STANDARDSfor Very Serious Games

David O. RossWargame Technology Lead

Decision Support Systems BranchAir Force Research Laboratory

Rome, NY David.Ross@rl.af.mil

V 1.3

This document is personal opinion only

Introduction• 42 years as hobby gamer• 19 years in the Research Laboratory• 12 years as serious gamer• 8 years as owner of serious game company• 8 years on hardware standards committees

Baseline• This is an attempt to identify areas for

standardization of use to the military

• Gaming Standards probably most readily accepted by niche markets and small groups– Serious games is one such area

Military Gaming Areas• Training

– Provides the teachers right answer

• Education– Experience for fledgling commanders– Refinement for experienced commanders

• Experimentation– Testing without risking blood and treasure

• Mission Rehearsal– Last chance to “Save Game”

Drivers• Security

– “You’re not paranoid if they ARE out to get you”.

• Ease of scenario development– Original software organization independence– Minimize overhead – Maximize potential pool of “modders”

• Often employed in austere environments– Proverbial “Foxhole in Mogadishu”

Security• Security, Security, Security

– The more standardized, the easier secured• Although once infected, monocultures = pandemic

– Modular– Annotated– Encryption

• “You’re not paranoid if they are out to get you”.– They ARE out to get you

Standard Mod Tools• Accessible Editors

– Environment depiction– Graphics– AI behaviors– Parametrics– Physics

• Original software organization independence

• Minimizes overhead and maximizes mod pool

Data Transfer/ Interoperability • Internet data transfer protocols

– Easy interoperability with other MS&G tools• Questions will be asked about HLA interoperability • Also with DIS interoperability

– Upload updates and new scenarios• Secure• Low bandwidth

– Employed in austere environments• “Foxhole in Mogadishu”

Instrumentation• Ability to figure out what happened in the scenario

• Instrumentation Package or I/O for:– Who, What, Where, When, Why, How

• Scenario walk-throughs

In Conclusion• Security

• Standard Mod Tools

• Data Transfer/ Interoperability

• Instrumentation

• Supporting:– Training– Education– Experimentation– Mission Rehearsal

Questions?