EPICSAVE Lifesaving Decisions – a Collaborative VR Training Game Sketch for Paramedics

Practical, collaborative training of severe emergencies that occur too rarely within regular curricular training programs (e.g., anaphylactic shock in children patients) is difficult to realize. Multi-user virtual reality and serious game technologies can be used to provide collaborative training in dynamic settings [1], [2]. However, actual training effects seem to depend on a high presence and supportive usability [2]. EPICSAVE Lifesaving Decisions shows a novel approach that aims at further improving on these factors using an emotional scenario and collaborative game mechanics. We present a trailer video of a game sketch which creatively explores serious game design for collaborative virtual reality training systems. The game invites two paramedic trainees and one paramedic trainer into a dramatic scenario at a family theme park: A 5-year old child shows symptoms of anaphylactic shock. While the trainees begin their diagnostics procedures, a bystander, the girl's grandfather, intervenes and challenges the players' authority. Our research explores how VR game mechanics, i.e., optional narrative, authority skills and rewards, mini games, and interactive virtual characters may extend training quality and user experience over pure VR training simulations. The video exemplifies a concept that extends prior developments of a multi-user VR training simulation setup presented in [2], [3].