Slitherine and Matrix Games have joined forces to assist the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory when it comes to enlisting commercial video games for practical high-end wargaming purposes.
DSTL cites problems such as lack of user-friendliness and experience requirements as the driving force behind their reaching out to Slitherine and Matrix, whose creative approach to commercial strategy game development has inspired the UK military.
“(Video games) are generally easier to learn how to use and have far larger user bases than analytical defence simulations,” said DSTL’s Principal Analyst. “Of course there are things we can’t use these for. Our own simulation modelling, as well as more traditional manual wargaming, is still vital. It’s just another tool for the job.”
Similarly, the Division Head for Defence and Security Analyst Rob Solly has said the following: “The benefits are accessibility and ease of use, and the amount of existing users there are. For example, we’ve been able to train users quicker by going out to Dstl staff who have played these games and training them to use them in a professional capacity.”
According to Solly, video games are a good tool to foster creative thought, especially when it comes to wargaming. To that end, Slitherine and Matrix will now help develop hybrid wargaming tools for the UK military.
Of course, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Slitherine is cooperating with the military, seeing as how they have a long history of adapting video games for military wargaming. Experts in their field, we can only wait for Slitherine’s next announcement with great interest.
