Week 3a Tasks

Completion of the design document

General:
Annotations of maps

Technical research
#Working equipment
#3Dsmax09 .mdl importer
#Condition scripting
#Restricting character selection
#Creation of NPC

Rob:
#Inclusion of the house scenario
#Final logo/branding design

Ben:
#Concept Art of tunnel
#Converting sketch of blueprint to Visio

Vern:
#Plans to Visio

Julian:
#Complete scenario
#Concept art/storyboards
#Blueprints
#Scenario write-up

WIP Report: WK2b Summary

Most of the design document has been completed; a few more designs are required for completion.
Julian was absent with pinkeye and is expected to submit his work sometime over the weekend.

Week 2b Tasks

This week signals the construction of the design document, the task for the majority of the team is to convert the research of real-life fire incidents into game scenarios for VFS.

This will entail a background of the scenario, a detailed briefing with information regarding environment, list of equipment that the player will have access to, any NPCs that are to be included, any custom meshes that need to be created and the win/lose conditions of the scenario.

Accompanying the scenario section should be an environment layout/blueprint, storyboards, walkthrough and if time permits concept art.

Just to specify who is doing what:

Ben – Scenario Design
Julian – Scenario design
Rob – Design Document, UI design
Vern – Scenario design, Avatar/character design, equipment

WIP Report: WK2a Summary

Everyone managed to gather sufficient information regarding real-life fire incidents including building layouts. This research will prove invaluable in the coming days, aiding in the construction of the design document.

Week 2a Tasks

Research into real-world fire incidents, each member of the team must find at least one location with blueprints/map layout and information as to how the fire started, how it spread, personnel on site and any additional information
Locations:

#Domestic home (house, shed, garage) - Rob
#Petrol station - Vern
#Warehouse – Julian
#Construction site or Tunnel crash - Ben

This research will eventually be turned into playable scenarios for VFS.

Features

Here is the list of features that we hope to achieve with VFS:

Environment
Utilising the Source Engine, VFS aims to recreate many different scenarios based upon real-world fire incidents, brining the user as close as possible to the event without the risk involved in simulating fire drills.

Simulated Flashovers
Flashover risks implemented to instil a sense of caution into the user, accurately simulating one of the most dangerous aspects of fire fighting.

Teamwork
Multiple client connectivity allows the trainees to function as a group as if in a real situation, prompting teamwork and tactics.

Fires
Simulation of Fires and the many different types of fires is at the heart of VSF, imitating how real fires would behave in specified situations including Flammable solids, liquid based fires, electrical firs and flammable metals.

Dynamic Hazards
Scripted events to alter the play-through experience depending upon user interaction ensure that a scenario has multiple directions facilitating different training methods.

Hint Station
Advice from professional fire fighters regarding tactics and equipment is available via the recreated Fire station.

After Action Review
A score sheet, assessing the users’ performance in terms of goals attained and time taken to complete/ fail the simulation.

WIP Report: WK1a Summary

All tasks that were set out, have been completed to a satisfactory level; research documented now covers information including various fire types and classifications, a comprehensive list of all the equipment and attires a firelighter uses, as well as firehouse training and tactics.

Analysis, comparing two of the most popular game engines was also concluded, stating that Valve’s Source engine is better matched to the teams needs due to ease of modifying and a greater amount of attainable documentation regarding modding the game.

Week 1a Tasks

Ample research must first occur in order to aid in the development of VFS, to make it as realistic and believable as possible while assuring that the goals of the team are attainable.

Technology (Rob):
Investigating which game engine is best suited to VFS’s needs.
#The player must be able to extinguish fire
#Fire must be able to spread
#Fire able to harm the player

Equipment (Vern):
Detailed research and images of fire fighter’s equipment.
#How it works
#Video and Images
#Attire

Training (Ben):
Documentation and media of training routines performed by real firemen.
#Rules/procedure fire fighters must abide to
#Scenarios used in training
#Video and images

Environment (Julian):
Research into typical environments and hazards firefighters encounter.
#Types of fire
#Other environmental and hazardous risks
#Video and Images

Deadline: 16/02/09

Introduction

VFS is a project in development aimed to simulate the dangers of being a firefighter by recreating the hazardous environments that these brave men and women operate in on a daily basis. The program will empower the user to venture into precarious situations without the very real risk normally associated with the profession, making VFS a comprehensive yet easy to use training simulation.