Thanks to the digital revolution, games aren’t just for playtime anymore
By Victoria Finkle
The Virginia Serious Game Institute at George Mason University is home to six startup companies that are utilizing gaming and simulation technology to foster learning in a variety of fields, from health care to science education to firefighting. The 12-month program, the only one of its kind in the nation, provides mentorship and intensive business training to get the new companies up and running.
“Our main mission is to use game technologies to improve the human condition,” says Scott Martin, founding director of VSGI.
The institute celebrated its grand reopening last fall on the school’s space and technology campus, after doubling the size of its facility and completing a remodel of the building. It was originally founded in 2014, supported by a grant from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
Beyond working with a select group of entrepreneurs, VSGI conducts applied research to help companies and government agencies develop their own games, trains teachers to bring programming and technology into the classroom and hosts science, technology, engineering and math programs for younger students.
Martin, 51, says he sees the institute and the businesses it’s hosting as supporting Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s initiative to diversify the state’s economy beyond government contracting work.
“What we’re doing in the Serious Game Institute is exactly that,” Martin says. “The products they’re building are very cutting-edge and innovative and are not reliant on government contracts for success.”
Little Arms Studios, one of this year’s startups, has been working to develop a firefighter training simulator for Fairfax County, among other projects. To construct the program, the firm participated in instructional courses and ride-alongs with the county’s departments and solicited feedback from firefighters to make the game as realistic as possible. The company has already won the Fairfax County Fire Chief’s Commendation, the highest award given to civilians.
“They’ll be able to run through how it is in the real world without the same risks,” says Kyle Bishop, the startup’s founder and a 2013 Mason grad.
The inaugural class of businesses will graduate in June, with the next round of startups to be announced in May and moved in by July 1.
The Startups
Catlilli Games
Team lead: Catherine Swanwick
Description: Makes science, technology, engineering and math games for children, including board and card games
Team lead: Kyle Bishop
Description: Develops firefighter training and drone simulators
Team lead: Ruth Nemire
Description: Creates multiplayer games for health care professionals to encourage collaboration across specialties (company is owned by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy)
Scriyb
Team lead: Scott Martin
Description: Launching a mobile education platform that breaks large groups of students into smaller virtual classrooms, all under one teacher
Team lead: Gerry McClure
Description: Designs mobile games for players to share positive, nonviolent messages
Stilwell Technology & Robotics
Team lead: Col. Wayne Stilwell
Description: Builds software for directing machines and robots to work in teams; conducts simulation work for NATO and the Department of Defense
( March 2016 )
