Emergent Game Technologies is of course best known for its video game middleware powering hits like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Civilization Revolution and Bully. What you may not know, however, is that the firm's software is also used for serious applications in the simulation market. Today, one such application was revealed as IPKeys (a "strategic partner in the DOD, Commercial, Government and Utility sectors") announced that it's selected Emergent’s Gamebryo LightSpeed middleware to create counter-IED simulations for U.S. Forces.
LightSpeed will be used in IPKeys’ "critical tasking" with the Federal Government, specifically with the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization’s Technical Gaming Team (JIEDDO TGT). [That's a mouthful! - Ed.] Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are a very serious threat to the U.S. service members serving overseas, which is why JIEDDO was created "to aggressively and rapidly find, develop, test and deliver counter-IED (C-IED) capabilities for our armed forces."
As part of its ongoing work with the Department of Defense, IPKeys will integrate LightSpeed into its IED Gaming and Modeling Environment (I-GAME), which will be further developed to offer an “on-the-fly” 3D authoring capability that allows the Warfighter to simulate virtual battlefield conditions that closely approximate the current operating environment.
“IPKeys’ choice of LightSpeed is strong validation of our place in the simulation market. LightSpeed is the technology of choice for those interested in rapid deployment of simulation environments,” said Scott Johnson, President of Emergent Game Technologies. “The Department of Defense’s evaluation and bidding process is very extensive and thorough. To have a company of IPKeys’ caliber base their software offering on our technology demonstrates the confidence the market has shown LightSpeed.”
“At the tactical level, insurgents have proven skilled at quickly adapting to the U.S. Forces counter-IED procedures by altering their IED designs and deployment methods,” said Daniel Hettrick, Senior Program Manager, Gaming Solutions at IPKeys. “IPKeys did an extensive evaluation to ensure any technology we use provides the capability to rapidly incorporate the very latest tactics, techniques and procedures.”
