Researchers at Durham University have modified a video game and turned it into a fire drill simulator.
The team used The Source Engine, the 3D game engine used to drive Half-Life 2, and created a virtual model of one of the university’s departments.
I have to say that this is one of the more unexpected uses of the Source Engine, but I love the idea. This is just modding taken to another level, but it shows the real-world implications of the culture surrounding video games on a sensible level. Granted, it won’t have the progression of the fire down perfectly, but all they have to go is learn the FarCry 2 engine, and they’ll be sorted.
“If a door was on fire, they [gamers] would try and run through it, rather than look for a different exit,” said Dr Smith
Non-gamers treated it as a more serious exercise.
Well come on, we’ve all played Splinter Cell’s first level, give us a break. ;]
Source: BBC Technology News
EDIT FROM AUTHOR: Just as a note, I tipped our own article to Kotaku, hoping that it would bring us more readers and bolster the community with more members. It turns out that they just took the link I sourced it from, and claimed it as their own find, as can be seen HERE. So, for posterity, this was the original article that was given to Kotaku, they just refused to credit us.
Popularity: 7% [?]
2 comments