Heroic imagery

A photo exhibit puts a human face on war that virtual "fighters" should try to grasp

By David A.M. Goldberg / Special to Star-Advertiser

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 06, 2013

~~<p>In November, Activision software released "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," the ninth annual installment of the immensely popular and profitable military-themed video game franchise. The games feature a single player in an action-movie narrative of globe-hopping combat scenarios loosely based on real geopolitical situations, and a multiplayer mode that pits players against each other in real-time Internet warfare.</p>
<p>This latest version of "CoD" earned half a billion dollars in the first 24 hours of its release. At about $60 per unit, that's roughly 6.7 million purchases. That approaches the total population of New York City. Though the game is rated "17+ M for mature" for violence, gore, language and sexual references, I have met at least a dozen of the millions of underage "veterans" of Activision's virtual wars.</p>
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<h4>'COURAGE AND STRENGTH: PORTRAITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED'</h4>
<strong>» Where:</strong> Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St.
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In November, Activision software released "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," the ninth annual installment of the immensely popular and profitable military-themed video game franchise. The games feature a single player in an action-movie narrative of globe-hopping combat scenarios loosely based on real geopolitical situations, and a multiplayer mode that pits players against each other in real-time Internet warfare.

This latest version of "CoD" earned half a billion dollars in the first 24 hours of its release. At about $60 per unit, that's roughly 6.7 million purchases. That approaches the total population of New York City. Though the game is rated "17+ M for mature" for violence, gore, language and sexual references, I have met at least a dozen of the millions of underage "veterans" of Activision's virtual wars. 'COURAGE AND STRENGTH: PORTRAITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED' » Where: Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St. Login for more...