U.S. soldiers might soon be trading their M16s for plasma ray guns or virtual footballs, thanks to Microsoft(MSFT). The tech company revealed Tuesday that it is in the process of equipping USO centers around the world with Xbox 360 consoles so that armed forces personnel can play games such as Halo 3 or Madden NFL 07 during time off. The soldiers also will be able to chat with loved ones back home using headsets linked to the Xbox Live online service. Some soldiers in Iraq already have gotten their hands on Halo 3, a first-person shooter game for the Xbox 360 in which players assume the persona of super warrior Master Chief. Microsoft and game developer Bungie Studios helped the armed forces set up stations in the country where soldiers can play the game online, according to blog reports.
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