'America's Army' morphs

What was created as a recruiting tool for the US Army is now "one of the most popular computer games on the planet," the BBC reports. "America's Army," a free massively multiplayer online combat videogame, has "6 million registered users worldwide and scores of fansites worldwide," the BBC adds. But that's not all. From recruitment to entertainment, the game is now morphing into a third mission: combat training. "The Army believes that the real power of this technology lies in the fact that it is multiplayer, and can be securely networked across the globe. That would allow combat-hardened soldiers in the field to assist new trainees." This third, more realistic phase of the game, called "Full Spectrum Warrior" and developed Army-funded Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, teaches soldiers other skills besides those developed in combat, though: e.g., how to interact and negotiate with all kinds of people in "mission-critical areas," such as average citizens, doctors, clerics, and political leaders.