Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
G
o
(W
e I q I
)
The very popular game
Go
, or
weiqi
in Chinese, dates back nearly 2,000 years.
This game has a simple design but is actually quite difficult to play because of the
cunning varieties of tactics that can be used. It was a favorite of Mao Tse-Tung,
who insisted his generals master the game to become better military strategists.
Many board games like
Stratego
and
Kriegspiel
(German for “war game”)
had scenarios involving armies or kingdoms battling one another for land or
other riches. The military was the first to implement computer games or, more
to the point, computer simulations, to help teach and train personnel. Unlike
the scenarios of board games, simulations endeavor to immerse the player in
an actual situation.
Although placing someone into a real battle is the best way for them to learn
how to fight, the risks are enormous. Simulations help train soldiers without
putting their lives in peril. A simulation allows soldiers to practice repeatedly
what to do in certain situations to better prepare them for the real thing. A sol-
dier has a better chance of reacting appropriately and quickly enough to survive
an actual fight if he has practiced with a simulation.
The military use of simulations has expanded to include flight training,
tank and other large vehicle operations, predicting weather patterns, and
combat. Figure 1.8 shows a screenshot of a modern use of this type of simula-
tion in
Close Combat: First to Fight
: in the figure, Marines are clearing an
area. Players use the same kinds of weapons and tactics they would use in an
actual encounter.
the first military
simulation, the
tactical Warfare
Simulation
evaluation and
Analysis, appeared
in 1979 at Camp
pendleton and
used 35mm slides
depicting training
scenarios.
