One of the more surprising companies that we encountered at the event was Blackwolf Tactical. This company has had the opportunity to pivot their focus several times without having to sacrifice their original mission, which is not something most companies can say. Coming from a background of live-action gaming, the company was approached to use their facility to create an adaptive learning environment for police officers.
Using their facility they can create nearly any scenario and have the environment adjust to the decisions of the officers. Rather than simply failing when you make a mistake, in this facility the environment can adjust to punish participants. For example, if an officer leaves his partner, he may be forced to face an assailant in the dark, or even have a weapon jam.
Never being content with the status quo, even if they are driving it, the company is adding even more interesting aspects. As the facility can track participants to a matter of inches, and knows direction and weapon movement, they have begun to put that data to use after the training. By importing the data into Unity, a 3D gaming engine, they can replay a scenario from any angle. Also, by introducing Unity, the original idea of a gaming facility could very well be on its way back
Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.
Trey was born into a tech career. Instead of going to summer camp as a child, Trey spent summers working at the local news station with his father, an Emmy award winning news director. He honed his audio skills singing in a band, and later worked as a lighting and audio technician for a theme park. Within two years he became the lead technician for the entire park, which included a fully operational CNN sponsored TV station, a full theater and a circus. Later, he became the lead lighting and audio tech for one of the Ringling Bros. circuses, with a stint as a clown for the pure joy of performing. It was at Ringling that he met his wife, who he calls the most beautiful, loving, and funny person he has ever met, and who is also the creator of the 3000 Brigade. Trey was a performer with the 3000 Brigade for nine shows, as well as hosting the 3000 Brigade Podcast, while still doing media on the side. Trey currently edits and cleans audio for PLuGHiTz shows and has also been a special events host.
