Games for Health: the industry's unsung heroes [update 1]
by Ross Miller 
{ May 15th 2006 at 2:55PM }
Last Thursday, we had the chance of traversing through Kentia Hall to meet with Ben Sawyer to talk with us about Games for Health, an effort to use videogames and game technology to promote healthy behavior and alleviate patients' pain and the burden of illness (and a part of the Serious Games Initiative). Some of the highlights, from both Games for Health and the Serious Games Initiative, include:
- Elemental -- a "falling brick" puzzle game that teaches you where elements are located on the periodic table, their relations to one another, and basic common compounds. Intended to help with early Chemistry courses.
- Free Dive -- a virtual reality/underwater exploration game intended to control pain during procedures such as a spinal tap.
- A Force More Powerful -- a strategy title that sets up scenarios where players can resolve international conflict using nonviolent outlets. This title was developed with aid from experts on nonviolent conflict.
- Re-Mission -- a third-person shooter from inside your body, promoting cancer knowledge and antibiotic usage. We had a chance to play this game and will have hands-on impressions for you later this week.
- Take Back Illinois -- a title that teaches players about the important political issues and promotes voter registration. Rest assured, sponsor Tom Cross has made games for both sides of the political spectrum.
- Stone City -- A training game commissioned by Cold Stone Creamery. Imagine learning how your job works with just a few clicks of the mouse.
[update 1: clarified that many of the games listed were also part of Serious Games Initiative]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Timmi T @ May 15th 2006 3:13PM
An Unsung Footlong.
funkonaut @ May 15th 2006 3:55PM
Does Take Back Illinois allow you to slash the tires of your opponents' vans? Oh, wait. That's only a Democrat tactic. Never mind.
John @ May 15th 2006 4:05PM
Hey, news tip:
Tonight on the apprentice the want-to-be apprentice people have to work with the xbox 360. I dont know what theyll be doing, like an ad campaign or selling it w/e
But check it out tonight, I think its 9 eastern.
I sent a tip on sunday, but you guys were probably off.
Gnomicide @ May 15th 2006 4:09PM
I guess propaganda games are the inevitable result of mainstream gaming. That's too bad.
Games are the last refuge of those who hate being preached at. It's sad to see that start to slip away.
Bored @ May 15th 2006 4:23PM
This games all seem boring, but since Brain Wave made such a splash I guess this is the same thing. Good luck to them!
thispaceforsale @ May 15th 2006 4:24PM
The idea of using games to teach concepts in school is great. Repitition remains one of the strongest tools to get kids to remember stuff, and having them want to play over and over is brimming with possibility. How many people can remember terribly useless "facts" from Oregon Trail because they played it so much in school. The key is not so much fun, which helps, but really playing it over and over again to drumbeat the concept into the longterm memory.
mercatfat @ May 15th 2006 6:55PM
"Does Take Back Illinois allow you to slash the tires of your opponents' vans? Oh, wait. That's only a Democrat tactic. Never mind."
don't bring race into this.
Gonzo @ May 16th 2006 2:22PM
May I...
If they allow you to slash tires they should also allow you to tell people on the other side of the tracks that they vote tomorrow and have your friends make new electronic voting machines, with no paper trail, that only you know how to tamper with.
I hate politicians and everyone who takes them as seriously as they take themselves.