Zombie hunting with MatterPak Attack

Life has a few simple pleasures: the smell of fresh hay, for instance. Finding a spare dollar behind the couch. And of course, gunning down hordes of zombified enemies in time for lunch. Survival shooters are one of the most popular gaming subgenres. From “Left 4 Dead” to “Call Of Duty”, they inspire fear and delight with the constant need to run, shoot, duck, and rethink your options. With digital twins as a blueprint, the zombie shooter game becomes even more terrifying. Racing up your own stairs or through company HQ corridors, pursued by grasping claws, makes the experience linger long after you’ve fired your last round. 

This is all possible because of a highly specialized program, the Rapid Synthetic Environment Tool (RSET), originally designed for military use. RSET’s developers have had great success simulating real, complex environments for swift reactions and dedicated training modules. MatterPak Attack, the zombie-infested equivalent, leverages digital twins for a whole new use case. If you’re looking to offer a fun, frantic activity for your clients, workforce, or family, just download RSET and select pre-built environments or create your own Matterport scans. Bill Gregory, Founder and CEO of RSET, explains what’s waiting for any of our customers. 

What inspired the 3D capture of this space?

In developing our base software, RSET, we worked with the navy and military to create tactical shooter training simulations against AI combatants. Since we already implemented a first-person shooter, pathfinding AI, and the Unity Game Engine, it just made sense and sounded fun to shoot some zombies in our living rooms’ digital twins. Then, almost a year later, we saw this as an enjoyable way to promote RSET, but it quickly evolved into its own product with a lot of depth.

How does it work?

MatterPak Attack works on any Matterport scan. After linking your Matterport account, your scans will appear in the in-game browser. From there, you can load your scan or purchase a premade MatterPak. You can then play with a mouse and keyboard or a linked gaming controller. 

How do you see MatterPak Attack evolving?

Over time, we’d like to add more mechanics such as an economy for weapon trading points, quests, other ways to obtain new equipment, multiplayer options, and VR. Eventually, we’ll allow other Matterport providers to sell their scans as game maps to other players.

What’s your favorite digital twin to fight zombies in? 

In terms of our team, it varies. I like playing in the abandoned theater, primarily because I can see everything and it’s a creepy place. When I scanned the building, it felt haunted, like somebody was always watching me. That personal experience adds to the gameplay. My colleague, Michael, likes the Embassy Suites by Hilton lobby because it has an excellent circular path around the first floor where large, navigable areas are connected by tight environments. That leads to really fun, well-balanced gameplay. Also, a zombie hotel is a classic trope. 

What are the benefits of Matterport digital twins?

Matterport digital twins are perfect for exploring and documenting physical spaces. They give an accurate scale model that can be used in myriad ways. We’ve used them in training, archeology, historical preservation, and theater. RSET just takes them a little further. 

What does RSET do outside of MatterPak Attack?

Enomalies initially developed RSET for the Office of Naval Research, which rapidly modeled indoor spaces to aid marines. They used it for documentation, training, and post-action review. After years of working with the navy, we realized these tools would be useful for first responders as well. So, we started a few pilot projects for feedback. They’ve been very well received. We’ve also used RSET for litigation presentations, theater show design, and museum exhibits. 

Do you plan on creating other similar experiences?

Yes! There’s a holiday game in the pipeline and we already have an Easter game in which you find Easter eggs and chase bunnies.

Where and how can we play MatterPak Attack?

Anyone interested in playing can go to MatterPakAttack.com and sign up to make an account. Next, they select “Link Matterport Account” from the account dashboard. After downloading and opening the game, players can load their favorite scans into MatterPak and start slaying zombies. It’s that easy.