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Multi-purpose Arcade Combat Simulator

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Multi-purpose Arcade Combat Simulator
Components of a MACS kit in 2009
TypeVirtual firearms training simulator
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerArmy Research Institute
Designed1982
Manufacturer

The Multi-purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS)[a] is an American marksmanship training simulator for the M16 rifle. It was created in the 1980s by the US Army Research Institute (ARI; now DEVCOM ARL) and continuously revised as arcade technology improved.

Overview

Screenshot of MACS showing the stats of the user after completing a stage.

Development of MACS was done to provide low-cost simulators for part-time training.[1] MACS would be used in US military training programs and by various ROTC units.[2] A few unnamed countries evaluated the MACS for potential use as military training tools.[3] Spanish language versions were provided with assistance from the School of the Americas.[4]

It consists of a microcomputer, a light pen attached to any demilitarized weapon, and a color video monitor.[1] It also includes a training manual.[5]

Rifles

MACS used M16-based rifles that served as the light gun,[6] but they were not seen with the SNES as it is meant to be used with the MACS program.[7]

A replica of the Jäger AP-74 was used as the basis of the MACS light gun.[8] There were instances of demilitarized Jäger AP-74s, Model Gun Corporation (MGC) M16s model guns, demilitarized Colt M16A1s/M16A2s and rubber M16s used as MACS light guns.[6][9]

Development

James Schroeder began developing MACS in 1982.[10][11] The first versions used the Apple II Plus microcomputer and supported the M16A1 and M72A2 LAW.[12] Students pointed a weapon with an attached light pen toward a computer display, which could simulate moving people and tanks at varying distances.[10] The available light pen technology was not accurate enough at the distances MACS needed,[12] so new lensed light pens were developed by the Naval Training Systems Center (NTSC).[13] The US Army filed a patent for MACS in 1984 and it was granted in 1986.[14]

There were plans to add support for an ambitious array of weapons[b][1] (hence, "multi-purpose") but only the M16A1, M72A2 LAW and M203 were selected for further research.[15] Later on, the scope narrowed further to supporting only the M16A1.

Soldiers training with earlier versions of MACS for Commodore 64 (left) and SNES (right)

Litton Industries engineers ported MACS to the Commodore 64 in c. 1986.[16] The program was patented in the same year.[17] Sponsorship for MAC research came from the U.S. Army Infantry School under a Memorandum of Understanding from December 9, 1987.[18] Following growing interests from the US Navy, US Air Force and the US Coast Guard to potentially use the MACS, a program known as the Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) was created from 1986, which was sponsored by the Joint Services Program on Manpower and Training Technology Development.[18][19] The JMACS Project funded development of new light pens, purchase of 25 MACS systems with demilitarized M16A1s for the US Navy and US Air Force and acquisition of more demilitarized M16A1s from Anniston Army Depot.[20]

In 1991, ARI investigated the capabilities of the new Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and commissioned Sculptured Software to reimplement MACS on it;[21] There were plans to further develop MACS programming to include stages for training users to use M16s with various scopes and sight, but delays of having scopes selected before the end of 1991 for the M16A2 by the US Army led to delays to implement.[21] The switch provided better graphics at lower cost[21] and multiple SNES cartridges were made for different courses.[8] Nintendo denies any involvement in MACS production.[22]

The next version of MACS was MACS 2000, developed by the US Army Training Support Center's Fielded Devices Division.[23][24]

Older MACS versions still see some continuing use.[25][26]

Though MACS remained an effective marksmanship trainer, the obvious Nintendo console and enhanced graphics gave it the appearance of a video game. Soldiers referred to it as such[22] and used MACS for recreation in addition to training.

