The Dubai Police Force is looking for a game developer to help them create a virtual training program for their department, according to a Gamasutra job posting.
There aren't a lot of details about what exactly the police department wants the "serious game" to do, but they job opening is for a CryEngine Game Developer and that the developer will report to Dr. Ahmed Bin Subaih, the department's head of the virtual training section.
Requirements include experience with artificial intelligence and multiplayer games and the job pays $70,000 and include health and transportation for the employee and family.
Looking at what appears to be a screenshot from the initiative, I'm intrigued by what the virtual training program could be. It looks like it will include pretty detailed environments and, perhaps, a third-person point of view.
Maybe it's for training people on how to approach suspects and situations?
Back when I was a police reporter I had a chance to check out Denver's virtual training program which involved standing in a room with a wall-sized video playing, while armed with a modified handgun. The trainer was in the back of the room manipulating the video as I spoke to the people on the screen. It was sort of a like a more interactive version of Mad Dog McCree.
In each situation I had to decide how to approach the person, whether to draw my gun and whether to fire. The trainer would change the reaction based on what I said and what I did. If I drew my gun, for instance, he could have the people on screen freak out, which seems sort of reasonable.
It was an interesting, an eye-opening experience, especially when confronted with the last situation which involved a school shooting and a gunman taking a student hostage.
I was told the more advanced version of the training module can actually shoot back with tiny balls.
I can't imagine how much these training systems for police have evolved in the five or so years since I checked that one out.
Dubai Police Job Opening [Gamasutra, thanks Nik]