GAMES FOR HEALTH JOURNAL: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications Volume 3, Number 2, 2014 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2014.0008
Editorial
Descriptions for Articles Introducing a New Game for Health Tom Baranowski, PhD
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Provide the Web address (URL) where a reader could find more information about the game and a link to access it directly or information about how to obtain the game. Identify the game engine that was used to create the game. Identify the technology platform on which the game is played (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, computer, videogame console). Identify the input devices needed to play the game (e.g., keyboard, touch screen, dance pad, joy stick, Wii mote, Web camera requiring arm, leg, or body movement, other). What similar games or other media inspired this game? What is the optimal setting where this game should be played? What is this game trying to do in general? For example, name the type of behavior change (such as prevention, self-care, adherence, disease self-management), the type of healthcare delivery the game provides (such as diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and physical therapy, cognitive skill training, phobia reduction, pain distraction), or the type of healthcare training the game supports (such as improvement of diagnostic skills, surgery skills, staff teamwork skills, simulation of emergency protocols). What makes this game ‘‘fun’’ to play? How does the game enhance players’ immersion and engagement? Are there levels? What do they challenge the player to do? What are they designed to accomplish? What must the player achieve in order to progress to the next level? Does this game enhance FLOW and adapt to the player’s changing abilities? What forms of feedback are provided? (e.g., advance in level, game goodies, points, praise, record-keeping, statements, unlocking hidden game elements, other). How will the game be publicized, distributed, disseminated, and/or sold? What is the cost of the game?
ames for Health Journal (G4HJ) is in the fortunate position of publishing articles that introduce new games. New games incorporating new ideas are vital for improving games for health and advancing our understanding of how games work and help players. It has become quite challenging, however, to understand what the new games do or how they do it, because of the huge variability of what the authors report about their games. To provide basic information and thereby comparability of game descriptors, please see Table 1. This is a prototype table that we would like to see included in all manuscripts submitted to G4HJ that present a previously unreported or underreported game. The G4HJ Editorial Board reviewed this document and considered many more descriptors. Table 1 is a compromise between including everyone’s wish list for describing a new game and the barest essentials. The Editorial Board was concerned to minimize onerous burdens, yet provide minimum essential information. If you submit a manuscript describing a new game for health to G4HJ, please be sure to complete this table for your new game and include it as part of the submission. There was some discussion among the Editorial Board that some of the items that didn’t get into Table 1 would be expected to be presented in the text of an article describing the new game. As a service to budding authors, please find these items to provide guidance on text that the Editorial Board, and likely other reviewers, would expect to be included in an article: If members of the target population contributed to game design (i.e., formative research), describe their role and contributions. If user testing (e.g., alpha, beta, and/or feasibility testing) was done, describe the user testing procedures, what the testing found, and how the game was revised as a result. If the game design and production were funded, name the for-profit, nonprofit, or governmental agency/ organization(s) that provided the funding. Identify the game production company or organization that designed or developed the game. Identify the team members and their roles, such as subject matter specialists, medical experts, behavioral health specialists, instructional design specialists, experts who know the target population, etc. (as is done in scrolling recognition lists at the end of a movie).
To clarify how this game was designed to influence the player’s health, for each goal in each quest/episode, identify the anticipated pathway from game design element to some change in the player, to a change in the player’s behavior, to some health outcome, as shown in the flowchart below for a sample Quest 1, Goal 1:
Pediatrics (Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity), USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Editor-in-Chief, Games for Health Journal.
55
56
Game design Game design feature, game mechanic, social interactions, skills rehearsed, feedback and support provided
EDITORIAL
Change in player Change in players’ attitudes, beliefs, risk perceptions, perceptions of barriers, self-concepts, knowledge, skills, physical abilities
Behavior Change in behavior
Health Measurable health outcome
Table 1. Characteristics of a Videogame for Health: (Game Name) Health topic(s) Targeted age group(s) Other targeted group characteristics Short description of game idea Target player(s): ,Individual ,Dyad ,Small group (check one) ,MMOG ,Other: ____________________ Guiding knowledge or behavior change theory(ies), models, or conceptual framework(s): Intended health behavior changes: Knowledge element(s) to be learned: Behavior change procedure(s) (taken from Michie inventory) or therapeutic procedure(s) employed: Clinical or parental support needed? (please specify): Data shared with parent or clinician: ,Yes ,No Type of game: (check all that apply) ,Active ,Action ,Adventure ,Role-playing ,Simulation ,Strategy ,Sports ,Casual ,Educational ,Other: __________________ Story (if any) Synopsis (including story arc): How the story relates to targeted behavior change: Game components Player’s game goal/objective(s): Rules: Game mechanic(s): Procedures to generalize or transfer what’s learned in the game to outside the game: Virtual environment Setting (describe): Avatar Characteristics: Abilities: Game platform(s) needed to play the game: (check all that apply) Sensors used: Estimated play time: MMOG, Massively Multiplayer Online Game.
This is not a done deal. Comments are welcome on Table 1 and on the list of items above! We try to become better and better with every issue.
