Anyone who has teenagers in the house may have heard sounds coming from their bedroom that give the impression that an assault or robbery is being orchestrated by gang members. In reality, they’re probably fighting a war on a gaming console with other armies that might be made up of other kids in the same city. Of course, enemies can just as easily come from anywhere on Earth.
This artificial environment is perhaps best exemplified at the moment by gaming companies. roblox have Overtook the movie and music industry Something previous generations enjoyed. So you can see why the military wants to draw attention to military games through recruitment videos similar to the games young people play.
However, the British army’s new Fortnite-style recruitment video Can anything more be revealed about the changing nature of war in the 21st century?
One of the factors driving the creation of futuristic and exciting new recruitment videos is the need to capture the attention of a generation that may not be particularly interested in a career in the military.
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, teenagers and young adults believe that foreign policy decisions taken by the United States and its allies have led to disastrous “unnecessary wars” that have resulted in more chaos around the world than enhanced security. You might think that it was brought about.That’s the same number of young people What I felt after the Vietnam War.
On a more everyday level, young people in the UK might hear things like: poor living environment Military, kit and consumables issues.maybe Doesn’t look like a carrier For the brightest people interested in becoming social media influencers and the next Elon Musk.
On the other hand, if you’re interested in getting involved, why not experience the danger in your bedroom’s Roblox world from a safe distance?
In a more complex multicultural world, where young people may have friends and family outside the UK and even outside the Western world, eye-catching advertising campaigns can help make a career in the military more attractive. It may be necessary. And perhaps the values and worldview of today’s teens and 20s are… different from previous generations.
future battlefield
However, there may be another reason to use futuristic video games as a way to capture the attention of this generation of gamers. War is changing. There are new war tactics. “Information War” It is becoming an important part of conflicts in the 21st century. We see this in both Ukraine and Gaza, where claims and counterclaims are central to how the conflict is fought by all sides.
The terrain, or domain, of conflict and competition is changing. In 2024, when he is 18 years old, what kind of areas or territories will he be tasked with intervening in before taking on a more senior role? There are concerns that there will be war in the near future. There is involves technology It’s science fiction now. Future warfighters may “team up with AI tools and partners.”
Areas such as space will become increasingly important in the coming decades. Nations will face ethical and strategic challenges unlike anything they have faced in their history. Society and militaries will be at risk of being deceived in the information-rich battlespace of the digital age.
Military planners must find creative ways to deceive their enemies using the tools of the digital age. Deception, and the possibility of making an enemy make a mistake, has been considered an important element in warfare. Chinese philosopher Sun TzuIt dates back to the 5th century BC. A generation raised on complex and innovative games may be well-suited to the complexity of future battlespaces.
The use of games in the military is now more than just advertising. Across NATO countries, there appears to be renewed interest in exploring how gaming can help policymakers and military commanders prepare for complex conflicts and global challenges.I was involved in the development of role playing games A work inspired by Dungeons & Dragons.I wrote about that experience This article.
Developed by a group of Toronto-based “military designers,” the game aims to encourage thinkers to think about how they would deal with tricky and complex situations they might face in their careers. The purpose isthe game is on Used throughout NATO member states And new games are also in development.
next generation war
Games appear to be attracting the attention of nations and organizations as a way to appeal to new generations and to prepare young people for the complexity and uncertainty of future wars.I explore this topic in my book Theorizing future conflicts: War by 2049.
So this Fortnite-inspired video could reflect more than just a flashy social media campaign. This video reflects how the military is exploring new skills.
We live in a time when young people can experience war as a video game through cell phones and clips shot on them. GoPro video camera In Gaza, Israel and Ukraine.
It remains to be seen how this visceral and brutal insight into the realities of war and violence will shape the views of young liberal democracies considering military careers in a world that feels more dangerous than ever.
