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4th December 2003:
Operation: Live Connections
Troops are using Xbox Live to play games and talk with their loved ones back home.
Posted by John Grothier - Xbox - UK and Europe

Today at a special ceremony held in downtown Manhattan, scores of military families are gathering at the local U.S. Organizations (USO) Center to be among the first to connect with their loved ones who are currently serving overseas, using Xbox Live - to play games and talk with one another. This 21st century communication is set to change the way troops reunite with their loved ones back home - all thanks to a deal between the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), and Microsoft launching Operation: Live Connections.

"Operation: Live Connections is a welcome gift to anyone serving overseas this holiday," said 1st Lt. Edward Reynado, U.S. Air Force. "Xbox Live allows me to play my favourite games with friends and family as though I am sitting on the couch right next to them back home in Garden Grove, Calif. We share stories, laugh and poke fun at each other in real time as we play."

USO services centers around the world are being equipped with Xbox consoles and the Xbox Live online game service, which will enable tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel to play video games with friends and family across a high-speed connection, and thanks to the Xbox Live headset, service personnel can catch up with family and friends while playing the games.

"Microsoft is extremely honored to have the opportunity to join forces with the USO and USAFE to fulfill the program's mission to give military personnel new ways to connect with family during the holidays," said Julia Miller, for Xbox Live at Microsoft. "This is truly a landmark effort to help boost morale and show the troops and their families our support and appreciation for their dedicated service and sacrifice in being apart, especially during the holidays."

Earlier in the year, the USAFE conducted research among airmen to determine what elements would improve their way of life and help boost morale. Research concluded that online gaming centers were at the top of their wish list. As a result, USAFE services built 17 Xbox game lounges on 14 bases in seven European countries. Now USO services centers throughout the USA will be equiped with Xbox consoles with Xbox Live accounts, and popular game titles such as 'NFL Fever 2004', 'Project Gotham Racing 2' and 'Crimson Skies.'

Will this mean a drop in the 'friendly fire' incidents? Stay Tuned to Silicon Fusion.

John Grothier

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