In this chapter, we analyze Finnish Army Simulator as a game representing
a remarkably multi- perspective take on Finnish Army conscript culture. It
offers an opportunity to “live” the daily life in conscript military life with
various situations set in training, drilling, and social life on the barracks and
training grounds.

Methodologically, we have played the game through its 54
service days, the time period available at the time of writing.

Finnish Army Simulator has a notably strong national character to it.
Hence, we contextualize the game within Finnish popular culture, above
all, the tradition of Finnish military farce. We analyze the game’s marketing
materials and producers’ media interviews to understand the makers’ concept
and ideas on for whom the game is primarily targeted and for what ends.

Our perspective is that Finnish Army Simulator reflects, engages,
represents, brings together – “simulates” as its name claims – a great number
of aspects, modes, and details of Finnish national service, but it also actively
molds and constructs ideas and perspectives on its subject. The game is, then,
not merely a passive simulator but an active meaning- maker.

Having served as conscripts in the Finnish Army, we see the game as providing a virtual
experience of its subject, its goal clearly being realism - and humor is one major part of that realism.