Virtual Heroes is heading back into the emergency room.
The company which creates "serious games" for training purposes announced today that it is partnering once again with Duke University School of Medicine.
Soon medical students and interns will be able to use Virtual Heroes' HumanSim game technology to hone their clinical skills, learn about medical devices, clinical trials and more.
The deal has ripple affects as well. The Research Triangle Park company will use the video game-engine technology, Unreal Engine 3, created by Epic Games of Cary. Financial terms were not released.
Virtual Heroes is probably best known for developing America's Army, a recruitment and training video grame for the Department of Defense. But most of the company's revenue actually comes from customers in health-related fields.
Virtual Heroes previously collaborated with Duke's Medical School on 3DiTeams, a first-person video game also used for medical education and team training. That game takes place in a field hospital or emergency room with players taking on the role of doctor, nurse, technician or observer. The instructor can control the patient's vital signs based on the player's actions.
Last year, Virtual Heroes developed a new version of Re-Mission, a game designed to teach young cancer patients about their disease and treatment.
The company was started by Jerry Heneghan in 2004. It was bought by Applied Research Associates of New Mexico last spring. Heneghan continues as CEO.
Mary Cornatzer has worked at The News & Observer for more than 25 years, covering the local music industry, state movie industry and travel. She has been the paper's Business editor since 2000. Contact Mary at 919-829-4755 or