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Xbox 360 rehabilitates wounded Marine
It's a miracle that Lance Cpl. John McClellan survived a bullet to the head while stationed in Haditha, Iraq -- the sniper's bullet missed his carotid artery by less than a millimeter -- but his recovery afterwards is perhaps equally miraculous. The injury -- one of three he has received on duty -- left McClellan without the use of his left hand and leg. His rehab facility gave him a rubber stress ball to exercise his hand, but John had a better idea: videogames. Specifically, McClellan picked up an Xbox 360. His favorite "exercise" is currently Gears of War, which he plays for four hours a day -- and this is after coming home from four hours at his local rehabilitation facility. Initially, Gears was "too fast," but his game is improving as his left hand's dexterity improves. Nice work, John! Keep it up. Maybe he'll move on to Geometry Wars next ....[Via Joystiq]
Games for Health design competition opens
Envision a game that makes a difference, and your idea could net you a clean conscience (and some cash). The Games for Health competition is looking for game designs "aimed at improving aspects of health and health care." The best student / organization storyboards will win $5,000 apiece, and the best prototype / health game will win $20,000 (presumably the money will go toward more development).The contest kicks off today and ends April 1, 2007. Winners will be announced in May. No programming skills are necessary; if you have an idea, some determination, and a few hours, you could make a difference (or at least a few thousand dollars). More information can be found at the competition website and you can find a list of requirements on the entry forms. See Also:NPR talks "Games for Change" conferenceScientists recommend educational gamingA non-violent first person Hindu shooter using the Unreal engine?
PC impressions: Re-Mission
Surprisingly fun. Re-Mission is a third-person shooter from Hope Labs where you play Roxxi, a cancer-killing nanobot, as she moves through the human body hunting down and destroying cancer cells. In the one level we played, we were informed that we must kill all the lymph node cells. However, the catch is that we must spare all the white blood cells, so one must be careful to aim precisely. The control scheme hearkens back to Descent, which works well -- the mouse aims, the keyboard moves through 3D space. There are multiple weapons, the voice acting and tongue-in-cheek dialogue works, and the visuals are pretty. We found ourselves enjoying this game, despite its academic value.While playing the title at the Games for Health booth, we also learned of the research done around this game. Among cancer patients who played Re-Mission (as opposed to those who just played other games): Their cancer knowledge increased. Their reported quality of life increased. Their self-efficacy (how well they come to terms with their situation) increased. Their antibiotic usage increased. Their consumption of oral chemotherapy stayed consistent, whereas the control group declined in taking their medication. The facts are impressive and praise-worthy, but what sets this game apart is its general entertainment value and mass appeal. Take away its connection to cancer research, and you still have a fun title. You can view a trailer and order the game through the game's website.See Also:Games for Health: the industry's unsung heroes
