Video games as tools to train individuals for real world situations is hardly new. For years we've known of the US military's use of games as a means to sharpen the minds and reflexes of its soldiers.
They thrust soldiers into scenarios that are common on the battlefield, like dealing with hostile enemies in foreign lands, and often with innocents thrown into the mix. Many are quite complex, even more so what most civiilians play for fun.
But there's another kind of simulation that is currently used to train people, in the city of Dallas, to do one thing and one thing alone. And that’s how to plow snow.
According to Polygon, the L-3's Snowplow Driver Training Simulator has been developed by the same company that creates aforementioned software for the military, as well as for firefighters and pilots.
It too is a completely immersive experience, and includes three video screens, steering wheels, and other inputs that similar to the real thing. The game is designed to produce real life plowing scenarios.
Why such a thing? A surprise winter storm hit Dallas two years ago, the week before the city hosted the Super Bowl. And considering how rare snowfall is in general, this might be the only real method to keep snowplow operators on their toes.