America's Army

Silver Spring, MD February 4, 2009 - The U.S. Army today announced that its America's Army PC game, which lets players explore Soldiering in the U.S. Army, has been recognized with five records in the upcoming Guinness World Records 2009: Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records 2009: Gamer's Edition, the second installment of the must-have "Gamer's Bible," will hit shelves February 4th with a list price of $21.95. The Gamer's Edition features the definitive collection of video game records, facts and trivia.

The America's Army PC game received awards in the following categories:

• Largest Virtual Army

In January 2007, America's Army recruited its 8 millionth registered user; at the same time, the actual U.S. Army comprised just 519,472 Soldiers. This makes the virtual America's Army 15 times larger than the real thing! Today the game has over 9.7 million registered users.

• Most Downloaded War Video Game

According to official estimates, America's Army, in all its various iterations, has been downloaded 42,611,601 times. It is also the most downloaded game from Fileplanet.com, itself one of the most popular gaming download sites on the internet. The most recent version of the game was downloaded almost 2.4 million times between January and July 2008.

• Most Hours Spent Playing a Free Online Shooter

According to the U.S. Army, as of August 2008, gamers have spent 230,918,365 hours playing the PC version of America's Army. Gamers from over 60 countries have played America's Army since it was launched in 2002.

• Earliest Military Website to Support a Video Game

The website americasarmy.com is the first military website to support a video game series. America's Army is also the first multiplatform game to receive a government-licensed trademark.

• Largest Travelling Game Simulator

The Virtual Army Experience (VAE) is a highly modified version of America's Army that includes six life-size Humvees surrounded by multiple flat screens, with room for up to 50 participants. Mounted in the vehicles are modified light-gun weapons. The teams inside each vehicle, which shakes in reaction to nearby explosions, are tasked to drive supplies to a beleaguered group of aid workers in dangerous territory. The VAE takes up 1,811 m2 (19,500 square feet).

The U.S Army recently announced the upcoming America's Army 3 game where every detail counts. America's Army 3 is the only free action game that delivers an authentic and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology, actions and career advancement of a Soldier within a unique exciting game experience. AA3, which will be rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), will be released in 2009. As with previous versions of America's Army, AA3 will be frequently updated to include new features and missions and to highlight new technologies being incorporated in today's Army. Using the state-of-the-art Unreal Engine 3, America's Army game developers brought the most popular trademark gameplay features from the previous versions to an all new level in AA3. Highlights include authentic weapons and technologies, realistic training and exciting gameplay missions. AA3 provides p layers new insights into the Army and Soldiering while making the game easier to play, easier to install and easier to download.

The first edition of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition was published in February 2008, and received critical accolade from gaming industry reviewers. PC World said: "if you truly want to prove your mettle in the gaming arena... your name in the Guinness World Records Gamer's edition is the only way to go about it," while critics from Popular Science praised: "If you care about gaming, something here is going to fascinate you." The latest book is currently available everywhere books are sold.

About Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer's Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website ( www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada's largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcas ting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.

About America's Army

The Army creates and distributes America's Army so that young Americans can virtually explore Soldiering in the U.S. Army like Soldiers experience it - as individuals and as members of teams. Through the Game's virtual experiences, America's Army players can explore the Army from basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas to operations in defense of freedom. Along the way, they can join elite Army units and experience the strength of Army teamwork, values and technology within an engaging environment. The game has become an online phenomenon, consistently ranking among the most popular PC action games played online. The games are rated T for Teen and can be downloaded free from various partners listed on the www.americasarmy.com site. They are also distributed at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC Detachments and Army events.

In the America's Army game, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires teamwork and adherence to the Army's core values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army.

The Army launched America's Army in July of 2002, and has released major updates to the game every few months. These releases feature new technologies, missions, Army units and occupations. In keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering, the America's Army game will continue to expand and will allow players to explore the Army of today, tomorrow and the future. An entirely new version of the game, America's Army 3, will be released in 2009.

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