Can Military Video Games Make a Good Marksman?

Military video games have come a long, long way. Remember the counter-strike series of the early 2000s? It was one of the first (if not the first) tactical first-person shooter that allowed players a genuine warfare experience. 

You had a choice whether to play on the terrorists’ side or with the counter-terrorists. Each team had their distinct advantages and arsenal of weapons. It all boiled down to preference, mostly. And those who’ve played this game would attest to its sheer authenticity, at least by the standards of the turn of the century. 

Over the years, these military video games continued to evolve, and the realism became more pronounced. The graphics and gameplay became so lifelike that it made you wonder at one point, ‘Could this be good practice for marksmanship?’

It’s a valid question to ask if you think about it. Have you ever played Call of Duty on your preferred game console? Developers structured the gameplay and controllers to make you feel like your finger held the trigger, and a corresponding reaction appeared on the screen as you pulled. It’s both fantastic and bizarrely authentic. 

So could military video games make a good marksman? As always, we’re using some expert input, including one from our very own Brandon Webb. 

What Research Says About Military Video Games

There came a time when military video games were reliable enough to improve ‘real shooting accuracy.’ In 2012, researchers studied 151 college students who completed questionnaires gauging their aggression levels and their frame of mind towards firearms. 

These students also spoke about their firearms training experience and favorite tactical shooter games. They then played one of these three video games for 20 minutes: Resident Evil 4, which offered a reward for blowing an individual’s head off, a family-friendly target practice game, and a non-shooting game such as Super Mario Galaxy. 

Participants had two options for their gaming apparatus: a standard joystick and a controller molded to simulate a pistol. Right after, they shot makeshift bullets at a velcro-covered mannequin. 

The study produced fascinating results. Those who opted for the pistol-shaped joystick landed an average of seven headshots on the mannequin. According to the study’s co-author Brad Bushman, they never instructed the participants to aim for a specific area of the mannequin’s body. But since Resident Evil rewarded headshots, it automatically carried over into the following shooting exercise. 

Based on these results, Bushman concluded: 

“The more frequently one plays violent shooting games, the more accurately one fires a realistic gun and aims for the head, although we can’t tell from this study which factor is the cause. 

“We shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss violent video games as just harmless fun in a fantasy world – they can have real-world effects.”

The Varying Opinions From Veterans and Lawmakers

Studies may show the potential for military video games, but what do those directly involved have to say? Apparently, there’s a divide right down the middle. 

Those In Favor

One of those who see an upside in playing military video games to enhancing one’s mental capacities is Dr. Ray Perez, a program officer in the Warfighter Performance Department of the Office of Naval Research. 

According to Dr. Perez, playing video games for a significant period could positively affect brain function. 

“People who play video games are quicker at processing information. Ten hours of video games can change the structure and organization of a person’s brain. 

“In the past few years, we have gathered data through research that backs that up. The data will eventually be applied for training to enhance warfighter performance.”

SOFREP editor-in-chief Brandon Webb shares a similar sentiment. 

“To be brutally honest, a lot of guys who make it through BUD/S training don’t graduate to the Teams because they can’t operate proficiently with a weapon in a complex shooting environment. 

“I played video games and Dungeons & Dragons as a kid, and both definitely contributed greatly to my ability to move, shoot, and communicate as a SEAL Operator and a sniper.”

Those Opposed

On the flip side, more people oppose using military video games for combat training. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the most prominent name of them all. 

Back in 2020, she tweeted about the US Army’s retreat from the streaming platform Twitch, which at the time was used as a tool for connecting with potential recruits. 

“War is not a game. Twitch is a popular platform for children FAR under the age of military recruitment rules. We should not conflate military service with ‘shoot-em-up’ style games and contests,” AOC wrote. 

The Main Issue Soldiers Have About Military Games

We mentioned how realistic these games look and feel regarding the visuals. But if you ask those who went through the trenches themselves, certain questionable aspects exist in terms of the perceived ‘realism.’ 

For Marine Lance Corporal Nicko Requesto, ‘full blown-out combat is not a common thing.’ 

“No enemy is going to stand out in the open for you to easily shoot, but most of the time enemies in these games like to stand in front of my weapon. 

“Soldiers learn to cover each other and work as a team covering all lines of fire while maintaining a dominant position and then maneuvering to pin the enemy with fire.” 

Marine Lance Corporal Anthony Andrada served one term in Iraq. He was on active reserve around the time of the publication of these interviews in 2012. For him, ‘the feeling of danger isn’t there’ during gameplay. 

“During dangerous missions, I constantly feel uneasy and on guard at all times,” he said, while also pointing out a video game’s inability to represent the realities of a combat environment, which include the ‘fatigue of going out for long hours and daily stresses.’

Soldiers likewise see a problem with the structure of missions in these military video games. For US Army Staff Sergeant Brian Gonterman, such simulations won’t cut it if translated into real-life scenarios. 

“I was in a recon unit and in a sniper section. We never did one-man missions, but we would go out in two, four, or eight-man teams, then split off into smaller groups depending on how many people we had and the mission task, but I never did a one-man team for an entire mission, it was too hostile.” 

But what if we flip the script? Can actual military training bode well with playing a video game? Andrada says no. 

“My real-life combat training doesn’t really help. It’s more of how you can exploit the game’s mechanics to be successful than knowing any real tactics about war.” 

 Ultimately, none of these veterans would choose to rely on video games to help them prepare for battle. 

 “There is no way these games will help anyone prepare for war,” said Andrada. 

Likewise, Requesto provided a grim reality as a reminder and to set apart the game from real-life: 

“I don’t think anyone can prepare for something like war. War is a horrible and dirty thing. People die.”

Can Military Video Games Make a Good Marksman?

Sub question: can military video games make a good soldier? These are valid responses from both sides. On the one hand, you can’t deny the possibility of translating gameplay abilities into a combat situation, as the above study suggests. Life can, after all, imitate art. 

On the other hand, it’s likewise essential to heavily consider reality’s limitations. 

Our very own bossman Brandon Webb brought up a strong point. Military video games won’t get you battle-ready because it’s more about ‘using dexterity and decision-making.’ But in terms of familiarization with the environment: 

“I do think that games that use VR could acclimatize best.” 

If you want to effectively practice your sharpshooting skills, do it at a firing range. And if you feel like your nights spent on Battlefield 3 deathmatches helped you become a better marksman, more power to you.