Group items tagged

Abstract: "Adolescent obesity is an increasing challenge, and pervasive social health games hold much promise for promoting sustained healthy behaviors. Researchers and d esigners of these systems have many potential theories and existing best practices at their disposal. Our study, grounded in participatory design, shows which ones matter - both for pervasive social health games and within the cultural context of a community we studied over the course of three years. We worked with 112 US middle school students from a lower - income community in a series of participatory design exercises focused on social rewards for everyday physical activity. In our analysis, we discuss design implications in four key areas : social presence, gender effects, incentives and competition. We show how these themes manifested in students' designs and why they were particularly important to our participa nts. We then use our findings to suggest design strategies for youth - focused pervasive social health games."

Multiplayer game design enabling observation of peer interactions among youths

SOUTH FREEPORT, Maine - Ben Sawyer helped train the next generation of university leaders, worked to school Cisco employees in binary math and is hoping to help at-risk youths avoid the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. For him, it's all a game - a serious game. Sawyer is the co-founder of Digitalmill Inc., a game design consulting firm that is focused on the "serious games" space."

Partnership between Becker video game design students and Worcester Youth Center to design a game for whynotstop.org

Profiles an MIT grad Eitan Gilnert, founded company with new game "Slam Bolt Scrappers," using funding from friends and family. Gives his insights on entrepreneurship and why one should invest in his company. The company's web site: http://www.firehosegames.com/ features product information and an online community.

A competition for youths to design adventures for Spore game, recognition of prizewinners at Electronic Arts, links to videos of winning concepts

"The National STEM Video Game Challenge is a multi-year competition that aims to motivate interest in STEM learning among America's youth by tapping into students' natural passion for playing and making video games. Join the new faces of game design and start designing today! .. Deadline is April 24, 2013.

Description of a Scratch game development curriculum implemented by WPI students at the Worcester Public Library

Ongoing study funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development involving some 300 minority youths ages 9 t0 14 based on research that skills learned in video game play will translate into real life personal health management