Novel, backed by Vancouver VCs, uses gaming tech to make business simulations for companies

July 6, 2010 | Source: Xconomy

Novel Inc. plans to apply massively multiplayer online (MMO) virtual-reality video-game techniques to create new kinds of games and business simulations for companies.

A company might evaluate its prospective employees’ leadership and teamwork skills by having a group of job candidates enter a game-like computer simulation where each person controls a virtual character. The simulation would present the group with various management problems, or other business situations. By watching how each person performs and interacts with others, the company could potentially learn more about them than it would in a run-of-the-mill interview. And if done right, it could be more time-efficient as well.

The technology lets players interact with each other through chatting in the game, negotiating trade deals for their virtual organizations, convincing other players to vote for them in political campaigns, and dividing up labor within virtual companies, for example.