“H.S.F.T.: Horse Safety and Fire Training”
Frank – https://franksblog758232151.wordpress.com/
Brendan – https://etchermask.wordpress.com/
Louis – https://lousblog238092112.wordpress.com
Genre:
VR Simulation
First Person
Audience:
The audience that we are focusing on are firefighters, but specifically firefighters that are training and learning how to handle horses during barn fire.
Primary Objective:
○
Make a VR experience to try and teach firefighters about horse behavior and the proper way to help horses during a barn fire
We chose this as the primary objective because we felt that this would satisfy all the needs that the Entity presented with us. We were interested in this idea because of the good that it can do for the community. Making a game that will help people is the main reason that we were interested in taking on this project.
Introduction to Game:
( Include mechanics, story, look/feel)
We/’re going to use basic VR controls, two controllers one for each hand. The player will use the controllers to control all of the items in the game to try and give the most realistic feel to immerse the player into the game. The game will be split into two sequences, the first is a training section that is specifically focused on the horse aspect of the game. The second section will be a simulation of the barn fire aspect of the game
- We aren’t going to have a linear story per say, but there will be a narrative in the sense that player will something to follow. It will start with the player being introduced to a fire captain and an equine expert. They will explain the goal of the game and the first sequence. The equine expert will go into detail about the behaviors and actions of horses and then will explain the most common and proper techniques of handling a horse that is in distress. After the player feels that they are prepared enough to take on a task, they will start the next sequence of the game. The second sequence starts with the player being placed into a working barn fire. We aren’t focusing on the firefighting aspect of the game, so the player will be making decisions based entire on helping the horse get out of the barn, using what they learned in the first sequence of the game. Each fire that the player will take part in will be based on a real barn fire that happened. After each fire, a firefighter from the barn fire that is was based on. They will be talking about the actions that they took and what they experience did for them.
○Research
http://flaimtrainer.com/#FLAIM%20Trainer
https://www.horsejournals.com/acreages-stables/arena-footing/barn-fires
https://nypost.com/2018/06/02/24-racehorses-killed-in-upstate-barn-fire/
○
The mechanics that we chose for the game are the best because they make the player feel as though they aren’t playing a game, they are training for the job. The VR helps all of the players to learn about the horses in an engaging way so that the firefighters can feel like they are actually working with real horses and not just playing a game. And having the experts talk about the barn fires and the behaviors of horses in dangerous situations can help the firefighters retain the information as well as connect with the real firefighters that were in those situations.
Game Control:
- The game will be controlled using VR and two VR controllers
- The player will be able to look around and experience the situation as if they were a firefighter facing the actual situations.
- The player will also use all the tools necessary by using the controllers
Score/Objective/Winning/Losing/Competition:
The goal will be to save the horses and the player will get scored based on how many firefighters survive, how many horses survive, and how quickly the player executes the job. There will be updated high score boards that will allow for the player to try better to beat the others by completing the different scenarios.
Interface/Information:
- The player will be able to use tools given to them to complete the job
- They also will have a water gauge that will allow them to see how much water the truck has to help put out the fire
- They will also get a count of firefighters by their side
- They also get a count of the target horses to save
Game Mechanics:
Horse behavior and body language
- Firefighters interact with realistic holographic visuals of horses in various states to see how their various movements, vocals, and facial cues can give them tells on how they’ll move. This is especially useful information to have when faced with a large animal in a high stress environment.
- The cues include varying levels of vocal cues, eye, ear, and mouth motions on the face. Body language is critical to read as well. Watching a horse’s front end and how its kicking its feet play out its walking or running path.
- Approach: The pace, stance, and readable body language each firefighter brings into the simulation will be reflected as if the horse were really there. If the firefighter runs up too quickly the horse may rear or even jump.
- Establishing a connection between savior and beast is important. Once the animal knows the rescuer isn’t a threat, it will be that much easier to save and corral.
Fighting the fire
- Horse saving isn’t the only problem, there is still of course the fire to deal with
- Equipment, positioning, and execution of teamwork all come into play in beating each simulated fire
- Working the hose, axing down the barn door, and deploying extinguishers are all roles to be performed in order to properly defeat the blaze
Levels and scenarios
- There will be two base scenarios: Horses and no horses. How the firefighter approaches the fire will largely be based on this factor for the level.
- The barns with horses to rescue will have different numbers of horses, different spawn locations for the horses, and different ages and sizes
- The different obstacles and objects within the barn will affect how quickly the fire spreads
- Layout to some barnes may include a second floor in the form of a basement or loft.
- Hay, wood, feed, and the barn itself will all burn at different rates requiring some to be addressed before others, highlighting prioritization of what to put out first
- There will be a time limit on what can be extinguished and what horses can be saved
Sixty seconds of play:
The player will start off on the truck on their way to the barn call. They will select which tools they want to bring into the fire. They will then go into the barn and look at the situation. They will then try to find the horses and use their tools to get them out. They then have the ability to scare out the horses or try to lead them out by a line. They will also be able to say commands to the other firefighters to help with saving the horses. Different challenges will also come into place such as falling beams.
Will Montgomery Serious Game 