DEFCON scares me and science says it will scare you too
video description
Date: 2023-12-10
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 30
-UnknownSquid
I put this game on a USB stick, which I'd just leave running on a college PC, paused at the start of a round after I'd placed the units. People would see the strange stylised globe and ask, -What's that? A game? -
-A nuclear war simulator. - I'd tell them?
Some would ask if they could have a go and I'd say sure.
Everyone would naturally lose their first round, and often say something along the lines of, -I think I lost-, looking a little horrified. To which I'd tell them, -Oh, there isn't any way to win. -
( Glossing over the score thing. because that hardly counts. )
I loved the moment when a tutor came into the room whilst someone was playing it during lunch and being a bit loud about it, saw the game and asked them quizzically, -Kieran? What are you doing? -
To which Kieran answered loudly in his usual high energy manner, slightly panicky, -I don't know! It's all going wrong! -
The teacher just looking over his shoulder to see stuff like, -LONDON 15M DEAD- and dozens of flashing lights.
reply
I put this game on a USB stick, which I'd just leave running on a college PC, paused at the start of a round after I'd placed the units. People would see the strange stylised globe and ask, -What's that? A game? -
-A nuclear war simulator. - I'd tell them?
Some would ask if they could have a go and I'd say sure.
Everyone would naturally lose their first round, and often say something along the lines of, -I think I lost-, looking a little horrified. To which I'd tell them, -Oh, there isn't any way to win. -
( Glossing over the score thing. because that hardly counts. )
I loved the moment when a tutor came into the room whilst someone was playing it during lunch and being a bit loud about it, saw the game and asked them quizzically, -Kieran? What are you doing? -
To which Kieran answered loudly in his usual high energy manner, slightly panicky, -I don't know! It's all going wrong! -
The teacher just looking over his shoulder to see stuff like, -LONDON 15M DEAD- and dozens of flashing lights.
reply
-AnthonyRusso93
Mutually assured destruction is not actually true it turns out there's not nearly large enough of a yield to cause nuclear winter and the mathematics on it isn't anywhere close to new. Belief in MAD persists exclusively because old popular culture is the only means by which people know things about anything. Some argue that fact implies a more concerning outcome without the guarantee of death there is no deterence thus it is actually preferable that everyone continues to believe that MAD is accurate. But it ain't like is an Inconvenient truth accurate by virtue of making a precise claim it is not close to true not even a little bit as a result this has been counterproductive to solving the problem making the issue seem 10x more urgent than actually was not a good idea it was a bad idea and exceptionally bad idea. Can we as a people stop getting 100% of our information from movies this is just embarrassing no need to fact check I heard it in a movie 30 years ago
reply
Mutually assured destruction is not actually true it turns out there's not nearly large enough of a yield to cause nuclear winter and the mathematics on it isn't anywhere close to new. Belief in MAD persists exclusively because old popular culture is the only means by which people know things about anything. Some argue that fact implies a more concerning outcome without the guarantee of death there is no deterence thus it is actually preferable that everyone continues to believe that MAD is accurate. But it ain't like is an Inconvenient truth accurate by virtue of making a precise claim it is not close to true not even a little bit as a result this has been counterproductive to solving the problem making the issue seem 10x more urgent than actually was not a good idea it was a bad idea and exceptionally bad idea. Can we as a people stop getting 100% of our information from movies this is just embarrassing no need to fact check I heard it in a movie 30 years ago
reply
-Jay2JayGaming
During the time of the Cold War, we basically didn't have the ability to deploy anti-nuclear defensive technologies on any kind of scale, and so nuclear war might as well have been two dudes fighting naked with swords. But now we do. What's more, Nuclear War is fundamentally the same as all other modern war, just on a larger scale: it is a competition that pits one nation's industrial base against another's.
With SDI type technologies deployed in mass around the world, Nuclear War just becomes War again. And mark my words, it will happen. The only thing that kept MAD going was the fact it was that or nothing. Now you can conceivably be safe. And Safety is literally a psychological need for human beings. It is only a matter of time.
reply
During the time of the Cold War, we basically didn't have the ability to deploy anti-nuclear defensive technologies on any kind of scale, and so nuclear war might as well have been two dudes fighting naked with swords. But now we do. What's more, Nuclear War is fundamentally the same as all other modern war, just on a larger scale: it is a competition that pits one nation's industrial base against another's.
With SDI type technologies deployed in mass around the world, Nuclear War just becomes War again. And mark my words, it will happen. The only thing that kept MAD going was the fact it was that or nothing. Now you can conceivably be safe. And Safety is literally a psychological need for human beings. It is only a matter of time.
reply
-starfaesystem7179
This didn't really scare me at all. That's not so much a brag as just that I've already kind of thought about all this and this is more just reiterating what I already know about the nature of this sort of thing. The only reason I'm not worried about something like this is because worrying wouldn't do anything. I'm completely powerless, so it's not worth putting the mental energy into, I'd rather just mentally abstract it until I don't have to think about it, because what good would it do me to bother? Just keep living life until you don't have one anymore.
reply
This didn't really scare me at all. That's not so much a brag as just that I've already kind of thought about all this and this is more just reiterating what I already know about the nature of this sort of thing. The only reason I'm not worried about something like this is because worrying wouldn't do anything. I'm completely powerless, so it's not worth putting the mental energy into, I'd rather just mentally abstract it until I don't have to think about it, because what good would it do me to bother? Just keep living life until you don't have one anymore.
reply
-markpetersen1738
I didn't play DEFCON but i did play ICBM very similar to DEFCON but more lighthearted. I still remember the first time i saw all the enemy missiles launch and i hurried to press my battleplan into action. then all the lines from the missiles was drawn out and everything was gone.
