Games for Health: the industry's unsung heroes [update 1]
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.
What surprised us most about these games was not the educational value, but the fun. Many of these games were really entertaining, and we think that is the key to their effectiveness. We'll have more on Games for Health, including a hands-on with Re-Mission and an interview with Ben Sawyer, as the week progresses.
[update 1: clarified that many of the games listed were also part of Serious Games Initiative]
