guess it's the bureaucrats, not the strategists. So, hold on to that faith for now.

Posted: Jul 12 2009 12:26 am

Cattivo wrote:

Hacker wrote:

I just lost a little faith in the US military

I would guess it's the bureaucrats, not the strategists. So, hold on to that faith for now.

I agree. I'm sure it's the pen pushers and not the actual soldiers who petitioned for this.

Posted: Jul 12 2009 12:53 am

Ummm....maybe that money should go to homeless veterans ?

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Is 3.4 million for a game really a lot?

Posted: Jul 12 2009 02:54 am

Optimist With Doubts wrote:

Is 3.4 million for a game really a lot?

No, not really. But when it's for such an inane project, it really seems like a waste of resources

Posted: Jul 12 2009 03:11 am

So Solid Snake is the new Marlboro Man?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

First, I'd like to say that creating a video game against smoking is stupid.

Second, I'd like to say that banning smoking in the military is a wonderful idea. As long as the military is not drafting people must choose to be a part of the armed forces. This choice should demand that they not damage their health. The cost of a soldier is a burden on the tax paying public, having soldiers who are unfit due to personal choices is not acceptable. Tax payers have to pay for their health care as well as their training. I consider that to be an investment, one that I am not happy to see burdened by a stupid habit. The day that the military begins to draft again, this ban can be lifted.

Posted: Jul 12 2009 05:06 pm

I wonder how many potential soldiers we would lose because people arent gonna give up smoking to fight for the country.

There is no real need for this.

Joined: Aug 26 2007 Posts: 2752

Hmmm, i'm all for getting ride of smoking, it's killed and destroyed too many people i know.

But this is ridiculous, making an anti-smoking game is retarded and to think millions are going into this is just another example of America sucks with money. It seems like America will spend millions and make millions on entertainment but we seemed to take into consideration that we're in A FUCKING RECESSION! We wouldn't be in a recession if america wasn't so terrible at using money.

Title: Robot Soul Brother Joined: Jul 11 2008 Posts: 137

...Blah.

They're about 20+ years too late for something like this. There should've been a 'Anti-Smoking video game' back when there were games about Diabetes...Oh wait, there was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Ronan:_Experimental_Surgeon

...

Title: Alexz Aficionado Joined: May 21 2008 Posts: 2889

THIS is what they're discussing on Capitol Hill?

No wonder we're in a recession.

Posted: Jul 14 2009 12:07 am

Arcane wrote:

back when there were games about Diabetes
...

heh heh... I don't think to many of us really remember Packy and Marlon or Captain Novalin, but hey it was worth a mention.
And for the game... meh, It won't stop people from smoking.

Posted: Jul 14 2009 02:02 am

Don't forget that UbiSoft released My Stop Smoking Coach: Allen Carr's EasyWay.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

1) Huge waste of money, but hey, it's the military, it's what they do.

2) I sort of like the idea, especially considering we're putting older soldiers on the frontlines. I kind of am not sure of it, though, because if these guys need something to chill themselves out under duress that doesn't cloud their judgement, then go for it.

3)It could just be plain strategy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fVtIY4rOlQ

Title: Robot Soul Brother Joined: Jul 11 2008 Posts: 137

Slayer1 wrote:

Arcane wrote:

back when there were games about Diabetes
...

heh heh... I don't think to many of us really remember Packy and Marlon or Captain Novalin, but hey it was worth a mention.
And for the game... meh, It won't stop people from smoking.

lol You have a point there, though I first read about Captain Novolin in Nintendo Power waaay back in 1993. That, and the 'Encyclopedia obscura' website, are the only reasons I (still) know about those games.

...But this thread makes me think: I wonder if games like the WarioWare series and Panic were created as part of a Government Conspiracy to fuck with people's Attention Spans?

...

lol Nah, just joking...