MT2 2010 Volume: 15 Issue: 1 (February)

Supporting Gaming Technology for Warfighter Readiness 

 
Gaming technology plays an increasingly important role in supporting warfighter training and mission rehearsal, and Team Orlando has been a major catalyst for researching, acquiring and fielding new game technologies to military users. The U.S. Army’s PEO STRI Website states: “Simulations help our soldiers hone their skills, rehearse their missions and return to their families safely when their missions are complete.” Gaming technology is an emerging tool in the Army’s simulation tool chest, a new tool that offers unique capabilities to the warfighter. Roger Smith, Ph.D., (PEO STRI’s Chief Technology Officer and a strong advocate for using game technologies in our simulations) is a frequent speaker on the topic. Smith states “Simulations and gaming technology can significantly improve the time it takes a soldier to master a skill in a new environment.”

Team Orlando has had a hand in promoting several distinguished events concerning the progress and future of simulation and gaming. Recently the 4th Annual Serious Games Showcase & Challenge (SGS&C) concluded at the I/ITSEC, where Team Orlando assisted in presenting awards for the best Serious Games in three categories: business, government and student. SGS&C began four years ago with the goal of stimulating the use and adoption of gaming technology for training and education. The competition highlights games designed to improve training strategies across various fields. Entries came from all over the world, and the evaluation committee selected 12 finalists; three each in government and student categories and six for business. The finalists displayed their games to the 18,000 attendees at I/ITSEC, and in a culminating event, the winners were announced. The Computer Based Corpsman Training System [managed by the U.S. Army’s Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) and developed by Orlando-based Engineering and Computer Simulations] won Best Serious Game in the government category and was also selected as the winner of the “People’s Choice” award. The Vessel Damage Control Trainer (by BBN Technologies) won Best Serious Game in the business category, and NihongoUp (by Philip Seyfi from the Lycee Francais de Prague in the Czech Republic) won Best Serious Game in the student category. The competition has seen tremendous growth since its first year, with a significant increase in international entries and recognition. For more information, please visit http://www.sgschallenge.com.

NEXT STEPS: GAMETECH 2010!

Team Orlando is in the final planning stages for the upcoming Defense GameTech Users’ Conference March 29-31, 2010 at the Orlando Hilton. Sponsored by Team Orlando, this user-focused conference promotes the use of game technology for enhanced warfighter training. It also serves as an update on gaming and virtual world projects and trends within the military. GameTech consists of a three-day agenda featuring tutorials, guest speakers and competitions. The first day will center on introductory tutorials with topics such as designing environments and building content in a virtual world. The second day will feature presentations and panel discussions focused on games and game technology, while the third day will focus on various issues and developments regarding virtual worlds. Several renowned speakers have signed on including: General James Mattis, commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command, Will Wright of Stupid Fun Club, Major General Mel Spiese, commander of USMC Training and Education Command and Lawrence Johnson, Ph. D., CEO of New Media Consortium.

New this year is the establishment of two distinguished awards: “Innovations in DoD Gaming” and the “Federal Virtual World Challenge.” The Innovations in DoD Gaming award is hosted by Team Orlando and recognizes efforts to innovatively use game technology in the accomplishment of realistic and effective military training. Winners will receive recognition at both GameTech 2010 and ImplementationFest2010. The U.S. Army’s STTC is sponsoring the Federal Virtual World Challenge (FVWC). The goal of FVWC is to explore the use of virtual worlds for training by highlighting existing VW training solutions. Finalists of the FVWC will also be demonstrating their submissions at GameTech 2010.Winners will receive cash prizes at an awards ceremony at GameTech 2010.

The GameTech conference has experienced significant growth since its early days as Army’s Ambush! User’s Conference circa 2006. Last year the event sold out. In a show of “practicing what they teach,” GameTech2009 streamed the conference to an audience within the virtual world Second Life. This year, GameTech will be even bigger with more speakers, presentations, and the addition of the Innovations in DoD Gaming and Federal Virtual World Challenge competitions. Information on GameTech 2010 can be found at http://www. teamorlando.org/gametech/index.shtml.

Team Orlando continues to lead the way in the research, acquisition and fielding of serious games and virtual worlds for engaging and training the next generation of soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and coastguardsmen. ♦

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