Imagine a real-life version of first person shooter games, and that's pretty much what this is. Of course, such things already exist in the form of Laser Tag, paintball, MILES, and so on, but each of those has its own drawbacks-- lacking in realism, messy, high cheating potential, impractical for civilian use, and so on. What we need is a way to improve the verisimilitude of the simulation, while keeping the cost and hassle factors relatively low. Luckily, we already have the technology to do such a thing. In fact, if you've ever used an iPhone or played with a Wii, you're already familiar with it.

The system would use electronic "guns" equipped with accelerometers, magnetometers, and wireless communication systems. The playing field would integrate triangulation beacons such that the position and orientation of any weapon on the field can be determined with a high degree of accuracy. Additionally, players wear small (i.e. wristwatch-sized) devices that both report their location and provide feedback as to the game state (health, ammo remaining, etc). This data is wirelessly sent to a server that keeps track of the game as it progresses. When a shot is fired, the server calculates the trajectory of the "bullet" based on the game data, taking into account the type and accuracy of the weapon, potential obstructions (previously mapped and programmed in), theoretical "wind" conditions, and so on. The settings could relaxed for a friendly game, or tightened for a more realistic simulation. Finally, the server determines the outcome of the shot, and notifies any newly dead players of the unfortunate development.

The system could be easily expanded to include many different types of weaponry, both realistic and theoretical. From grenades to sniper rifles to phasers to the BFG 9000, all you'd need is a software update and you're good to go. Make the system cheap enough, and you could even set up a virtual target range at home. Or take it a step further and practice liberating your living room from Nazi Communist Aliens.
-- ytk, Feb 04 2011

Something like this? http://www.joystiq....ty-shooter-concept/
[coprocephalous, Feb 04 2011]

Real-World First Person Shooter LaserMaze game Real-World_20First_..._20LaserMaze_20game
Prior Art [8th of 7, Feb 07 2011]

//What we need is a way to improve the verisimilitude of the simulation, //
So, you get to sit around for hours doing nothing, eating crap food, flicking off flies and sleeping on packing crates, then someone blows your leg off with a milk carton stuffed with hair bleach?

//to phasers //
//verisimilitude// ?
-- coprocephalous, Feb 04 2011


This may be the plot for a sci-fi short story than a serious comment, but anyway... Eventually combat simulating games will be so realistic as to be indistinguishable from real combat. When this happens, the Government will send gamers into real combat situations without them knowing it. They will just think they've played a particularly long session of "Afghan Combat Hell IV" or something ("Oh man - it's so realistic, I actually got my leg blown off. No, really, I actually have no leg now!") - and of course there's money in it too: gamers will pay good money for the latest combat simulator, whereas usually the Government has to pay soldiers.
-- hippo, Feb 04 2011


I want a realistic wombat simulator. And wombat-hardened devices.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 04 2011


//This may be the plot for a sci-fi short story //
//the Government will send gamers into real combat situations without them knowing it//

It is. 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card. Based more on flight simulators than hand-to-hand combat though.

I'm all for mucking about with lasers & paintballs but if you think any simulator can ever come close to the pant-wetting fun of real combat then you are wrong, ytk. As for, "the server determines the outcome of the shot, and notifies any newly dead players of the unfortunate development", that sounds rather like the Star Trek episode "A Taste of Armageddon".
-- DrBob, Feb 04 2011


The real military frequenly use Hollywood-style special effects companies to simulate war-zones in likely battles and provide opposing forces insurgents, civilians, and friendly but not-so-competent native security forces; companies that find ways to do this cheaply and realisticly win government contracts. These days commonly scores of shipping containers are dolled up like middle-eastern city-scapes for training.
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 04 2011


I have to think a iphone first person shooter cannot be too far off.
-- bungston, Feb 04 2011


I like the idea of cutting the playing field out of this, relying only on GPS and phone position to accurately place projectile. User body would be extrapolated from phone position. You could play anywhere.
-- bungston, Feb 04 2011


Of course the counterpart to this would be realistic peace-time simulators.

You read, drink beer, play video games, go on dates, lay on the beach, go for long drives in the country...

It would never sell, but I'd rather.
-- normzone, Feb 04 2011


//You read//
Oh! Come now!
This is sheer fiction
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, Feb 04 2011


Addict of the printed word here, my library card is as precious to me as my credit cards. I've got enough books to constitute hard cover in a gunfight.

But I understand that I'm totally out of fashion.
-- normzone, Feb 05 2011


//I've got enough books to constitute hard cover in a gunfight. //

Priorities, [normzone], priorities. What you mean is "I've got too many books to shield with my body in a gunfight."
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 07 2011


Something about phone apps makes me think it wouldn't quite duplicate the training necessary for dealing with rabid insurgents, explosions, wounded compatriots, etc.
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 07 2011


// practice liberating your living room from Nazi Communist Aliens //

Aw, Ref ! Now THAT'S just blatant prejudice against aggressive hegemonising collective life-forms....

<link>
-- 8th of 7, Feb 07 2011


//pant-wetting fun of real combat //

Only sissys wet thier pants.
-- MikeD, Feb 07 2011



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