Zero Hour: America's Medic
Encyclopedia
Zero Hour: America's Medic is a first person
computer game that is designed to train and exercise first responders to respond to mass casualty incidents such as earthquake
s and terrorist attacks
. Zero Hour
is was designed by George Washington University
's Office of Homeland Security and Virtual Heroes, Inc.
on a 4.8 million dollar grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Zero Hour is developed using Unreal Engine
3. It was released in May 2009.
response, but will also serve the EMS community as a recruiting tool. The scope of practice
of the tools in the game are geared toward pre-hospital emergency medical service practitioners, especially paramedic
s.
An image on Wired.com
's article (which is slightly different from the print edition) indicates that there are 13 points of interest on an in-game map. Five of those correspond to existing scenarios.
. As the ambulance approaches the scene, the player sees the chaotic scene unfolding. The player chooses which equipment to bring and then acts in accordance with the unique requirements of the situation.
published a brief story on the game. The website of the George Washington University
Office of Homeland Security's National EMS Preparedness Initiative (NEMSPI) hosts a video demo of the game on its website along with extensive details of its benefits for pre-hospital medical professionals. Virtual Heroes' website does not explicitly mention the game in its portfolio.
The print edition of Wired's article (July 2008, page 68) indicates that the developer is seeking additional grant
money in order to add an online component. As of February 2009, the NEMSPI "disaster simulation" page states that the game is complete and expected to launch in fall 2008, the main page in February 2009, and the course catalog page states that Zero Hour: America's Medic is available for download for the general public at a cost of $14.95.
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
computer game that is designed to train and exercise first responders to respond to mass casualty incidents such as earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s and terrorist attacks
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. Zero Hour
Zero Hour
Zero Hour may refer to:* Midnight, also known as 00:00 or Zero Hour- Literature :* Zero Hour , a 1994 DC Comics comic book miniseries and crossover storyline...
is was designed by George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
's Office of Homeland Security and Virtual Heroes, Inc.
Virtual Heroes, Inc.
Virtual Heroes, Inc. is a serious game developer in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It was founded in 2004 by veteran developers with an average of about ten years in either the entertainment gaming or simulation & training industries.-Organization:...
on a 4.8 million dollar grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Zero Hour is developed using Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine
The Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games, first illustrated in the 1998 first-person shooter game Unreal. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully used in a variety of other genres, including stealth, MMORPGs and RPGs...
3. It was released in May 2009.
Purpose
According to GWU Office of Homeland Security's Associate Director Gregg Lord, the game is intended for training and exercising of EMSEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
response, but will also serve the EMS community as a recruiting tool. The scope of practice
Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice is a terminology used by national and state/provincial licensing boards for various professions that defines the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the licensed individual. The scope of practice is limited to that which the law allows for specific education...
of the tools in the game are geared toward pre-hospital emergency medical service practitioners, especially paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s.
An image on Wired.com
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's article (which is slightly different from the print edition) indicates that there are 13 points of interest on an in-game map. Five of those correspond to existing scenarios.
Gameplay
Taking place in the fictional city of St. Lillo, the player begins each mission in an ambulance and receives calls from the EMS dispatcherDispatcher
Dispatchers are communications personnel responsible for receiving and transmitting pure and reliable messages, tracking vehicles and equipment, and recording other important information...
. As the ambulance approaches the scene, the player sees the chaotic scene unfolding. The player chooses which equipment to bring and then acts in accordance with the unique requirements of the situation.
Development status
On June 23, 2008, WiredWired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
published a brief story on the game. The website of the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
Office of Homeland Security's National EMS Preparedness Initiative (NEMSPI) hosts a video demo of the game on its website along with extensive details of its benefits for pre-hospital medical professionals. Virtual Heroes' website does not explicitly mention the game in its portfolio.
The print edition of Wired's article (July 2008, page 68) indicates that the developer is seeking additional grant
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
money in order to add an online component. As of February 2009, the NEMSPI "disaster simulation" page states that the game is complete and expected to launch in fall 2008, the main page in February 2009, and the course catalog page states that Zero Hour: America's Medic is available for download for the general public at a cost of $14.95.
External links
- Virtual Heroes Official website
- NEMSPI website
- EMS EdUCast Episode 8: Game On - Podcast on game