<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The historical roots of the technology and design of computer games can be found in Pentagon-supported research in 1960s. Many computer games had their origin as simulators and training equipment for the armed forces. It can be argued that the content of computer games concerning real wars reflects the ideological interest of the military-industrial complex or the military-entertainment complex, as Robin Andersen has redefined it. Selected games such as ’America’s Army’, ‘Army of Two’’ and companies such as ‘Kuma War’ are analysed critically within the framework of the fight for ideological hegemony in the Global War on Terror. It is argued that when computer game are read as text, they can also be read as propaganda.</p></abstract>

The historical roots of the technology and design of computer games can be found in Pentagon-supported research in 1960s. Many computer games had their origin as simulators and training equipment for the armed forces. It can be argued that the content of computer games concerning real wars reflects the ideological interest of the military-industrial complex or the military-entertainment complex, as Robin Andersen has redefined it. Selected games such as ’America’s Army’, ‘Army of Two’’ and companies such as ‘Kuma War’ are analysed critically within the framework of the fight for ideological hegemony in the Global War on Terror. It is argued that when computer game are read as text, they can also be read as propaganda.

Targeting the Player

Cand.polit., Professor, Journalism Ecucation, Faculty of Journalism, Library and Information Science, Oslo University College,

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Computer Games as Propaganda for the Military-Industrial Complex

The historical roots of the technology and design of computer games can be found in Pentagon-supported research in 1960s. Many computer games had their origin...

Targeting the Player

Publié en ligne: 07 févr. 2017

Pages: 35 - 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0150

Mots clés
computer games, military-industrial complex, Global War on Terror, propaganda

© 2009 Rune Ottosen, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Targeting the Player

Publié en ligne: 07 févr. 2017

Pages: 35 - 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0150

Mots cléscomputer games, military-industrial complex, Global War on Terror, propaganda

© 2009 Rune Ottosen, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
computer games, military-industrial complex, Global War on Terror, propaganda