Games are a serious business. Not just because the industry is worth £XXbillion worldwide, but because, despite the protestations of the chattering classes, computer games can make a major contribution to society. The US Army’s recruitment efforts have come a long way from the iconic Uncle Sam “I Want You” posters of the first world war.

America’s Army, an online video game that gives potential recruits a taste of military training, missions and a dose of American military philosophy, is one of the top five PC online action games, with more than 5m registered users. The US Army has invested $7m developing the game and its advantages are obvious: it is easier to put potential recruits in virtual tanks than it is to give them real ones.