1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,519 Speaker 1: Well as we know, it is indeed our road safety Weeks. 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: So essentially there are going to be various buildings and 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: icons will be lit up yellow to shine a light 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: on road safety and put practices in place to keep 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: everyone safe on the road. Unfortunately, we know that about well, 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: there are eighteen people who've already tragically lost their lives 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: on our roads this year alone. Now on average, forty 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: people are killed and around four hundred and eighty seriously 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: injured on Territory roads each year. As I said, it 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: is indeed National Road Safety Week, and it is a 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: week that honors those that we've lost on our roads, 12 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: but it also pledges to make the lives safer of 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: those that are on our roads. Now there are a 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,319 Speaker 1: number of businesses, a bunch of Darwin businesses that are 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: trying their best to teach young people about road safety. 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: And essentially a couple of weeks ago, I've got a 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: call from traffic works here in the Northern Territory and 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: they told me about a bit of a competition that 19 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: they've got running called Traffic Jam. Now, they'd initially just 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: open for the Northern Territory, but my understanding is that 21 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: they receive the support of the National Road Safety Week organizers, 22 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: and it's taken off now and become national. They've got 23 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: almost thirty contestants as I understand it, So it is 24 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: fair to say that it's a few road safety games 25 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: for kids hopefully of being created which will help to 26 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: absorb that message. Now, one business which is helping to 27 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: teach young people about the road safety and what you 28 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 1: need to do on the roads for our young ones 29 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: is Laric and Interactive, who've created a computer programming I 30 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: think it's I think they've created one of the games. 31 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: And I'm joined on the line right now by the 32 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: director of Laric and Interactive, Dylan Bennett. Good morning to you, Dylan. 33 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 2: Hello, good morning Patty. 34 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me, Thanks so much for joining us. Dylan, 35 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: talk us through how this all came about, because when 36 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: I first heard about it, we'd heard through Traffic Works 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: here in the territory and it seems to have just 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:57,919 Speaker 1: grown and grown. 39 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely has so. I mean traffic Work. 40 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: One of the anti game designers, Nathan, he also works 41 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 3: at Traffic Works n T. And he kind of had 42 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 3: the seed of an idea that a great way to 43 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: teach people about road safety would be to have a 44 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 3: competition to encourage game developers to make video games, and 45 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 3: that's that's that's. 46 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: Where I come in. 47 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 3: So my my company is about teaching people how to 48 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 3: make video games. And so we partnered up together and 49 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 3: just thought we'd run a little, you know, nt little 50 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 3: empty kind of competition. 51 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: But then it just exploded. So we're, you know, fortunately 52 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: because we you know, had. 53 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 3: Some amazing sponsors that Trace come on board and help us, 54 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: and then we also had the National Australia Road Safety 55 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: Organization with Peter Fraser come on board. It opened it 56 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: up to the whole of Australia and then we've gotten 57 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 3: devs from every state and territory except for acc It's 58 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: not sure why that is, but every day territory have 59 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 3: jumped on board to make games around this message. 60 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: That is awesome what I love. Oh, there's so much 61 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: to love about this. But I love the fact that 62 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: it started out as a Northern Territory initiative, with Northern 63 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: Territory companies deciding that this would be a really good 64 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: thing to do to teach young people about road safety. 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: And I love that aspect of it as well, that 66 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: it's about sort of getting in there early, making it 67 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 1: fun for the kids, so it is something that hopefully 68 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: is ingrained in them about being safe on the roads 69 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: as they get older. 70 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: Yep, the games that came through just blew us away. Honestly. 71 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: It's such high quality video games that I made. 72 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: They only had a month to make these games, and 73 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 3: you know, it takes the years sometimes to make fully 74 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: polished games. 75 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: But some of these games are good enough to put 76 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: on the store right now. 77 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: How cool. 78 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: It's like we've got thirteen year old developers, you know, 79 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 3: and fifty year old developers all kind of working together 80 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 3: around the same message. 81 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: Oh how awesome. So tell me in the end how 82 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: many people actually entered the competition or how many groups 83 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: of people if there was more than just an individual 84 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: in some cases. 