,Smartphone ,Tablet ,Kinect Xbox ,Wii ,PlayStation ,Computer ,Handheld device ,Other: ______________
Editorial
Descriptions for Articles Introducing a New Game for Health Tom Baranowski, PhD
G
Provide the Web address (URL) where a reader could find more information about the game and a link to access it directly or information about how to obtain the game. Identify the game engine that was used to create the game. Identify the technology platform on which the game is played (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, computer, videogame console). Identify the input devices needed to play the game (e.g., keyboard, touch screen, dance pad, joy stick, Wii mote, Web camera requiring arm, leg, or body movement, other). What similar games or other media inspired this game? What is the optimal setting where this game should be played? What is this game trying to do in general? For example, name the type of behavior change (such as prevention, self-care, adherence, disease self-management), the type of healthcare delivery the game provides (such as diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and physical therapy, cognitive skill training, phobia reduction, pain distraction), or the type of healthcare training the game supports (such as improvement of diagnostic skills, surgery skills, staff teamwork skills, simulation of emergency protocols). What makes this game ‘‘fun’’ to play? How does the game enhance players’ immersion and engagement? Are there levels? What do they challenge the player to do? What are they designed to accomplish? What must the player achieve in order to progress to the next level? Does this game enhance FLOW and adapt to the player’s changing abilities? What forms of feedback are provided? (e.g., advance in level, game goodies, points, praise, record-keeping, statements, unlocking hidden game elements, other). How will the game be publicized, distributed, disseminated, and/or sold? What is the cost of the game?
ames for Health Journal (G4HJ) is in the fortunate position of publishing articles that introduce new games. New games incorporating new ideas are vital for improving games for health and advancing our understanding of how games work and help players. It has become quite challenging, however, to understand what the new games do or how they do it, because of the huge variability of what the authors report about their games. To provide basic information and thereby comparability of game descriptors, please see Table 1. This is a prototype table that we would like to see included in all manuscripts submitted to G4HJ that present a previously unreported or underreported game. The G4HJ Editorial Board reviewed this document and considered many more descriptors. Table 1 is a compromise between including everyone’s wish list for describing a new game and the barest essentials. The Editorial Board was concerned to minimize onerous burdens, yet provide minimum essential information. If you submit a manuscript describing a new game for health to G4HJ, please be sure to complete this table for your new game and include it as part of the submission. There was some discussion among the Editorial Board that some of the items that didn’t get into Table 1 would be expected to be presented in the text of an article describing the new game. As a service to budding authors, please find these items to provide guidance on text that the Editorial Board, and likely other reviewers, would expect to be included in an article: If members of the target population contributed to game design (i.e., formative research), describe their role and contributions. If user testing (e.g., alpha, beta, and/or feasibility testing) was done, describe the user testing procedures, what the testing found, and how the game was revised as a result. If the game design and production were funded, name the for-profit, nonprofit, or governmental agency/ organization(s) that provided the funding. Identify the game production company or organization that designed or developed the game. Identify the team members and their roles, such as subject matter specialists, medical experts, behavioral health specialists, instructional design specialists, experts who know the target population, etc. (as is done in scrolling recognition lists at the end of a movie).
To clarify how this game was designed to influence the player’s health, for each goal in each quest/episode, identify the anticipated pathway from game design element to some change in the player, to a change in the player’s behavior, to some health outcome, as shown in the flowchart below for a sample Quest 1, Goal 1:
Pediatrics (Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity), USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Editor-in-Chief, Games for Health Journal.
55
56
Game design Game design feature, game mechanic, social interactions, skills rehearsed, feedback and support provided
EDITORIAL
Change in player Change in players’ attitudes, beliefs, risk perceptions, perceptions of barriers, self-concepts, knowledge, skills, physical abilities
Behavior Change in behavior
Health Measurable health outcome
Table 1. Characteristics of a Videogame for Health: (Game Name) Health topic(s) Targeted age group(s) Other targeted group characteristics Short description of game idea Target player(s): ,Individual ,Dyad ,Small group (check one) ,MMOG ,Other: ____________________ Guiding knowledge or behavior change theory(ies), models, or conceptual framework(s): Intended health behavior changes: Knowledge element(s) to be learned: Behavior change procedure(s) (taken from Michie inventory) or therapeutic procedure(s) employed: Clinical or parental support needed? (please specify): Data shared with parent or clinician: ,Yes ,No Type of game: (check all that apply) ,Active ,Action ,Adventure ,Role-playing ,Simulation ,Strategy ,Sports ,Casual ,Educational ,Other: __________________ Story (if any) Synopsis (including story arc): How the story relates to targeted behavior change: Game components Player’s game goal/objective(s): Rules: Game mechanic(s): Procedures to generalize or transfer what’s learned in the game to outside the game: Virtual environment Setting (describe): Avatar Characteristics: Abilities: Game platform(s) needed to play the game: (check all that apply) Sensors used: Estimated play time: MMOG, Massively Multiplayer Online Game.
This is not a done deal. Comments are welcome on Table 1 and on the list of items above! We try to become better and better with every issue.
,Smartphone ,Tablet ,Kinect Xbox ,Wii ,PlayStation ,Computer ,Handheld device ,Other: ______________
