Chrysler's serious game teaches teens to drive

by Jason Dobson { Feb 27th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Video games. Is there anything they can't do? Not if you believe advancements in the emerging serious games market, which has produced programs aimed at doing everything from teaching cancer awareness and medical practices to treating veterans for posttraumatic stress disorder. Now Chrysler and developer SBK Interactive have come along and developed their own game aimed to teach teens what to do when they get behind the wheel.

According to a NBC report, the freely downloadable game, called Streetwise, is part of the group's larger Road Ready Teens program, and is designed to teach "new drivers lessons on the road without ever venturing outside." We're interested to see what sorts of drivers this game turns out, though the idea of teens cutting their driving teeth on the same format that gave us Burnout makes us inclined to lock the doors and order out for pizza.

Tags: chrysler, road-ready-teens, roadreadyteens, serious-games, seriousgames

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris @ Feb 27th 2008 2:34PM

Nothing can prepare you for the real thing - Star Trek Captain (either kirk or Sisko)

Slaziman @ Feb 27th 2008 2:37PM

I are serious cat.

This is serious game.

Yubastard @ Feb 27th 2008 3:24PM

all your serious are belong to cat

These "serious games" intrigue me. If I become successful @ game making I'll make one.

FOXHOUND @ Feb 27th 2008 2:48PM

The last time a game had "StreetWise" in its title, it tanked and truly drove a nail in the coffin of not only its series, but the genre itself... :\

StrangeBum @ Feb 27th 2008 2:51PM

I learned how to drive playing Grand Theft Auto.

I learned how to fly playing Ace Combat.

I learned how to shred on a guitar playing Guitar Hero.

I learned.....sorry, I'm done.

Yubastard @ Feb 27th 2008 3:31PM

lol!

I learned how to shoot complete strangers from a motorcycle in GTA.

I learned how to run over hookers after I paid them in GTA.

Kayel @ Feb 27th 2008 2:51PM

Flight and driving simulators have been around for quite a while.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Feb 27th 2008 2:51PM

I remember some driving school was using a modified version of Hard Drivin' as a teaching aid. That and RUSH were about the only arcade racing games ever that simulated fishtailing properly. I miss games like that. Realistic driving games are so much better in the arcade, especially when the force-feedback wheel has REAL force, like Hard Drivin' did.

Game Artist @ Feb 27th 2008 3:21PM

You can do this on the PC, but with much better physics now. All it takes is money.

NoTomorrow @ Feb 27th 2008 2:51PM

Does it run on mac?

kojo87 @ Feb 27th 2008 5:40PM

who gives a shit.

Autopsy15 @ Feb 27th 2008 5:58PM

Mac owners.

Emophia @ Feb 28th 2008 6:10AM

So nobody.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Feb 27th 2008 2:55PM

The real question is. Will it blend?

Autopsy15 @ Feb 27th 2008 6:01PM

No, the real question is, will you blend?
Maybe it would stop all the stupid "Will it blend?!1one" comments.

Jack @ Feb 27th 2008 3:24PM

Its got nothing on Gran Turismo.

Read: The REAL Driving Simulator.

In all seriousness, GT did show me how to have greater efficiency with my braking and turning. That and Initial D.

AirIntake @ Feb 27th 2008 3:30PM

GT showed me that the fastest way to drive way to floor it and bounce off the corners.

Jack @ Feb 27th 2008 9:45PM

LOL

*sigh*

+1

Marty @ Feb 27th 2008 3:30PM

I've read that people who play driving games frequently, and before they actually learn how to drive, generally fare better than others, so kudos to Chrysler for creating this, if it turns out to work alright.

Psaakyrn @ Feb 27th 2008 3:43PM

Until you realise said teens probably gets hired to deliever the pizza.

kojo87 @ Feb 27th 2008 5:41PM

HEY! i deliver pizza and im damn good at it!!

kevinski @ Feb 27th 2008 4:02PM

All you really need to know about driving:

http://www.raptorsafari.com/

cduran01 @ Feb 27th 2008 5:30PM

This is pretty cool actually. I have a 16 year old daughter thats about to start learning how to drive.

This will take a lot of the pressure off of me until its time for me to let her get behind the wheel of my car :(

Autopsy15 @ Feb 27th 2008 5:56PM

Video Games are Serious Business.

Kupaka @ Feb 27th 2008 9:32PM

nah man, INTERNETZ is real serious business!

Chris @ Feb 27th 2008 8:18PM

I played this game at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science- how it feels to drive drunk. I hated that game. Didn't dissuade me from driving drunk, it made me want to kill the devs for creating a game no one could ever win.

Thought that was... kind of related. :-)