America's Army Cost Taxpayers $32.8 Million

[Darth Sushi]

http://media.bestofmicro.com/Cash,9-W-10724-1.jpgAmerica's Army Cost Taxpayers $32.8 Million
December 10, 2009 by Marcus Yam

" Your tax dollars at work.

U.S. Army projects cost money, usually lots of money. And if you're a U.S. taxpayer, that's your money.

America's Army, the free to play shooter that is ultimately a recruiting tool for the Army, is funded by tax dollars. GameSpot uncovered through a Freedom of Information Act request just how many dollars the project has commanded over the years.

Note that the original America's Army for PC launched in 2002, but investments and development started in 2000.

America's Army year-by-year budget summary

2000--$3,500,000

2001--$5,600,000

2002--$1,862,985

2003--$2,600,000

2004--$3,866,482

2005--$1,288,552

2006--$4,050,748

2007--$2,788,137

2008--$3,887,450

2009--$3,395,702

In total, that adds up to $32.8 million over the last decade. Do you think that it was money well spent? Why or why not? "

:source: Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/america-s-army-military-video-game,9241.html

[mr. nails]

yes, a complete waste of money. i played it when it first came out and it was terribad & quit it that night. i don't know anyone that actually plays this.

i'll take back my hard earned taxes now seeing how i'm unemployed. thx.

[Mister Moo]

lol, when I first read this I thought this was the cost of the entire US army and was like wtf

[brilman]

Played it too for like a min. when it 1st came out. WTF lol
I think there was a big stink about the army using this "tool" for recruitment when it 1st appeared. For 32 mil you would think they would have advertised it more.

sure made me run out and want to join the army

[gath]

Excellent post. It was pleasant to me.:naughty:

[iLOVENZB]

Free is never free

[turin]

war is very expensive in so many ways :-(

[Eargasm]

And.....?

$32.8 million, a small amount for developing a good game, and is just a drop in the bucket. The military's annual budget for recruiting is $7.7 BILLION (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002172.html).

Furthermore, it has been found that this game is more effective in recruiting "any other method of contact." (http://kotaku.com/5407142/americas-army-super+effective?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kotaku%2Ffull+%28Kotaku%29)

In other words, why is $32.8 million considered a big deal, when it's the most effective method of contact and $7.7 BILLION is, eh, no biggie?