Abertay University researchers create training game for Scotland cops

by Griffin McElroy { May 24th 2008 at 3:30PM }

Whenever we think of training simulators for the local boys and girls in blue, one arcade classic always comes to mind -- the appropriately titled Police Trainer. We had the occasional desire to protect and serve as we effortlessly moved through the games virtual ranks; it was only later we discovered that cops are rarely called upon to shoot multicolored balls from the sky, nor are they required to play simple matching games using their trusty peacemakers.

A more "realistic" (see: less fun) simulator from researchers out of Abertay University in Scotland recently received some press when the game's creators suggested it for training purposes for Scotland's Finest. The sim's focus on making on-the-fly decisions on whether to shoot a dangerous suspect or hold fire would certainly come in handy for officers (and, consequently, for those not accidentally shot). The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland have been hesitant to adopt the new simulation, however, relying solely on repeated viewings of the Guttenberg classic "Police Academy" for all training purposes.

Tags: cops, guttenberg, police, policeacademy, policetrainer, scotland, sim, simulator, training

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ May 24th 2008 3:49PM

Fools. They should use "Target: Terror"

XD

commen-cents @ May 24th 2008 3:52PM

he is going to put a hole in the screen with that gun

Robotochan @ May 24th 2008 3:57PM

Whey my University makes it to another Weblogs Inc. Network blog! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

What's your bets there are Nazis and Middle East terrorists in the game?

Marshmallow713 @ May 24th 2008 3:58PM

Anyone else notice the Rooster Teeth shirt on the guy in the first picture in the article? Nice :D

Jon2309 @ May 25th 2008 4:30AM

That's because all video gamers are violent, kill everything maniacs.

Clearly.

Residentevil72501 @ May 24th 2008 4:00PM

They should train on Fifty Cents Bulletproof 2 blood on the sand or whatever the name of that worthless game is going to be called.

Dan @ May 24th 2008 4:13PM

The police in scotland don't carry guns.

Am I to assume you yanks stole yet another place name?

ComradeTrotskii @ May 24th 2008 4:18PM

It is Abertay in Scotland Dan I recall reading this in the Dundee Courier a few weeks back. (and who says Joystiq is slow with the news ;p) I wasn't sure myself what to make of this because as you point out our regular officers don't carry guns. I can only assume its for some sort of special unit that does.

Hyams @ May 24th 2008 4:20PM

There ARE a number of places in the US called 'Scotland'. But this isn't one of them. The University of Abertay is in the origional land of kilts.

Haggard @ May 24th 2008 6:18PM

They'll have armed response units, otherwise you're pretty much boned against armed suspects, unless the majority of the police are ninjas.

I think you could have better illustrated the 'accidentally shot' link with something about the de Menezes guy in London, who police shot 11 times in the head before they noticed he wasn't carrying a bomb.

Jinkin @ May 24th 2008 4:19PM

Apparently, police in Scotland have to bring their own "walkie talkies".

drillbit @ May 24th 2008 4:32PM

looks like there's another version of this, but to train cops to be more aware of racial bias in dealing with people of another race.....

http://endangeredgamer.blogspot.com/2008/05/shooter.html

DaveC @ May 24th 2008 4:45PM

Schwing, I'm going to that Uni in september for that course :D

Robotochan @ May 24th 2008 5:57PM

What are you going to study Dave?

DaveC @ May 24th 2008 5:59PM

Computer Games Application Development, jumping into second year though.

Robotochan @ May 25th 2008 6:38AM

Ahh, my flatmates from last year were in that course, difficult but should be worth it :)

digi @ May 24th 2008 7:24PM

Hi i'm from Scotland, some scottish officers do carry guns just the same as the rest of the British police force such as airport patrols and armed response units. Of course the everyday officers on the streets don't carry weapons

ugg.tryptophan @ May 24th 2008 7:28PM

am i the only one who who thinks the term 'game' is being used a bit too loosely these days; wouldnt this fall under 'simulation'

LaughingTarget @ May 24th 2008 11:38PM

That pic up top is funny. A store that keeps rifles on the wall is the last place in the world you'd ever need a cop to show up. No one is dumb enough to rob a gun store.

colin17 @ May 25th 2008 11:46AM

They already have this here, They have an electronic gun and have to go through situations. They can either use reason to work with the criminal to get him to disarm himself or shoot them. oh, and if they don't react fast enough they basically get shot with plastic marbles from a computer.....