Boffins at Durham University have developed safety software from a popular game engine.

It can recreate a real building, such as the university's Computer Science Department. The simulation, which can be employed to teach players what to do in the event of a blaze, was developed from Source, the engine behind Half-Life 2 among other games. We can't confirm whether the simulation is an extension of the game or a completely separate project, but we do know the engine was chosen because of its ease of modification.

However, apparently some seasoned gamers got a little carried away. Several let gamer instincts take over and attempted to run through a burning door.

By customising a video game, a finished representation of a building could be completed in just a few weeks without needing to learn or develop additional programming skills.

Galacticdramon via news.bbc.co.uk »