I'm not a guy that cry but i ended up having tears streaming down my face because of the level of destruction that had just occured and even when all the nukes had landed. the game wasn't over there were more destruction to partake in, i was very scared.
reply
I didn't play DEFCON but i did play ICBM very similar to DEFCON but more lighthearted. I still remember the first time i saw all the enemy missiles launch and i hurried to press my battleplan into action. then all the lines from the missiles was drawn out and everything was gone.
I'm not a guy that cry but i ended up having tears streaming down my face because of the level of destruction that had just occured and even when all the nukes had landed. the game wasn't over there were more destruction to partake in, i was very scared.
reply
-ericlondon2663
Gen X here.
Total thermonuclear war is not horrifying to me at all anymore. When I was a child I had nightmares but back then was a vivid Cold War.
Why I am not scared?
Because I have NO control over it so they (whoever they are) either can nuke humanity into extinction or STFU.
Regardless, most of us have no control over this so if you have fears let it go. and give them the finger.
reply
Gen X here.
Total thermonuclear war is not horrifying to me at all anymore. When I was a child I had nightmares but back then was a vivid Cold War.
Why I am not scared?
Because I have NO control over it so they (whoever they are) either can nuke humanity into extinction or STFU.
Regardless, most of us have no control over this so if you have fears let it go. and give them the finger.
reply
-ZombieHunterZERO
mass investments in automation, AI, space exploration, etc. what do you think will happen when we, people stop being useful to them? do you think they are holding back so they won't hurt us, common folks or the nature? they are far gone into their madness, our replacements are almost ready and a nuclear war is imminent. they are not subtle anymore, but play into people's ignorance.
reply
mass investments in automation, AI, space exploration, etc. what do you think will happen when we, people stop being useful to them? do you think they are holding back so they won't hurt us, common folks or the nature? they are far gone into their madness, our replacements are almost ready and a nuclear war is imminent. they are not subtle anymore, but play into people's ignorance.
reply
polygon
Other actual wargames by think tanks and the military that simulated conflicts that could escalate to nuclear deployment came to the same conclusion: panic firing of nuclear weapons was a real possibility when an adversary was losing and the regime had its -back against the wall. -
-Horrifying- doesn't begin to describe that possibility.
reply
Other actual wargames by think tanks and the military that simulated conflicts that could escalate to nuclear deployment came to the same conclusion: panic firing of nuclear weapons was a real possibility when an adversary was losing and the regime had its -back against the wall. -
-Horrifying- doesn't begin to describe that possibility.
reply
-thefire5219
-Its a game, someone has to win. - reminds me of when I was debating someone and I said that Capitalism is a game of profit, there are winners and losers, but the longer this game goes on the more the losers lose and winners win and that is why Capitalism cannot be allowed to continue. Still my favorite thing to say.
reply
-Its a game, someone has to win. - reminds me of when I was debating someone and I said that Capitalism is a game of profit, there are winners and losers, but the longer this game goes on the more the losers lose and winners win and that is why Capitalism cannot be allowed to continue. Still my favorite thing to say.
reply
-jenzelarevalo1086
I just watched a documentary about the Japanese survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So freaking horrific and disturbing this carnage two nuclear bombs had caused. People-s skins were peeling and people were rotting alive due to radiation. The gameplay was super hard to watch after seeing that documentary
reply
I just watched a documentary about the Japanese survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So freaking horrific and disturbing this carnage two nuclear bombs had caused. People-s skins were peeling and people were rotting alive due to radiation. The gameplay was super hard to watch after seeing that documentary
reply
-thequietcity
ive got jumpers no heart beat im still beating breathing and using no co2 it stays in me and i got electric people < people who died globally by electric shocks to thunder people globally every moment. i do not have ghosts. can u compile ghosts and send them my way?
reply
ive got jumpers no heart beat im still beating breathing and using no co2 it stays in me and i got electric people < people who died globally by electric shocks to thunder people globally every moment. i do not have ghosts. can u compile ghosts and send them my way?
