SSlitherine Software is not a video game developer that appears on the radar of the general public, but for fans of war strategy video games, this family company has managed to earn a solid reputation. Since its founding in 2000, Slitherine has been exclusively dedicated to creating military strategy titles that allow its players to simulate complex war tactics, recreating historical and current conflicts in an astonishing level of detail.
The most unexpected turn in its trajectory occurred in 2016, when Slitherine creator JD McNeil received an unexpected call from the US Department of Defense. Thinking it was a joke, McNeil asked if they were really interested in his game, “Command: Professional Edition.” But the call was genuine. The interest lay in the large and precise database of military equipment – planes, ships, weapons and vehicles – used by the game, inspired by Tom Clancy’s war novels and rigorously developed. This detailed information makes Command a highly valuable tool for real-time conflict simulation and strategic analysis.
From that moment the game became a reference within the Pentagon, where it began to be used in simulations and tactical exercises. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Pete Szabo was one of the first to use the game to model fuel consumption in air operations, explaining that this tool offered an unprecedented way to analyze logistical challenges in war scenarios. Although Szabo initially faced some resistance from his superiors, over time the results demonstrated the game’s potential to address complex problems in new ways.
Retired Marine Colonel Tim Barrick also found strategic use in “Command” and used it in his classes at Marine Corps University to simulate conflicts in the Pacific. he underlined en The Wall Street Journal. This video game was his favorite tool for the analyzes of the Warfighting Lab, a laboratory dedicated to the creation of simulations and advanced studies of military tactics. According to Barrick, the exercises created by “Command” allowed students to tackle real-life tactical problems, creating conflict scenarios with a precision that is difficult to find in other systems.
The importance of “Command: Professional Edition” reached a new level in 2020, when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) decided to collaborate with Slitherine to develop artificial intelligence models specifically designed to play this video game. This AI project reminded many of the movie “War games” (1983), in which an artificial intelligence dedicated to simulating war conflicts threatens to unleash a nuclear war. Although this collaboration with DARPA is purely experimental, it highlights the role that the game has taken on as an advanced conflict simulator, a which to this day continues to be improved with the contribution of military experts.
Globally, the “Command: Professional Edition” game has a user community of approximately one million players, many of whom are military simulation enthusiasts. Its success has led other international military organizations, from the Australian Air Force to the US Army, to adopt the professional version of the game in their simulations. They publish in product website
Time.News Interview: Exploring the Convergence of Gaming and Military Strategy with Slitherine Expert
Editor: Good morning, and welcome to Time.News! I’m excited to introduce our guest today, an expert in military strategy video games from Slitherine Software, a company renowned in niche circles for its deep and immersive military simulation titles. Welcome!
Expert: Thank you! I’m thrilled to be here and discuss the evolution of military strategy gaming and its real-world implications.
Editor: Slitherine may not be a household name, but among war strategy enthusiasts, it holds a special place. Can you tell us what sets Slitherine apart in the gaming industry?
Expert: Absolutely! Since our founding in 2000, Slitherine has focused exclusively on military strategy games. What distinguishes us is the rigorous attention to detail in recreating historical and modern conflicts. We aim to provide players with a realistic simulation experience, allowing them to explore complex military tactics and logistics.
Editor: One of the most fascinating developments in Slitherine’s journey came in 2016 when the US Department of Defense reached out to you. Can you elaborate on how that initial contact transformed the trajectory of your flagship game, “Command: Professional Edition”?
Expert: That was indeed a pivotal moment! When JD McNeil received the call from the Pentagon, it was a mix of disbelief and excitement; he thought it might have been a prank! However, the interest was real, as they recognized the game’s extensive database on military equipment. The detailed information we’ve developed became a powerful tool for simulating real-time conflicts and strategic analysis, essentially bridging the gap between gaming and military training.
Editor: It must have been a significant adjustment to shift from entertainment to a tool utilized in military exercises. How did military professionals integrate “Command” into their training?
Expert: It wasn’t without its challenges at first. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Pete Szabo, for instance, faced some resistance when introducing the game to analyze fuel consumption in air operations. But over time, the effectiveness of the simulations won over skeptics, showing how “Command” could tackle complex logistical challenges that traditional methods struggled with.
Editor: And how did the use of “Command” evolve further, especially after DARPA’s involvement in 2020?
Expert: Collaborating with DARPA was another leap forward. Our goal was to develop artificial intelligence models capable of playing the game. This innovative project aimed to push the boundaries of strategy simulation even further, allowing us to explore machine learning in military applications, reminiscent of the strategic decision-making seen in films and literature.
Editor: That sounds both innovative and potentially game-changing! What feedback have you received from military personnel using “Command” for training purposes?
Expert: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Retired Marine Colonel Tim Barrick, who used “Command” in his classes at Marine Corps University, highlighted how it provided an unmatched level of precision in conflict analysis. The ability for students to engage with realistic tactical problems via our simulations enhances their understanding and prepares them for real-life scenarios.
Editor: With advancements like AI integration and military endorsement, what do you envision as the future for military strategy video games like “Command”?
Expert: The future is indeed promising. We’re looking at a path where gaming technology continues to evolve in conjunction with military strategy training. Enhanced AI, more immersive simulations, and potentially cross-disciplinary applications could emerge, further solidifying the role of gaming not just as entertainment but as a serious educational tool.
Editor: It seems we’re just at the beginning of what’s possible at the intersection of gaming and military strategy. Thank you so much for sharing these insights with us today!
Expert: Thank you for having me! It’s exciting to discuss how far we’ve come and where we’re headed in this fascinating field.