GON: I understand the Ship Simulator series is built on the same technologies VSTEP develops for commercial simulation use; how do you transform these tools into games? Is there a dedicated team for games development?

VSTEP: The games do not use the exact same technology and math model as the professional simulation, that would go a bit too far, as these models are very complex and allow for true navigation training for maritime professionals. This is not the case for the games. However, they still use a model that is based on the professional simulation model and feels very real for the simulation gamer, and even professionals have lauded the vessel response and dynamics behaviour in the game. Which is something we are of course proud of.

From sunny Sydney to icy Antarctica

GON: Are there any unique challenges that arise from the transition from serious tool to game? For example, do you need to hire staff for particular roles not normally needed for tool creation (i.e. writers)?

VSTEP: While the core business of VSTEP is professional simulation and virtual training, we have also developed the Ship Simulator Series of entertainment games. We therefore have game designers, animators and mission creators on board. What's more, since we develop simulation games, a link with reality is always just around the corner, and we use our maritime expertise not only for the serious games and training, but also for creating a game that is a close to reality as possible. That's what the simulator gamers like.

While most of the tech and staff are inhouse, there are always things that we outsource to others. Music score for one thing, is very important in the game and this is something that we tend to outsource to the professionals.

GON: The Ship Simulator series is quite established by now; what unique features of 2010 Extremes will surprise fans of previous entries, and interest new players?

VSTEP: The game will get a considerable overhaul and lots of new gameplay features. Players can play single missions, but will also be able to take on several storydriven campaigns in the game, with their actions in a mission having an influence on the next. Thanks to these campaigns, players can really relate and identify themselves with a real captain.

Gameplaywise, I think the new ecological missions will really be something that people can relate to. In addition to the well-known simulation gameplay from the previous versions, players can now also save the whales from whalehunters, evacuate people from an island in distress or take part in emergency response and firefighting at sea.

GON: In Ship Simulator 2010 Extremes, players can take the helm of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior. How did that come about? Did VSTEP have a pre-existing commercial relationship with Greenpeace, or did the idea come about as a result of brainstorming possible scenarios, in this case, combating illegal whaling?

VSTEP: A cooperation with Greenpeace has never been far off. The link is pretty straightforward. GP headquarters are based in Amsterdam, we are based in Rotterdam; GP does a lot of its activities on sea with their vessels Esperanza and Rainbow Warrior, we have a simulator game about seabased missions. As a Dutch Serious Games developer, we of course knew Greenpeace and their Dutch headquarters fairly well and there have been some contacts in the past. It was wonderful to hear that they were impressed with our games and they were very enthusiastic to cooperate and provide assets and knowhow about their activities and vessels.

Thanks to this cooperation, players will be able for the first time to take the role of a Greenpeace captain as he captains his vessel and takes on missions based on real Greenpeace missions. What's more, the game will not only feature the Esperanza, it features the Rainbow Warrior 3 as well. This is remarkable, as the real Rainbow Warrior 3 is being built as we speak and the vessel will only launch in 2011. So players will be able to sail a very realistic virtual version of the Rainbow Warrior 3 a full year before the actual vessel is completed.

GON: Does VSTEP develop simulation tools outside the shipping industry? Have any games been created (or are any planned) based on these other tools? If not, what sort of games would VSTEP developers like to make if they could create anything?

VSTEP: Sure, we create virtual training and simulation tools and projects for different industries. Besides maritime simulation, VSTEP has also created incident management training for emergency response services, evacuation training, as well as procedure training for train drivers and lock masters. We have completed around 50 virtual training projects for professionals and governments worldwide. For more information about our projects you can visit our website .

For the moment the Ship Simulator series are the only games that we have created, but we have a firefighting simulation game coming up in the near future, putting you in the boots of a real firefighter during true-to-life missions. Although we have a history of making people better/safer through our serious games, the bottom line for our entertainment games has always got to be fun. As long as we keep that in mind, the sky is the limit...not the sea!

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