[QUOTE=Rex Brynen;26085]
Yes, I think that will be one of his main findings: that its firefights, not COIN being gamed.
I agree that the FPS likely won't get at the COIN issue very well and I also agree that some of the RPGs would likely get at it a little better. But I will admit that I am not a big fan or player FPSs.

There are, I think, a number of interesting social implications of that.

In this regard, during my time in OIF, I know that many of my soldiers were playing alot of FPSs in what little down time we had. I remember thinking, when watching my guys blast there way through scenarios, if I should be worried about this influencing their actions. My conclusion was it had no or possibly a theraputic effect, a way of "excersizing your demons", so to speak. I mean if you ain't got a dog to kick you gotta find something right? I guess this would suggest some level of jingoism I suppose, but I never had one incident to suggest that there was any transfer of values (my soldier's always upheld the letter and spirit of the Army values and warrior ethos) from the virtual world to the real one.

I am long time RTS/RPG game freek. Have been playing Guild Wars for a while, not much in the last few months (trying to keep focused on thesis work) I know that, as a MMRPG, this gets a little away from what I think your student is trying to focus on but here goes anyways.

Some interesting aspects of cooperation that arise in GWs as I would suspect in other similar games. It starts out being fairly easy to accomplish on your own but you are fairly quickly forced to form groups to accomplish missions to move on to more demanding portions of the game. The set up makes it very easy for defection, by either jumping out of the group mid-mission or by doing things like snagging all the "booty" first (oh I guess I'm supposed to wait til the 19th for that) Most of the missions have particular nuances that must be problem solved either through the specialties you come in with (weapons or capabilties) or actions that must be taken in the mission, most are not purely a hack and slash (although there is plenty to be had). I say all this (not to prove my geekness, although I'm sure it has) but to demonstrate that I think you could do some interesting tests of cooperation theory in this type of platform with real folks.

In many of the "city" areas, where there is no combat actions that happen, there are many interesting things to be observed, from the utterly stupid (naked dance parties) to established norms (at the trading centers) to the puzzling (groups of 5 to 10 folks hanging out for hours not really doing much of anything). I read some of the threads about possible use of platforms like these for nefarious communications but that's probably getting off topic. What you did get a sense of in the cities were interesting social dynamics, symbols of status, power, and experience are plainly evident (unique skins or items).

The makers of GW often drop unique items or quests into the game that players quickly work through and based on your "contacts" often determines how quickly or to what level you can accomplish them. Again, showing interesting aspects of cooperation and networks with familiar groups and individuals.

GW also, hence its name, allows the formation of guilds that allows individuals with enough money to build a virtual headquarters and can then recruit individuals to be able to access the guild. Based on my participation and others that I know, I don't think that the conversations are monitored like they are in the "main" playing area. I know that people have been reprimanded or booted for actions and communications that happened in the main playing area, but I've never heard of any evesdropping on the guilds (not saying its not happening just never seen or heard anything to believe its being done). I would guess the logic is that each guild leader can manage his own house or something along those lines.


Interestingly, Hizbullah has put out two FPS games, and a member of the Lebanese opposition also tweaked an existing game to allow you to Storm the Grand Serail in Beirut and kill the Prime Minister.
That is interesting