Although the military has probably the most games out there that have to do with it (let's not argue about that cuz I'm sure that's incorrect) we all know there are billions of Vietnam and those kind of games. I was wondering what is the most realistic? Not by graphics, or people. But any where you can choose a career, and actually work up your rank, not automatically start out as a covert sniper for the forces of good? Any where you start out as a new recruit and you know, work your way up the chain of command? :confused:

I'd say America's army, which was made by a developer commissioned by the government to give the most realistic combat environment. You have to play through tonnes of training missions to even begin playing in a multiplayer game. so career-wise i'd say it's pretty realistic.

Yeah, America's Army is probably the closest you'll get.

Do you have to work up ranks and stuff like that?

Realistic as far as what? Rising up the chain of command? Or a "realistic" simulation of war? If it's the latter, there is really only one candidate:

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (or CM: Beyond Overlord, or CM: Afrika Corps.. I prefer the former though).

Without a doubt, the most realistic (and entertaining) game that's ever been made (concerning WWII tactical engagements). They don't have a campaign, per se (which, incidentally, is wildy unrealistic in itself... the average US rifle platoon in WWII experienced a 300% turnover rate during the course of the war, and there's very few (read: none) people who rose from Lt. to 5 star general over the same time frame), but the game is infinitely replayable (the random battle generator rules) AND there are user created "campaign" rules.

And, don't worry: it's not hex maps and unit chits. It's full blown 3D. If you want to know small unit tactics, and what a "real" WWII battlefied was like, you owe it to yourself to get/play this game. It excels at (reinforced) company/batallion size engagements, but you can easily model brigade/regimental clashes (if you have the machine to handle it). As a testament to it's quality/accuracy, it's played/praised by numerous current/former members of the U.S. military. It was also purchased by the Australian Defense Ministry for training/history purposes.

As you can tell, I quite like the game.

Check it out at: http://www.battlefront.com

(While America's Army is certainly entertaining, keep in mind that it's an FPS and a "virtual" recruiting tool for the U.S. Army. In short: it's hardly a wargame).

-V

Full Spectrum Warrior is another one.

Operation Flashpoint is the greatest game ever created, hands down. It has everything you mentioned, or to be more accurate, it has everything. I can pick up a copy of it here for $20, so it's prolly 'bout $10 in the US ( I've spent $150 on it, but that money went into OFP2, so it's all good). The whole game comes in 3 discs, one campaign and some addons & upgrades on each. The campaigns are 1985, Red Hammer & Resistance. 1985 should be played first(even though it's the in the middle of the campaign menu), it's the campaign where you learn how to fight, drive, fly, command a squad and a heap of other useful stuff.

Anyway, it's up to you to check it out, I could go on about it at length but a)I'm too lazy & b)I'm off to play it online now (a MP mission called MFCTI, there's a few variations of CTI, but the concept is the same, it converts OFP into a FPS/RTS.)

"Americas Army" and the "Combat Missions" are pretty realistic.

Full Spectrum Warrior is another one.

Another one what? Realistic graphics? or chain of command.

It has a chain of command sorta thing, you give orders to a squad, and have to wait for the squad leader to pass it on to the men, who then all execute the command.

Yeah Full Spectrum Warrior was first made specificly for training the army, and then they made a retail version. warning: it's not a First Person Shooter, its a squad based strategy game. I think it was voted #1 most realistic Military game on Filter on G4TechTV.

For tank warfare i'd have to say Panzer Front, you don't go up ranks(wich is uncommon in real life) but it's very accurate. And it's got the best theme music EVER!

Are there any military games where you don't actually shoot or have 100% killing/action/plotting to kill? You know where you must train to learn or something? Maybe there would be one but then again it wouldn't really have an audience...

Buy Panzer Front!

Read the reviews at Gamespot and you'll learn a lot.

Read the reviews at Gamespot and you'll learn a lot.

Reviews are always long and take too much time to read them all. :(