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  • 2007 Serious Games Summit GDC: Jane McGonigal On ilovebees, ARGs This latest Serious Games Source feature covers a keynote by alternate reality game creator Jane McGonigal presented during the recent 2007 Serious Games Summit, during which she stated “I design games from the future,” and offered insight into the creation of Halo 2 ARG ilovebees.
  • Serious Game Engine Shootout In the march up to the Serious Games Shootout panel to take place in March during the Serious Games Summit in San Francisco, writer Richard Carey presents a comparative analysis of several prominent engines currently used for developing serious games, as well as quotes from the companies behind the technologies.
  • Playing with Fire: Enemy Dolls In this latest Playing with Fire feature, Powerful Robot Games' Gonzalo Frasca offers his unique insight into the perception of conflict in games, as well as in other media, and notes how looking at events through the eyes of the opposition could lead to better understanding.
Virtual Heroes Creates New Heart Surgery Simulations[07.17.07]

Virtual Heroes, which specializes in creating learning solutions for federal systems, digital health and corporate training, has announced that it has expended into the healthcare market with two new 3D instructional simulations for heart surgery procedures.

According to the company, these simulations specifically demonstrate new treatments for atrial fibrillation. One simulation demonstrates an open chest procedure, while the second focuses laparoscopic access in a closed chest setting.

The new simulations seem to be a natural fit for the company, which is also developing its HumanSim dual-use medical training product platform for military personnel and civilian first responders.

In order to achieve the greatest level of realism as possible in these latest products, company officials attended a mock surgery on a prosthetic heart and chest performed by Dr. Andy Kiser, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC.

In addition, developers also worked with other surgeons to understand and ensure that appropriate terminology was used in order to make the simulations as realistic as possible.

In developing the simulations, Virtual Heroes worked closely with Dr. Kiser, who reportedly was “so pleased with the first project, that VHI was contracted to do a second simulation featuring a different surgical procedure.”

“These tools have strengthened our educational seminars, enabling us to more quickly and effectively help people understand the procedures” explained Kiser. “The Virtual Heroes team has thoroughly impressed us with their learning capacity and enthusiasm for what we were trying to accomplish, as well as their overall level of professionalism, technical expertise and artistic talent.”

By Jason Dobson
July 17, 2007 08:42:00 AM PT