[defsectec]

I'm pretty sure that these days the more modern military wargames done by legitimate organizations, that aren't physical simulations (a.k.a. laser tag for grownups), do use computers and have integrations with full-size flight sims and data analysis tools.

I play game called Command: Modern Operation^¹ which can barely be a called a game, but rather a military command simulation at the operational level masquerading as one for civilian mil-sim nerds such as myself to toy around with.

There is a "Pro" version^² with all sorts of data-analysis and integration with other equipment/software that, according to their website, used by a surprisingly long list of military organizations. In practice, I have no idea how much it actually is used as I don't work in the defense industry.

I'm sure there are other tools out there like this, but this is the only one I've used before. If you like these kind of things I highly recommend it. It's the kind of game that comes with a 400pg ebook if that's your kinda thing. Personally, it tickles my autism just right.

[1]: https://command.matrixgames.com/?page_id=5002 [2]: https://command.matrixgames.com/?page_id=3822

[livrem]

Played some Harpoon, the older series that Command: Modern Operations came from (long story: https://retroviator.com/harpoon/).

Then I got hooked on Rule the Waves recently. Matrix games publishes the latest game in that series as well (from last year): https://www.matrixgames.com/game/rule-the-waves-3

It is a game mostly about staring at a spreadsheet, showing all the ships in your (usually early 20th century) fleet and their most important data, plus the current budget for your navy. There is ship-design and fighting (2D) real-time battles as well, but mostly staring at a spreadsheet.

[itsdavesanders]

I worked with a Navy Vet in the 1990s that would play Harpoon and reported that it was pretty much just like sitting in the sub looking at his displays. I don’t know how true that was, but I remember them marketing it as something that the Navy used in training.

I loaded it up once and decided that I really wasn’t into games I had to study for.

[defsectec]

Thank you for the info! I saw some good reviews about Rule the Waves when I was first looking at C:MO, so if you say it's good, I'll definitely have to check it out now.

I'm very much a fan of what I like to call "spreadsheet strategy" games. So if you any other recommendations, I'd love to hear them.

Been playing lots of logistics-heavy games like Factorio, Dwarf Fortress, X4: Foundations, HoI4, and Aurora 4X lately. Tried to learn Empire/Imperium, but I had to shelve that goal to focus on work.

For some reason I really love games that I end up spending more time learning and thinking about than actually playing.

[DocTomoe]

You would be wrong about that - boardgames-like wargaming is used by militaries all over the world, including the US.[1]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0okOrVaLCA

[defsectec]

Oh, you are 100% correct and I'm just speculating.

I didn't intend to imply that they only used computers these days, just that they are used sometimes.

Though after looking over my comment once more, I see that it definitely reads that way.

Thanks for correction and extra info! If you have any more, please share as I find this all fascinating.

[maxglute]

I think modern war also truncates decision making, things happen fast, you need computers to crunch the numbers and update battle field realities.