Game: America's Army: Special Forces 

Condition: New - Sealed 

Year: 2003 

America's Army is a series of first-person shooter video games developed and published by the U.S. Army, intended to inform, educate, and recruit prospective soldiers. Launched in 2002, the game was branded as a strategic communication device designed to allow Americans to virtually explore the Army at their own pace, and allowed them to determine if becoming a soldier fits their interests and abilities. America's Army represents the first large-scale use of game technology by the U.S. government as a platform for strategic communication and recruitment, and the first use of game technology in support of U.S. Army recruiting. 

The Windows version 1.0, subtitled Recon, was the first released version on July 4, 2002. As of January 2014, there have been over 41 versions and updates released including updates to America's Army: Proving Grounds, which was released on August 2013. All versions have been developed on the Unreal Engine. The game is financed by the U.S. government and distributed by free download. America's Army has also been used to deliver virtual military experiences to participants at air shows, amusement parks, and sporting events around the country. 

America's Army has also been expanded to include versions for Xbox, arcade, and mobile applications published through licensing arrangements. 

America's Army is a multiplayer video game that enables players to act as soldiers in the U.S. Army in a round-based team tactical shooter with combat at squad-level and three fireteams. GameSpot admired the game's authenticity: "It's pretty realistic—you take one or two shots and you go limp, you take one more and you're done."^[5] Another game review described America's Army as "the most realistic portrayal of weapons and combat of any game". 

America's Army 

America's Army promotes adherence to the U.S. Army's seven core values. To this extent, the game's main ranking system, "Honor", is named after one. 

America's Army includes optional medical training designed to provide real-world information. In order to assume the role of combat lifesaver in the game, players must pass a virtual medical training course based on actual training that soldiers receive with regard to evaluating and prioritizing casualties, controlling bleeding, recognizing and treating shock, and administering aid when victims are not breathing. Two America's Army players have reported using the training they received in-game to save lives in emergency situations; one such account, by Paxton Galvanek, received national media attention. 

The game also allows players to train to drive the HMMWV and qualify to use the CROWS system allowing in-game use of the Mk 19 grenade launcher and Browning M2. Training is also available for the Javelin missile as well as specialist training such as parachute training, which allows access to the Airborne missions, and Special Forces training which allows access to the Special Forces missions. 

The round ends when one team completes the objective or eliminates the entire opposing team. In certain circumstances, such as when both teams are eliminated or both sides have not completed their objectives when time runs out, there will be a tie. 

America's Army achieves a high realism level in terms of visual and acoustic representation of combat, firearm usage, and mechanics, but its critics have alleged that it fails to convey wartime conditions as accurately as it claims. "If you are going to join the Army, you know the risk", says player Bart Koscinski. "In this game, you might die eight times in 15 minutes. In real life, people know what they are getting themselves into." 

Special Forces 

On November 6th, 2003 the development team released version 2.0 of America's Army. This new version renamed the game from America's Army: Operations to America's Army: Special Forces. 2.0 still had the features of past versions, but also included Special Forces weapons, maps and missions. Paramilitary operations were introduced, including the use of non-American allies as playable characters. Players who do not complete the Special Forces training are restricted to using Indigenous Forces on these maps. 

The introduction of the Special Forces to America's Army opened up the opportunity to use Indigenous forces in game play. A primary function of the Army Special Forces is force multiplying. Force Multiplying is used in real life situations where covert military operations are needed. Usually a small team of special forces will infiltrate the region in conflict and train the local populace on weapon usage and tactics. 

In the game, the players who play as these soldiers don't wear military uniforms and use soviet made guns. This can be dangerous as the IF players on the map look similarly like the enemy and use the same weapons, making it hard for allied soldiers to discern friend from foe.