Ten Ton Hamster

Rovert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded a $2 million grant to help in Health Games Research. This research is dedicated to "the development and use of video games to improve players’ health behaviors and outcomes."

Here is a snippet of the article:
"Funded studies include motion-based games used to help stroke patients recover faster in physical therapy to virtual worlds that allow those in substance abuse treatment to practice skills and behaviors to prevent real-world relapses.

Said Health Games Research program head Debra Lieberman, Ph.D: “Health Games Research gives us a tremendous opportunity to advance the field. Previous studies and clinical trials have shown that well-designed interactive games can significantly improve players' health-related knowledge, skills, behaviors and outcomes. The 12 new studies will give us deeper insights into how and why certain game designs are compelling, fun and effective, and for which types of people. This work will yield a broad spectrum of validated game design principles that game designers will be able to use to enhance the effectiveness of future health games and game technologies.”

Read Gamasutra's full article by clicking here