James D. Cimino

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OCADA Recruiting Game Lessons Learned

• James D. Cimino
• Director of Technical Innovation
• jcimino_at_d2teamsim.com

2
Agenda

• Introductions
• Objectives
• Our Approach
• Design Decisions
• Challenges
• Demo
• Lessons learned
• Questions

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About D2 TEAM-Sim
D2 TEAM-Sim (D2) is a leading developer of
enterprise-wide Interactive Multimedia
Instruction for the US Government, Department of
Defense and Healthcare professionals.
50 Creative Technical Professionals
50,000 Sq. ft. facility a 1-Stop Shop
25 year history of Business Success

• Comprised of 3 major multimedia companies,
  integrated under an IT Company.
• Over 70 total years of broad, diversified digital
  multimedia and IT expertise and experience.

• Professional disciplines range from graphic arts
  to database programming thru instructional design
  and courseware development.
• Core team leaders are experienced experts in
  their specific professional areas.

• State-of-the-art development and hosting
  infrastructure with diesel power back-up.
• Four video editing suites including
  hi-definition, 3D and motion graphics.
• Complete graphic design and interactive game
  development capabilities.
• Government secret clearance and secure storage.

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About OCADA

• Office, Chief of Air Defense Artillery (OCADA)
• Manages the personnel lifecycles for Air Defense
  Artillery (ADA) active and reserve component
  officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers
• Conducts branch marketing initiatives
• Publishes the ADA Magazine in an effort to
  maintain the quality and health of ADA military
  occupational specialists (MOSs) and areas of
  concentration (AOCs) while improving the overall
  image of the branch and fostering espirit.

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About The Recruitment App

• The ADA recruitment app is an unclassified
  social learning
• app designed to run primarily on portable phones
  and other
• devices running the Android or iOS platforms, but
  can also be
• accessed through a standard web browser
• The primary goal of the app is to increase ADA
  visibility
• Among top officer candidates helping to encourage
  them to
• consider ADA when choosing a placement
• Secondary goals include entertaining the player
  while
• teaching them about the ADA branch day to day
  activities,
• weapon systems, etc., as well as providing
  information about the
• ADA and the army in general to interested
  civilians

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Objectives
Problem OCADAs budget does not allow on-site
briefings at every college campus. Solution
Leverage mobile technology applications to
provide the most cost-effective and contemporary
method to reach our target audience.
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Objectives Timeline
3 Feb 12
31 Jan 12
Beta Test Begins
Beta Build
8 Dec 11
Alpha Build
11 Nov 11
Mockups Created
12 Oct 11
28 Sep 11
Design Discussions
1 Sep 11
Contract Awarded
1 Aug 11
Contract out for Solicitation
AMO Packet Submitted
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Objectives Supported Platforms

• Web Browsers
• PC
• Mac

• Mobile Devices
• iOS
• iPod Touch
• iPhone
• Android

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Objectives Web Site

• Web Site
• How To Play
• Web Game
• PC
• Mac
• Leader Board
• Terms Conditions
• Privacy Policy

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Objectives Metrics

• Monthly Reports
• Registered Users
• Demographics

• Google Analytics
• Dashboard
• Visitors
• Map Overlay
• New vs. Returning
• Traffic Sources
• Referring Sites
• Search Engines
• Keywords
• Content
• By Title
• Drilldown
• Landing pages
• Exit Pages

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Our Approach

• Listen twice, Design once
• Understand the clients requirements
• Be flexible our ideas are NOT always the best
• Become the customers partner, not vendor

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Design Decisions

• Development platform Unity 3D
• Mastery of 1 development environment, not 5
• 2D graphics instead of 3D models
• Mini game bandwidth constraints
• Use of Video
• Bandwidth issues
• Require active internet connection
• Instant application data updates
• Cant support everything (sorry iPad for now)

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Challenges
Sometimes what looks good on paper doesnt really
work out in the end.
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Demo
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Lessons Learned

• Content from external sources needs stringent
  formatting specifications.
• Identify interfaces that will be required early
  in the development process.
• Identify generics within your code early on
• If possible, standardize database tables and
  requests
• Establish clear deadlines and build
  requirements.
• Scene management/versioning
• Performance test your 3D assets on your target
  devices

Success is a terrible teacher. Bill Gates
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Thank You!
Questions?