reply
-harutogames9204
Tbh, to me nuclear war isnt that scary, i mean if your not in he blast zone then yeah your gonna be terrified but if you live in that fire ball zone, you wouldnt even know what happened, your atoms would break apart in less than a second
reply
Tbh, to me nuclear war isnt that scary, i mean if your not in he blast zone then yeah your gonna be terrified but if you live in that fire ball zone, you wouldnt even know what happened, your atoms would break apart in less than a second
reply
-JimmyJohnJahames
you know the worst part could be just being inside the ISS and just watching the earth slowly light up as bright lights flash through the atmosphere and the earth slowly fading to a red/black color of what is now left
reply
you know the worst part could be just being inside the ISS and just watching the earth slowly light up as bright lights flash through the atmosphere and the earth slowly fading to a red/black color of what is now left
reply
-MASS-TT
First strike is a similar game. You can initiate a nuclear war. In first place its nl quite realistic but in fact there's a secret ending. If you wait long enough, the games ends with a win instead of something like a lose
reply
First strike is a similar game. You can initiate a nuclear war. In first place its nl quite realistic but in fact there's a secret ending. If you wait long enough, the games ends with a win instead of something like a lose
reply
-yamabiki228
That reminded me of the time when I was playing plague inc when I was like 10-11 y. o. After the final message appeared I felt so guilty that I immediately deleted the game and was thinking abt it all night.
reply
That reminded me of the time when I was playing plague inc when I was like 10-11 y. o. After the final message appeared I felt so guilty that I immediately deleted the game and was thinking abt it all night.
reply
-fuffoon
I played it years ago but didn't find it as heavy as most I guess. Its still just a game. It was scarier living at the base of Cheyenne mountain in front of NORAD. Instant vaporization there.
reply
I played it years ago but didn't find it as heavy as most I guess. Its still just a game. It was scarier living at the base of Cheyenne mountain in front of NORAD. Instant vaporization there.
reply
-snkfan7506
Bought this game many years ago and still have it on my shelf. It did make me think of Wargames and it was absolutely chilling to think about the prospects of a real nuclear war.
reply
Bought this game many years ago and still have it on my shelf. It did make me think of Wargames and it was absolutely chilling to think about the prospects of a real nuclear war.
reply
-existingperson
Defcon-s a really fun game when you turn the sound effects off and play loud music so you don-t have to think about the horrific events that are happening before you.
reply
Defcon-s a really fun game when you turn the sound effects off and play loud music so you don-t have to think about the horrific events that are happening before you.
reply
-adamogilvie6951
chernobyl was an accident, though. Nuclear war is something intentionally decided upon and ordered to be carried out. Still, I kinda want to play this game. Lol!
reply
chernobyl was an accident, though. Nuclear war is something intentionally decided upon and ordered to be carried out. Still, I kinda want to play this game. Lol!
reply
-joecandicebob3821
I played defcon i see numbers not civillians i see ships subs carriers as somthing you command and take over the world i see nukes as toys for fun activitys
reply
I played defcon i see numbers not civillians i see ships subs carriers as somthing you command and take over the world i see nukes as toys for fun activitys
reply
-UnknownUserp371
This is a very fun game but somewhat also disturbing since you can nuke cities & kill thousands or millions of people overall the simulation is good.
reply
This is a very fun game but somewhat also disturbing since you can nuke cities & kill thousands or millions of people overall the simulation is good.
reply
-silasmoriarty539
DEFCON players: Oh dear god, ive killed so many innocents. What am I doing?
Hoi4 players: lmao i just nuked Moscow for the 15th time
reply
DEFCON players: Oh dear god, ive killed so many innocents. What am I doing?
Hoi4 players: lmao i just nuked Moscow for the 15th time
reply
-Goraata
-The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five. - - Carl Sagan
reply
-The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five. - - Carl Sagan
reply
polygon
- message from Monitor_Kernel_Access --> WOPR
Even if you don't play, it's not always a winning move. Everyone dies in the end! hehehe-
reply
- message from Monitor_Kernel_Access --> WOPR
Even if you don't play, it's not always a winning move. Everyone dies in the end! hehehe-
reply
-JohnDoe-on6ru
The biggest reason not to worry is because nuclear war doesn't make money since everyone would die, so they don't want that
reply
The biggest reason not to worry is because nuclear war doesn't make money since everyone would die, so they don't want that
reply
-boxofcereal
Destroying the world in Plague Inc: hehe I-m such a monster
Destroying the world in Defcon: -what have I done-
reply
Destroying the world in Plague Inc: hehe I-m such a monster
Destroying the world in Defcon: -what have I done-
reply
-bjorn2625
Chernobyl is NOT a rigorous reconstruction of the accident and if you think it is you need to do some more research
reply
Chernobyl is NOT a rigorous reconstruction of the accident and if you think it is you need to do some more research
reply
-MrOddlyFox
A game I had waited a long time to play, ever since seeing WarGames as a child and learning the nuclear lesson.
reply
A game I had waited a long time to play, ever since seeing WarGames as a child and learning the nuclear lesson.
reply
-egali34
This guy looks like he'll start a defcon scenario if he wears middle Eastern and carries a suspicious backpack -
reply
This guy looks like he'll start a defcon scenario if he wears middle Eastern and carries a suspicious backpack -
reply
polygon
I ran a little experiment what if all countries nuked one country turned out kills everyone in the country
reply
I ran a little experiment what if all countries nuked one country turned out kills everyone in the country
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
