Living in a Militarized Culture: War, Games and the Experience of US Empire

Over the past few decades, the image of war and the U.S. military in popular entertainment has waxed and waned along with the (un)popularity of specific conflicts. This essay explores the evolving role of the "hex" board game and the videogame genre of the military-themed shooter in maintaining positive portrayals of the U.S. military and war more generally within U.S. popular culture. In particular, these videogames are considered as both a remediated and interactive version of the Hollywood combat film and as virtual spaces where citizens can experience combat, interact with history, and become immersed in a larger militarized culture.