I've edited this thread to summarize the BS that has derailed the original post. Say what you will....Yes. I spent some time crafting this, because I believe it's fundamentally important to address the ignorance, disrespect, and pervasive entitlement...seriously...the whining and entitlement on these forums are beyond unbelievable....I really start to grow concerned with the socialist leaning "participation trophy" culture that is infesting and transforming our youth and adults. So, I'll start with the illusion called "Balance" and the overwhelming need for it expressed by pervasive complaints. "Balance" in complex tactical sims is pure fiction. "Balance in the real world is either an illusion or a farce. Nothing is "fair" on a battlefield...hell nothing is ever "fair" in life. Move past it. Find solutions, tactics, strategies that counter or innovate (that is what the game is designed to "train"). There is always a strategic or tactical advantage based on the conditions of the combat theater and combatants. The challenge is overcoming and dealing with what "appears" to be "unfair" and becoming victorious despite the perception of advantage or disadvantage. "Stop the whining and excuses and FIND A WAY TO WIN soldier!" (Some or many of you will here this in the future....I guarantee it) What I find most ironic is that people don't realize that the gov has a significant vested interest and investment in combat sim / shooter games. It is a forefront priority training tool. The armed forces contract and provide funding to each of the major gaming labels to increase production of these style of games as a pre-military training tool and recruiting tool (hence the significant rise in these games over the last decade as worldwide conflict and US and UK intervention increases). Even the NSA,CIA, and FBI have investments in the collection of Intel (some of which were exposed to the public recently). Military research has shown that developing children's and adolescent's brains become permanently wired for the core abilities/attributes being trained by these games as a foundation for current and future combat skills (when these games are introduced into their development). Ultimately, the reasons you are seeing so many complex factors being incorporated into weapon modifiers, skills, attributes, fire team tactics and most importantly the "long term expansions" of a single game is to keep that "gamer" (i.e. "trainee") invested and continuing in their combat training development. One major advantage to all this is the fact that it trains these attributes for years starting with brain and nervous system development focused on natural combat attributes becoming innate and ultimately influencing a part of who they are or will be as an adult...because trying to program enhancements in these "wired" behaviors into an adult is extremely difficult, costly, if not impossible for some attributes (reaction speeds, peripheral awareness, agility, hand snd eye coordination, digestion/analysis of multiple technical streams of combat related data in making split second tactical decisions). These "expansion based ten year games" coupled with mega data collection analysis of "game play" are ideal for the shifting these sims towards continual influence toward certain desired tactical behaviors through "nerfs" "rewards" or other "patch changes" that appear on the surface as "unnecessary" to "a game" however, like ALL military training this ensures that appropriate focus on certain desired attributes, skills, and the re-programming of the perception of what is "normal" (like training and instilling "adaptability" throug frequent environmental changes) ensure that the desired behavioral and skill development are ongoing and progressive. Moreover, privileged entitled children in third world countries (where the battlefield is frequently found) who have Xboxs and PlayStations are far and few. Yes...the tracking grenades and tracking rifle projectiles (hidden hand) are in real development, trip mines, cloaking tech, thermite grenades, enhanced body armor and HUD displays, fusion like projectiles, rail guns, etc....ALL ARE REAL or in development. But it's "just a game" right? Oh the irony...the anti-military dissenters (like the ones on this thread and other threads), being trained for combat with growing realistic combat sims incorporating and requiring "fire team" tactical skills when the need arises for them to serve their country, and they think it's "just a game". My advice to you is grow up and start showing the proper respect to those who have "served" and "protect" you. Think again when you choose to whine about "balance" or "unfairness". Because the day is coming (what they don't understand) when all the whining and entitlement will be forcibly replaced with "accountability" and "sheer will to win", no matter how "unfair" something appears or is, when they actually are called upon and indoctrinated to "serve their country" to protect the freedoms of both this nation (which they take for granted) or the multiple other nation's peoples in order to perpetuate the culture of individual freedom providing an umbrella of protection that only selfless professions provide by choosing to die and kill for the belief of freedom being an inalienable human right. It's so easy for some to ignorantly criticize and make derogatory comments to those who "serve their country" in a world where they are so protected and so far removed from the overwhelming realities of oppression, human slavery, genocide, starvation, -blam!-, and theft that surround them outside their bubble. It's irritating to say the least to see people on these forums, from the comfort of an arm chair make the comments they make while enjoying the benefits of the umbrella of protection we provide them as selfless committed citizens. And as the globe continues to fall into civil strife, the day is not so far off from when they will be called to defend those freedoms themselves and our interests abroad necessary to maintain those freedoms. So....for now if it makes them feel better... Tell yourself ..."It's just a game" and that complex fire team combat tactical sims "should be fair"..... If you don't "believe" me or my experience" in serving...your right as a "free" citizen (unfortunately many of the posts below exhibit substantial ignorance) here is a small sample of a brief article that only scratches the surface. https://takefiveblog.org/2012/10/09/more-than-a-game-the-defense-department-and-the-first-person-shooter/ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-10-03-us-military-can-learn-from-game-marketing-says-ex-call-of-duty-director (Pay attention to the "brain washing quote") http://www.versiondaily.com/how-the-u-s-uses-video-games-for-military-training/ http://web.science.mq.edu.au/~isvr/Documents/pdf%20files/game-master/GameReport_Bonk_final.pdf And for all you cheeky Brits and Euros out there... You haven't been left out... http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=1150 [b]NATO Group Holds Video-Gaming Session[/b] "[b]We have some agreements with game companies,[/b]” Wisher said. “[b]We provide subject matter experts because it will be closer to what we need for training,[/b] and the game will look more real.” Tim Tate, director of ADL’s job performance technology center, said young people are increasingly using technology to learn, and [b]DoD aims to expand its efforts in this area[/b]. “Younger people are very enthused about games,” Tate said. “We wanted to make this part of military training.” U.S. enemies will always come up with surprise tactics, but [b]the ultimate goal of using the games is to save lives by preparing troops for what they might face and improving their lethality,[/b] Tate said.