Protect yourself in case of rampages: A computer game helps.

The Department of Homeland Security in the USA has now begun delivering a "virtual school shooter" program to teachers and professionals at schools. They can register and receive a free online copy. The program looks like a game, no wonder, as it is based on the Unreal Engine.

The Unreal Engine is also used in games like BioShock, Mass Effect, Rainbow Six, and Splinter Cell. The "virtual school shooter" program is part of the Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) project and was originally developed jointly by the US Army and the Homeland Security with a budget of 5.6 million US dollars.

In the "game," you can assume different roles, such as the perpetrator, first responders, or teachers. Eyewitness reports and original audio recordings of emergency calls have also been implemented to make it as realistic as possible. Insights from past shootings and the behavior of the perpetrators have been incorporated. The goal for the trainee is to experience different scenarios to see which actions lead to which outcomes - and how it all looks through the eyes of others. This is intended to help individuals learn how to respond correctly in an emergency.

The opportunity to experience and play through scenarios virtually is usually much cheaper than conducting these exercises in real life.

EDGE online at the Department of Homeland Security.