Uneasy Alliance: Military, Game Companies Struggle

The U.S. Army has continually tried to use game technology, particularly simulations, in its training -- but some are questioning whether the government is getting its money's worth, according to this St. Petersburg Times story.

The interesting take-away is that some are wondering if game companies are using government funding to develop commercially viable software that can be used in games sold to the public, while providing sub-standard tools to the military.

For years, of course, government funding has helped technology advancements happen (thank you Internet) -- but that has mainly happened through research labs and other places that are more familiar, and accountable, to bureaucratic organizations. It's likely that the relationship between the military and Hollywood/game companies will deteriorate rather quickly since neither side likely has realistic expectations about what the other will provide.