I’ve got a range of opinions on the video game violence debate. No, games don’t people more violent. No, they shouldn’t be banned. Yes, kids shouldn’t play games for adults. Yes, it’s perfectly fine to criticize excessive game violence. But the biggest issue for me is when bad actors try to co-op this fake violence for real violent ends, namely the uncomfortable connection between video games and the real U.S. military. Playing through war crimes in Call of Duty is one thing. The government training soldiers with its own Call of Duty is something else entirely. Imagine something as cursed as an esports team recruited under this administration.
Unfortunately, the melding of gamers and the government only seems like it’s getting worse. This story on using gamer brains to train military drone A.I. sounds like something straight out of Metal Gear Solid.
This study from the University of Buffalo, reported by The Next Web, takes its inspirations from recent breakthroughs like supercomputers becoming unbeatable StarCraft champs. Turns out there’s merit in applying video game thought processes to make mechanical minds more creative and tactical.
And that’s exactly what this study, funded by DARPA no less, seeks to do. Scientists monitor the eye movements and brain waves of gamer participants using specialized cameras and EEG headsets. They’ll then study that data and use it to develop new algorithms for military drones. Up to 250 killer sky robots could soon be guided by the thoughts of some dude just seconds away from a rage quit. Cool.
For a slightly less distressing video game study, here’s how good storytelling can make you less sick to your stomach in virtual reality.
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