The British army has had to beef up its training simulators, writes CIARA O'BRIEN

WE ALL KNOW videogames are becoming more immersive and realistic. But did you know it’s now got to a stage where they are influencing military training?

According to recent reports, the UK’s ministry of defence has had to beef up its training simulators for soldiers, because they just aren’t measuring up for those more accustomed to Playstation and Xbox representations of war.

British soldiers growing up with today’s games are used to better, you see, particularly when it comes to graphics. And the training simulators have to come up to the same level to keep their attention. The days when the military was at the cutting edge of technology – at least in this respect – are gone, with the games firms pushing things forward.

Of course, the simulators and games aren't really a substitute for the real thing. It's unlikely – we hope – that any army would send its soldiers out to fight with only a few hours of the equivalent of Call of Dutyunder their belt, no matter how high-tech it is.

But it's a step on from what may have happened a few years ago. The UK military uses Virtual Battlespace 2to train troops heading to Afghanistan, supplementing with technology the real-world training soldiers get before they're sent out. The simulators are used to test reactions to combat situations, helping to prepare soldiers for what they may face when they go out on active duty in a war zone.

It’s not the only organisation to bring in technology for such a use, and with increasing cutbacks squeezing budgets even more these days, it will probably become even more widespread.

Last month, the Telegraphrevealed that the Royal Navy was using "virtual" ships to train sailors without having to send them to sea. The navy implemented a multimillion euro Maritime Composite Training System that replicates operations rooms using LCD screens to mimic the necessary equipment.

So, next time you're urged to give up Call of Dutyor Battlefieldby well-meaning friends or family, point out that you're simply in training for combat situations.

Whether or not you’ll get away with it, if it’s likely that the only conflict to arise will be in the aisles of your local supermarket over cut-price groceries, depends on how much brass neck you have.