Abstract

Ambush! is a “mod” of an existing commercial first-person shooter military combat game called Operation Flashpoint®. Multiple players operate in a 3-D environment that simulates convoy missions in Iraq. Ambush! is a complete training system that utilizes gameplay as the shared experience for the team. In this way, it is a virtual training exercise lane without the logistical time and expense of a “live” exercise. The real training occurs during the planning and after-action review phases of any one scenario. Unit leaders must plan the operation and present it to their team. The team plays Ambush! and typically something goes wrong: an improvised explosive device (IED) goes off, insurgents attack them, snipers shoot at them, and so forth. They must stay vigilant, identify suspicious situations, adapt to an unfolding situation, and reflect on their performance once the action is done. It is an excellent example of how context can turn a playing a game into a serious training endeavor.