PC wargames have become so accurate they’re now starting to replace their professional military equivalents.
In late 2016, two missiles launched by rebel forces in Yemen shot toward the USS Mason, an American destroyer patrolling the Red Sea. The crew picked up the missiles late on their radar and launched defensive measures. The missiles ditched short, into the sea. It wasn’t the first time rebels attacked shipping in the area, but this was notable for a most unusual reason. A PC wargame was able to predict almost precisely the way the event unfolded.
The game in question is Command: Modern Air/ Naval Operations from Slitherine. “Simulations don’t give specific outcomes,” says development director Iain McNeil. “They let you try out strategies multiple times to see what kind of plans work better and what kind of capabilities are more interesting to invest in. They give you estimated probabilities, which is as good as it gets in warfare.” Which makes it all the more surprising that the game was able to model the real-life action with such accuracy.
Slitherine are no stranger to working with the US military. A decade ago, the Pentagon used modified versions of their games Harpoon and Close Combat in training exercises. During their latest review of their training software, they went back to Slitherine asking about these titles. The publisher, instead, showed them Command. They were immediately convinced of its value. “Apparently there is nothing that comes close to Command’s capabilities,” says Iain. “Otherwise they would already be using it. We’ve got a unique product and they know it, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av PC Gamer US Edition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av PC Gamer US Edition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"The War Within itself has kept me coming back most evenings too"
WORLD OF WARCRAFT remains my jailer, and I couldn't be more pleased about it
OK BUILDER
SATISFACTORY is the new titan in building and crafting games
HELL YES
DIABLO IV: VESSEL OF HATRED is a transformative expansion
MOUSE: PI FOR HIRE
This mouse wants to be more than just a gimmick
WINDBLOWN
Dead Cells dev's new roguelike has me afraid for my free time
NO MORE ROOM IN HELL 2
As the zombie horde surrounded me just moments after taking down my two remaining teammates, the writing was really on the wall. Armed with just a chef's knife, it was clear I stood no chance, but I was going down swinging, hoping for a miracle... it didn't come.
OWNED BY STEAM
VALVE cordially reminds you that your games aren't yours
CURSE OF THE AZURE BONDS
These classic games haven't aged badly, but I sure have.
DEEP FREEZE
Endure a blizzard of tough choices and rough consequences in FROSTPUNK 2
NEW HORIZONS
Building up REMNANT 2 outside the live service game grinder