85 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we can tell that there were twenty eight 86 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 3: people that signs up, So we don't know some of 87 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 3: them will be groups, so there'll be more people overall. 88 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: But twenty eight signed up. And we had the range 89 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 3: from thirteen to like I said, fifty plus in terms 90 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: of age. And then we have thirteen video games around 91 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 3: road safety and that's so so so different. Like one 92 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 3: is the video game, which is a VR experience where 93 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 3: you're on one of the buses and it does things 94 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: like teach you how to exit the bus safely, but 95 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 3: it also puts you through this really really impactful kind 96 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 3: of feeling of being on the bus while rocks are 97 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 3: being pulse about it as a way to dissuade people 98 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 3: from doing that kind of thing. The way to like 99 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 3: off road style education to make sure that when you're 100 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 3: going camping and you're going off roads, you know how 101 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 3: to do that and so your more traditional like drinking 102 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 3: alcohol while driving how to an impact. 103 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: So is it going to be an opportunity for people 104 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: to actually see these games or have a go up 105 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: playing there. 106 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,679 Speaker 3: Absolutely so they can be played now if they want. 107 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: So. 108 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 3: All of the games are upline and online and we 109 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 3: have like the traffic works and Facebook page has all 110 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 3: of the links where you can go and play the games. 111 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 3: But also this Saturday we have a showcase event because 112 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 3: we really wanted to highlight, you know, how amazing these 113 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 3: games are and also the fact that we started in 114 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 3: the NT, we wanted to have an actual physical event. 115 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 2: Here in the NT to do that. 116 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 3: So that's this Saturday. It's at the Palmerston Recreation Center 117 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 3: of twelve o'clock We're really super fortunate. The Honorable Evil 118 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: Order is going to be there to give a Denotes 119 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: presentation and all of the sponsors and games will be 120 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 3: set up for you to meet and play. 121 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: Good stuff. Good on you guys, you know, to you 122 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: guys at Alaric and interactive, but also you know to 123 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: Traffic Works for coming up with this idea. I think 124 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: it's fantastic. Like I said, right from the outset, I 125 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: love saying Northern Territory business and companies do well and 126 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: think outside the box. But then I love the way 127 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: that young people are involved as well, and it is 128 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: all about making sure that you know that we're trying 129 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: to educate them in a fun and interactive way how 130 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: to be safe on the roads. 131 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 2: Yep, I mean this is really there. 132 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 3: I mean they two out of three Australians play video games. 133 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: You know, it's the past watching television in twenty twenty. 134 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: One, and so this. 135 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 3: Is how you engage this generation, you know. And I 136 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 3: think what we saw was a really diverse group of developers, 137 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 3: not just the younger generation who are playing the video games, 138 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 3: but actually so your mature developers who play video games. 139 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 1: Now, did you determine a winner in the end or 140 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: is that still sort of happening or were they all 141 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: too good to choose? 142 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 3: Well, they were definitely all too good, but we did 143 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 3: have a couple of winners in the end, and we 144 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 3: have different themes for you know, everyone can win different awards, 145 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 3: so you know, like the best use of theme was 146 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: this amazing futuristic game where it was about what happens 147 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 3: when driverless cars actually break down and you need to 148 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 3: regain control of your vehicle. So that we thought was 149 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: a really cool way of this challenge. The rising star 150 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 3: was a fifteen year old local developer who you know, 151 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 3: pizza delivery within your mum calls and suddenly your visibility 152 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: is reduced and it's a dangerous to drive. The most 153 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 3: innovative game, you know that was the VR Experience. I 154 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 3: mean it's honestly like it's worth putting it under the 155 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 3: our headset and playing. It's really well done. 156 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: And he's a. 157 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 3: Local VR developer who's done VR at CDU. 158 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, all good stuff, Dylan. It's lovely to talk to 159 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: you this morning. Like I said, I reckon, this is 160 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: fantastic mate. I really appreciate you having a chat with 161 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: us and telling us more about it. 162 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: Awesome, Katie, appreciate the time. 163 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks very much for chatting with us, and honestly, 164 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: anything that we can do. I think when it comes 165 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: to road safety and you know, trying to educate people 166 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: to be as safe as possible, not just themselves but 167 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: everybody on our roads, I think the more we spread 168 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: that word, the better it is. More Ken Yeah, thanks 169 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: so much, Dylan. I appreciate you having a chat with 170 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: us this morning.