In dealing with natural gas, a tiny failure can cause loss of life and considerable property damage. In order to prevent potentially catastrophic accidents (e.g., a gas explosion), Columbia Gas invests significant time and effort in their first responder training. Until now, their training has been instructor-based classroom teaching. However, the company's multi-state footprint meant that instructors had to fly back and forth to teach the first responders. The high costs and the ability only to reach a limited number of employees at a time rendered this approach less than desirable.

Working with Columbia Gas, Etcetera Edutainment is creating a first responder training simulation that provides a 3D realistic environment of houses, buildings, surroundings and equipment. Players navigate the virtual environment, interacting with virtual customers, appliances, pipes, and so on to safely check for gas leaks and other potential problems.

This virtual training can be administered over the Internet by a remote instructor, reducing the need for instructor travel. Additionally, training sessions can be completed as they fit within employees' schedules, eliminating the need to arrange large group sessions.

Trainers set up "real world" situations including a variety of potential hazards - even gas explosions - providing a level of realistic training that would be physically impossible, environmentally detrimental, unsafe, or cost-prohibitive to create in any other format.

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