[Rictor]

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/02/patriot.shtml

The Russian government plans to revive a Soviet-era program aimed at instilling a sense of patriotism in the country’s youth through an ongoing series of sports events, rallies, clubs, military training games, and even patriotic video games in hopes to replace the popular DOOM.

Obviously, someone has taken a cue from America's Army, mixed it with some good old fashioned Soviet idealogy and -voila- indoctrination de la creme.

Coupled with Putin's tightening of the state's grip on free speech, Russia seems to be slipping back into old habits. What's interesting is that it didn't seem all that absurd and scary when the US did it, but with Russia's history, its quite easy to see the underlying evil of youth indoctrination.

Sorry, its been a month, I have to get all the built up socio-politcal angst out of my system. Bear with me please.

[Zarax]

Well, this is not a real surprise, giving Putin's background...
A new arms race is quite unlikely but i expect Russia to become more likely the old URSS with a byzantine flavour...

[Black Wolf]

Russia wont ever slip all the way back into USSRdom - it can't - capitalism makes that pretty difficult. Yes, it can go in that direction, but it wont have the money to be any kind of real major world power again for a very long time.

[kasperl]

And, really, if they want to fund some other Devs and make a good game with AK's as standard weapon, I'm all for it. I might have to learn Russian to grab it, though........

[Lynx]

The propaganda program has already started: http://www.rathergood.com/katjusha/

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Originally posted by Lynx
The propaganda program has already started: http://www.rathergood.com/katjusha/

I swear that's the very uniform I was bidding on on eBay...

[kasperl]

You,
were bidding,
on a Russian military uniform?

That's even coming from you quite odd.

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Well I already have that officer's parade cap, and I wanted the rest of the uniform to go with it...

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Rictor
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/11/02/patriot.shtml



Obviously, someone has taken a cue from America's Army, mixed it with some good old fashioned Soviet idealogy and -voila- indoctrination de la creme.

Coupled with Putin's tightening of the state's grip on free speech, Russia seems to be slipping back into old habits. What's interesting is that it didn't seem all that absurd and scary when the US did it, but with Russia's history, its quite easy to see the underlying evil of youth indoctrination.

Sorry, its been a month, I have to get all the built up socio-politcal angst out of my system. Bear with me please.

How is this any different to Americas Army?  Its the same type of indoctrination...just from the other side of that old conflict.

Unless that was your point

At least video games are being taken seriously.

[Knight Templar]

I wouldn't mind playing Russia's Army.....

[Rictor]

Battlefield: Grozny.

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Knight Templar
I wouldn't mind playing Russia's Army.....

Hehe...hopefully you understand Russian

For me...I can barely read the cockpits in Il-2 Forgotten Battles but I doubt I'd be playing this game.  I just think its fascinating that this sort of thing is starting to take shape.

I MAY actually do an essay on this...THIS may be a fantastic area to study.

[Knight Templar]

Originally posted by IceFire

Hehe...hopefully you understand Russian

 

Actually, now that you mention it, it would be a great supplement to my Russian class.

[Rictor]

What, modern methods of indoctrination?
From a societal/psychological perspective, yeah.

My parents tell me stories about how all the kids back in socialist Yugoslavia joined the Pioneers (think boy scouts) and did all sorts of partiotic crap and were taught how their first duty is to Marshall Tito, and then to their parents. The Soviets had a similar system, also called the Pioneers I think. Whenever I think of that, I think of the Junior Spys from 1984.

Thats sort of thing just creeps me out, and with the modern media, the message can be made very convincing.

[Rictor]

Now that I think about it, look how many games have a very explicit pro-state, pro-war message, and offer a glorified version of reality: Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six, America's Army, CnC Generals, Full Spectrum Warrior, Ghost Recon, and a bunch of budgetware titles. Not to mention Hollywood.

You may laugh now, but the cumulative effect is huge. War and those who wage it, particularly offensive wars of aggression, should not be lionised and exalted as heros.

[Bobboau]

it's gona own to arange a virtual war between America's Army and Russia's Army

[Rictor]

just remember to keep your troops well supplied with Cheetos and Red Bull, or they'll never make it through that long, perilous journey across the Russian wasteland. Alternately, you can tape down the run key and go watch some porn.