May 20, 2009
The U.S. Navy is equipping some of its vessels with Israeli-made Mini-Typhoon 12.7mm remotely controlled machine-guns.
The 370-pound system, which can be fired by an operator in a remote location, holds 230 rounds, sufficient for 25 seconds of rat-tat-tat. Strategy Page notes that the weapon is an effective defense against small boats such as those used by suicide bombers.
So, who might the Navy turn to for Mini-Typhoon duty? Gamers, reports Strategy Page:
The Mini-Typhoon uses a day/night vidcam and a stabilizer. The remote operator has an automatic target tracker, and can easily hit small boats two kilometers away... Operators with video game experience can be quickly trained to operate the weapon.
Comments
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes ...
They'll have to nerf it in the patch, it's way over-powered.
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
But does the turret have regenerating health? Most modern gamers won't touch it with a 10-foot pole otherwise, because it would be 'too frustrating'.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes ...
25 seconds? Where's my unlimited ammo belt?!
"HEY! LISTEN!"
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
Queue up the anti-government, anti-war, anti-military, anti-viedo game outrage and protests.
Personally, I think this is pretty cool. Unless you're being targeted by the weapons system.
--Verbinator
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes ...
Isn't that just a remotely operated browning m-2?
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
My god jack thompson was right!!! Ha! Not often that those words are spoken. I just wanted to screw with his vanity googling.
It sounds like anyone with hand eye coordination and a brain that can grasp deflection shooting could do it. I think they need to be more specific about the hardware, are you controlling it with a gamepad, a keyboard/mouse/joystick or a wiimote? Since it's remote controlled, I hope the interface is moddable, I'd want shooting the weapon to produce a sound effect like the weapon in Space Invaders and if there's a particularly big terrorist boat (Or perhaps "aquatic technical" will be the official term) it should sound like the mothership
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
Though I'm not familiar with this particular technology, I know that a lot of other remotely operated tech in the military uses modified Xbox360 controllers. I'd imagine that would really be all you need to operate something like this.
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
Still doesnt sound quite as cool as controlling the aerial (you know that took me about 5 attempts to spell?) drone, when those things have missiles and crap on the wings.
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Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
Because all non-gamers are clearly morons.
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
You're only just realising this now? ;P
/b
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes
I don't think they are saying that non-gamers are incapable of operating the gun. Ithink what the writer means is that gamers don't need as long to train to operate it effectively.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Re: Controlling Navy's Anti-terrorist Weapon System Comes ...
These sounds like the turrents on the Millenium Falcon.