Post-military

SNES cartridges for MACS have been sold to video game collectors for high prices.[27]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The hyphen is omitted in some official documents.
  2. ^ Weapons that were being considered aside from the M16A1 and the LAW included the M203 grenade launcher, M60 machine gun, the M47 Dragon, the TOW, the M1911A1, the M249 SAW, M202A1 FLASH and the Browning M2HB.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Perkins, Mary N.; Selby, R. Dale; Broom, John M.; Osborne, Alan S. (June 1985). Preliminary Evaluation of the Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS) for the M16, M203, AND M72A2 (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 1. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  2. ^ Evans, Kenneth; Dyer, Jean; Hagman, Joseph (October 2000). ARI Special Report 44 (PDF). Shooting Straight (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 16. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  3. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Marshall, Albert H.; Wolff, Ronald S.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William H. (January 1990). Design of a Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 9.
  4. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Marshall, Albert H.; Wolff, Ronald S.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William H. (January 1990). Design of a Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 10.
  5. ^ Major John Heil. "MACS prepares Medical Warriors" (PDF). 332nd Medical Brigade public affairs. p. 1.
  6. ^ a b Nicholas C (2020-10-13). "M.A.C.S Rifles – SNES Laser M16s". Firearms Blog.
  7. ^ Blake Stilwell (2020-10-20). "6 military video games used to train troops on the battlefield". We Are The Mighty.
  8. ^ a b G., Evan (May 24, 2009). "Multi-Purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (M.A.C.S.)". SNES Central. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  9. ^ U.S. ARMY TRAINING AND DOCTRINE COMMAND TRAINING DEVICES FOR ARMYWIDE USE (PDF) (Report). Training and Doctrine Command. 2009-02-19. p. 25. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  10. ^ a b Walters, Nolan (December 28, 1982). "Electronics Help Army Draw Bead on Target Practice". The Columbus Enquirer. Columbus, GA. pp. A-3, A-8.
  11. ^ Evans, Kenneth; Dyer, Jean; Hagman, Joseph (October 2000). ARI Special Report 44 (PDF). Shooting Straight (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 15. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Schroeder, James (April 1984). A Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Hunt, Jon P.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William; Crawford, John W.; Martere, Ronald F.; Parish, James R. (June 1987). Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS): Year Two Report (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 3.
  14. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Marshall, Albert H.; Wolff, Ronald S.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William H. (January 1990). Design of a Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 1.
  15. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Osborne, Alan S. A Study of Effectiveness of Infantry Systems: Training Effectiveness Analysis, Costa and Training Effectiveness Analysis, and Human Factors in Systems Development and Fielding (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 10.
  16. ^ Hunt, Jon; Broom, John; Greene, William; Crawford, John; Martere, Ronald; Parish, James (June 1987). Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS): Year Two Report (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  17. ^ Purvis, Jamie W.; Wiley, Ellen W. (November 1989). "Trainer's Guide: Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS) Basic Rifle Marksmanship (M16 Rifle)" (PDF). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. v. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  18. ^ a b Hunt, Jon P.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William; Crawford, John W.; Martere, Ronald F.; Parish, James R. (June 1987). Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS): Year Two Report (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. v.
  19. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Marshall, Albert H.; Wolff, Ronald S.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William H. (January 1990). Design of a Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. v.
  20. ^ Evans, Kenneth L.; Marshall, Albert H.; Wolff, Ronald S.; Broom, John M.; Greene, William H. (January 1990). Design of a Joint Service Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (JMACS) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 2.
  21. ^ a b c Osborne, Art; Smith, Seward (July 1992). Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator Development to Improve Soldier Shooting Skills With the M16A3 Rifle (PDF) (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 2. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  22. ^ a b Grossman, Dave; Christensen, Loren (2022). "Autopilot: "You Honestly Don't Know You're Doing it"". On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504077439.[page needed]
  23. ^ Evans, Kenneth; Dyer, Jean; Hagman, Joseph (October 2000). ARI Special Report 44 (PDF). Shooting Straight (Report). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. p. 17. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "Notes from the Regional Support Groups" (PDF). 1st MSC Gazette. Vol. 1, no. 1. Buchanan, Puerto Rico: 1st Mission Support Command. Spring 2011. p. 9. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  25. ^ Heil, John (February 2009). "MACS prepares Medical Warriors" (PDF). 332nd Warrior Call. Vol. 2, no. 5. Nashville, TN: 332nd Medical Brigade. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  26. ^ Wood, Nicholas (July 2006). "Soldiers use video game technology to maintain combat readiness" (PDF). Oregon Sentinel. Vol. 4, no. 3. Salem, OR: Oregon National Guard. p. 12. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  27. ^ LaGioia, Stephen (January 5, 2023). "18 Rarest SNES Games (And Why They're So Rare)". GameRant. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
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