Press Release:

Acron Completes VBS to JCATS Serious Games Integration Project

Australia - 2nd May 2007

A PDF version of this release is available here.

Acron (www.acroneng.com), the Canadian reseller for Calytrix (www.calytrix.com.au), recently completed the integration of the Serious Game application VBS1 (Virtual Battlespace version 1 from Bohemia Interactive) to JCATS (Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation) for the Land Force Quebec Area Simulation Centre at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Valcartier, Quebec.

The integration project uses the Calytrix "LVC Game" application to provide the interface between VBS1 and an HLA 1516 federation. Acron used the Synthetic Environment Development and Exploitation Process (SEDEP) to design and implement the simulation used for the project and also developed the scenario to prove that the interface worked.

Using LVC Game was quick and relatively intuitive, making the implementation of the resulting simulation straight forward. "We only really had two weeks to do the integration because we received JCATS and the terrain area very late in the project. However, because LVC Game was easy to use and implement, it took a lot of the risk out of the project and we were still able to integrate on time.." said John Nicol, CEO of Acron

The project also included the build and delivery by Acron of several 3D Models that will be used by the Canadian Forces in various simulators.

Major Ben Cote, the Director of the Simulation Centre added, "Connecting VBS to JCATS now provides us with the ability to train up to 100 to 150 people, with individual soldiers participating in the simulation. Previously, we were only able to train the commanders and certain key personnel in this type of environment due to the cost and complexity of the simulators available. The use of VBS connected to our existing simulators means that a whole new level of training is available to us."

The JCATS to VBS1 integration project lays the foundation for the use of VBS with existing simulators currently in use within the Canadian Forces. Exercises are currently being planned that will further develop this capability. Acron is very pleased to be involved with these exercises and at the forefront of Serious Games integration.

 Company Profile

Bohemia Interactive was founded in 1999 as an independent game development company, with studios in the Czech Republic and Australia, focusing on the development of state of the art computer software and the research of advanced real time 3D graphics, artificial intelligence and physical simulation technologies for real-time interactive environments. Additional simulation products include Virtual Battlespace (VBS), the Virtual Responder Trainer (VRT) and Loadmaster Virtual Reality Simulation (LVRS).

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