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At the Eletronic Entertainment Expo today, The Army announced that it will be bringing its popular first person shooter, America's Army, to the Mac. The free game made its debut on the PC in July 2002 and since then more than one million players have gone through virtual basic training in the America's Army: Operations game and have played more than 100 million missions.

Here's some more information about the game:

As part of the Army, you are bound by the laws of land warfare, Army values and realistic rules of engagement as you go through teamwork-based multiplayer networked squad versus squad operations. Mission accomplishment and a high ranking in the game are a function of team effort. Teamwork and responsibility are key, and those players that violate the rules will find themselves in a virtual jail cell at Fort Leavenworth. Values, which reflect the U.S. Army's values including loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage, are integral to your success.

Based upon standard Army force-on-force training practices, you will always perceive you are in the U.S. Army. Your comrades always appear to be in U.S. uniforms while the opposing force always appears to be in opposing force uniforms with appropriate weapons. You can even recover and employ opposing force weapons during battle.

America's Army also features the Soldiers adventure game portion where you undergo Army training and adventures while encountering tactical, technical and physical challenges - similar to issues soldiers might face in their first tour of duty while on and off duty. Training missions teach basic character controls and movements and proper weapons usage for official ammunition like automatic weapons, assault rifles, smoke grenades and sniper rifles.

Training is put to the test when you encounter Operations' multiplayer missions including airborne drops to seize an airfield, raids on enemy headquarters deep in the swamps, raids around the globe to disrupt illegal arms transfers, and missions in defense of freedom and to thwart terrorists.

Each mission begins with players selecting their team and role within their team. Realistic infantry roles, such as grenadier, rifleman, and fire team leader are incorporated into missions according to Army doctrine. Communication includes shouted and whispered commands, radio messages and -- in a game industry first -- genuine military hand and arm signals. Also included in the networked play are training missions in which laser engagement systems mirror Army training to simulate combat.

America's Army: Special Forces 2.4

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