Binary Culture Launches the WA Police into Virtual Worlds
Perth, Australia — September 19, 2008 — The WA Police Recruitment pavilion, created by local developer Binary Culture, opened its doors in the virtual world Second Life today during an official launch at Police headquarters.
The project was devised by Police Assistant Director for Attraction and Marketing Trudi Angwin who contacted Binary Culture to handle the technical and development aspects of the project.
Binary Culture is a digital media and games technology specialist, created by Robert Spencer as a response to the infrastructure and consulting needs of another company he founded in Perth, world-class game development studio, Interzone.
Robert Spencer says, “Interzone is working on an incredible new Soccer MMO and it is fantastic to have that development taking place in Perth, but IZ has a laser-sharp focus on completing that game to world-beating quality. Binary Culture broadens Perth’a technology base, leveraging our game technology experience and applying it to a range of other areas, such as recruitment and training.”
Angwin says, “We were seeking technical skills that are currently outside of the normal marketing field and whilst liaising with Dept of Industry & Resources I was advised about Interzone and how Robert is working towards developing an industry with these skills in WA. The rest is history!”
The pavilion was Binary Culture’s first foray into the area of “serious games” and it used the $23,000 project to help introduce local developers and artists to game development tools, as well as giving them a chance to prove their talent.
“We see this as a brilliant way to raise awareness of the game development capabilities on offer in WA, as well as to raise the profile of serious game applications — like this recruitment centre — in government and business,” says Spencer.
The launch at Police headquarters saw Spencer address members of the police, the public and the press, and guide them through a video-taped launch of the virtual pavilion, which included a ribbon cutting, a question and session with Angwin and Acting Assistant Commissioner for Professional Development Gary Dreibergs as well as a guided tour.
Angwin says, “WA Police Attraction and Recruiting section is very impressed with the final model, and functioning, of the Second Life Police Recruitment Centre. It took a while for us to understand how things worked in Second Life, and the pavilion met our needs of being low maintenance, highly accessible, and functional without needing our ‘real’ staff to be logged in for long periods of time canvassing avatar inquiries.
“We’ve managed to get ‘the best of both worlds’ if you’ll pardon the pun!”
About Binary Culture
Binary Culture is a leading-edge digital content, infrastructure and management consultancy, providing strategic and technical support, team development and project management services from offices in Perth and Melbourne.
Binary Culture was created by Interzone founder Robert Spencer as a direct response to the local infrastructure and consulting needs identified by launching a triple-A games studio in Australia.
About Stepforward
Step Forward is the Western Australia Police recruitment website providing information about joining the Western Australia Police service. It includes details about international officers transitioning into WA Police, recruit entry, the cadets (traineeship) program, salary and benefits, as well as application forms.
For more information contact:
Robert J Spencer, rj@game.net.au
Official website: http://www.binaryculture.com.au/stepforward