The Delta3D Gaming and Simulation Engine:
An Open Source Approach to Serious Games • Curtis Conkey: NETC• Rudy Darken: MOVES Institute• Perry McDowell: MOVES Institute• Erik Johnson: MOVES Institute
Purpose
MOVES builds and does research on training applications, why did they
build an open source engine?
To fill the need for a cheap, easy to use system to build training systems; there were no open source solutions that fully met requirements
Why hasn’t M&S become a mainstream part of every service member’s training?
• It’s not ubiquitous … not even close yet• Too few products
• Still costs way too much,• Takes way too long to get products to the
warfighter, and• We still deliver products that don’t fit user
requirements.
Why?
Assumptions
• What do we typically assume before we acquire any training system?
• This thing is going to be expensive
• Better find lots of customers to make a business case for it
• It’ll be years before it’s done
Project Failures 2004
Infoworld, 8-16-04, p. 42
The problem with BIG software
40000
30000
20000
10000
010 2 3 4 5Percent Change in Requirements
Fu
nctio
n P
oin
ts
Impossible to build
Feasible
Take Aways
1. Expensive projects tend to fail.
2. Projects with very large numbers of developers tend to fail.
3. Large projects with many function points tend to fail.
4. Projects with rapidly changing requirements tend to fail.
The “Revolution” in Training
• The CNO has made it clear that simulations and games are a big part of his plan to bring training to all parts of the Navy.
• All Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines need training
• Let’s make sure that they all benefit from M&S products– Next year, not in five years…
• We can’t give him what he’s asking for unless we solve these issues.
Why Use Game Based Training?
• More Navy training is being done out of the “schoolhouse”
• Need to do something to catch Sailors’ attention
• Training Sailors in a way that makes them want to be trained more
• Training is much more effective when the learners are actively engaged
Current MethodologyDetermine Training
Requirement
Determine Training Objective
ClassroomMedia
InteractiveMultimediaInstruction
SimulationStimulation
DistributedLearning
TSA•Existing Skill Base•Required Skill Base
EvaluateAlternatives
TacticalTraining
Equipment
Embedded
TSA - Training Situation AnalysisTSAR - Training Systems Alternatives Report
TSAR•Cost/resources•Effectiveness analysis•Technology Assessment•Media Analysis
Traditional Gaming
B
Current MethodologyRequirements
functional descriptionDefineContract•Scope•License
AwardContractAccept
Product
Build Training App.Use Proprietary
game engine technology
Field ApplicationNew requirements
Waterfall Dev.
Training Effectiveness Eval.
VendorAvailable? Gone
Time
NoStart Over
B
B
Very Successful Model
• Marine Doom• Close Combat: Marines• America’s Army• Full Spectrum Warrior• To name just a few….
Proprietary Models Do Not Always Apply
Why?• Flexibility
– Restrictive license agreements– Long cycle times between upgrades
• Need that source code
• Affordability– GE license fees / recurring fees
• Over-Kill – Don’t require latest graphics card effects – Stay out of the upgrade cycle - MS / Intel
• Size – Small project - economics unattractive to vendors
Our Approach
• We’re building an open source game-based simulation engine
• The goal is to drive development costs of training games down to:– Raise the probability of success for each product– Target specific training needs, bring developers in
contact with fleet customers– Bring training “games” to anyone, anytime,
anyplace
Delta3D Hierarchy
OpenOpen SourceSource ModulesModules
Delta3DDelta3D
ApplicationApplication
Delta3D• Open Source Gaming Engine• Combination of Best of Breed OS Components• Active Development Community• Offers whatever the community develops• Seed funding from NPS, NETC & JNTC1
ApplicationsApplications
AudioAudio
Open Source Gaming Engine APIOpen Source Gaming Engine API
NetworkingNetworking PhysicsPhysics CharactersCharacters ScriptingScripting Scene GraphScene Graph
FLTKOpenAL Open Scene Graph
Open Dynamics
Engine PythonCAL3DHLA TinyXML
DataData
WindowsLinux
WindowsLinux
GUIGUI
1: NPS = Naval Postgraduate School, NETC = Naval Education and Training Command, JNTC = Joint National Training Capability
Feature Summary
Delta3D Summary
Features– OpenGL rendering
– Character animation
– Realistic physics
– Hi-level classes (rapid development)
– 2D/3D audio
– Multiple file formats
– Python scripting
– Multiple terrain rendering methods
– Particle systems
– HLA networking
– Distributed rendering
– Advanced environmentals
– Abstracted input devices
– Record/playback capabilities
Content Creation Tools– 3D model viewer – Graphical particle editor– BSP compiler
No added run time costsCross platform compatibleMaintained by a dedicated teamUser support forums
Delta3D MethodologyRequirements
functional descriptionDefineContract•Scope•Spec Delta3d
AwardContract
AcceptProduct
With Code
Build Training App.Use Delta3d
Field Application
Training Effectiveness Eval.
B
New requirements
Spiral Dev.
Delta3D Examples
• FOPCSIM – Forward Observer Trainer• CSAR Demo – Uses derivative of an America’s Army
Level• Plane Guard – Water and Particle Engine• Fire Fighter Demo – FPS Style Trainer• Physics Demo – Dynamics Engine
Time to commoditize game based solutions
Gaming technology is another tool in our training toolbox
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