Active-Adventure @ Games for Health 2009

Active-Adventure:Active-Adventure:A New Way to PlayA New Way to PlayA New Way to PlayA New Way to PlaySeth SivakSeth SivakCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityEntertainment Technology CenterEntertainment Technology Center

Game Programmer / Graduate StudentGame Programmer / Graduate StudentCarnegie Mellon - Entertainment Technology CenterCarnegie Mellon - Entertainment Technology Center

email: [email protected]: [email protected]: sethsivak.comwebsite: sethsivak.com

twitter: @sjsivaktwitter: @sjsivak

Game Engineer - Conduit LabsGame Engineer - Conduit Labs

Seth SivakSeth Sivak

ActiveAdventureGame.comActiveAdventureGame.com

mailto:[email protected]

What I am playing...What I am playing...

altitudegame.comaltitudegame.com worldofwarcraft.comworldofwarcraft.com

demigodthegame.comdemigodthegame.com bit.ly/sethNikePlusbit.ly/sethNikePlus

http://www.altitudegame.com/

SummarySummary• Graduate ProgramGraduate Program

Project TeamProject Team• Project GenesisProject Genesis• Brief History of ExergamesBrief History of Exergames

High Concept High Concept • Project OverviewProject Overview• Core Design Ideas Core Design Ideas

Development FocusDevelopment Focus• PlaytestingPlaytesting• Medical ResearchMedical Research

Active-Adventure AdvantagesActive-Adventure Advantages• Future WorkFuture Work


CMU Entertainment CMU Entertainment Technology CenterTechnology Center• 2 Year Graduate Program2 Year Graduate Program

Focus on Interdisciplinary Project WorkFocus on Interdisciplinary Project Work• Variety of Project WorkVariety of Project Work

• Video GamesVideo GamesAmusement Park RidesAmusement Park Rides

• Location Based EntertainmentLocation Based Entertainment• Robotics/AnimatronicsRobotics/Animatronics• Computer AnimationComputer Animation


Project TeamProject Team

Sean Kwon Nate Morgan

Drew Davidson Jesse Schell

Garth DeAngelis Zikun Fan Ryan Hipple Bard McKinley S e t h S iv a k


Project GenesisProject Genesis

• Student Pitched ProjectStudent Pitched Project

Make a Fun Exercise GameMake a Fun Exercise Game• Use the WiiUse the Wii

• Research with DoctorsResearch with Doctors

Use a DancepadUse a Dancepad• Understand the Exercise ExperienceUnderstand the Exercise Experience


Brief History of ExergamesBrief History of Exergames

Atari Joyboard-1982Atari Joyboard-1982Tech: Human JoystickTech: Human JoystickGames: Games: Maniac Moguls (skiing)Maniac Moguls (skiing)Off Your Rocker (simon)Off Your Rocker (simon)Surf’ s Up (surfing)Surf’ s Up (surfing)

Wii Balance Board-2007Wii Balance Board-2007Tech: Human JoystickTech: Human JoystickGames: Games: Wii Ski (skiing)Wii Ski (skiing)Wii Fit (fitness simulator)Wii Fit (fitness simulator)Shawn White (snowboarding)Shawn White (snowboarding)

Cat Eye Gamebike-2009Cat Eye Gamebike-2009Tech: Exercise BikeTech: Exercise BikeGames: Games: Racing SimulatorRacing Simulator

Atari Puffer - 1982Atari Puffer - 1982Tech: Exercise BikeTech: Exercise BikeGames: Games: Racing SimulatorRacing Simulator



Nintendo Powerpad-1986Nintendo Powerpad-1986Tech: Floor PadTech: Floor PadGames: Games: World Class Track MeetWorld Class Track MeetDance AerobicsDance Aerobics

Dance Dance Rev-1999Dance Dance Rev-1999Tech: Floor PadTech: Floor PadGames: Games: Dance Action GameDance Action Game

Dreamcast - 2000Dreamcast - 2000 Wii - 2008Wii - 2008


Problems with ExergamesProblems with Exergames

• Not much has changed in ~20 yearsNot much has changed in ~20 years

Sports, Dance, TrainingSports, Dance, Training• Exergames require a peripheralExergames require a peripheral• Games should be designed WITH/FOR the hardwareGames should be designed WITH/FOR the hardware

Inputs should be interesting and fun (and varied)Inputs should be interesting and fun (and varied)• No deep gameplay experiencesNo deep gameplay experiences

High ConceptHigh Concept• Active Video Game for ChildrenActive Video Game for Children

Utilize Traditional Action-Adventure ConceptsUtilize Traditional Action-Adventure Concepts• Allow Kids to Lose Weight Doing What They LoveAllow Kids to Lose Weight Doing What They Love

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Project OverviewProject Overview

• First Semester - Vertical SliceFirst Semester - Vertical Slice

Full Tutorial Level (~20 Minutes)Full Tutorial Level (~20 Minutes)• Seamless StorySeamless Story• Boss BattleBoss Battle

Second Semester - Horizontal SliceSecond Semester - Horizontal Slice• Over 12 Unique Gameplay MechanicsOver 12 Unique Gameplay Mechanics


Core Design IdeasCore Design Ideas

• Avoid Chocolate Covered BrocolliAvoid Chocolate Covered Brocolli

Use FlowUse Flow• Design Gameplay & Exercise TogetherDesign Gameplay & Exercise Together• Give Juicy FeedbackGive Juicy Feedback• Map Interaction Closely Map Interaction Closely


Gameplay & Input DesignGameplay & Input Design

Make It Make It FeelFeel Right Right• Natural vs. IntuitiveNatural vs. Intuitive

• Teach the Desired BehaviorTeach the Desired Behavior

Personalize the ControlsPersonalize the Controls• Test, Test, TestTest, Test, Test

Development FocusDevelopment Focus

• Iterate on Core GameplayIterate on Core Gameplay• Combat Combat andand Controls Controls

• Rapid PrototypeRapid Prototype

Modular DesignModular Design• Test, Test, TestTest, Test, Test



PlaytestingPlaytesting

Playtesting ResultsPlaytesting Results

• InterviewsInterviews

SurveysSurveys• Parental SurveysParental Surveys• Play Style VideoPlay Style Video• Play Style NotesPlay Style Notes

Medical ResearchMedical Research

• Todd Miller - Assistant Todd Miller - Assistant Professor of Exercise ScienceProfessor of Exercise Science

• Karen McDonnell - Associate Karen McDonnell - Associate Professor of Prevention and Professor of Prevention and Community HealthCommunity Health

• George Washington George Washington University, School of Public University, School of Public HealthHealth

• Robert Wood Johnson Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant - Games Foundation Grant - Games for Healthfor Health


Medical ResearchMedical Research• MotivationMotivation

• DDR is in Gym ClassDDR is in Gym Class• Tethered vs. TailoredTethered vs. Tailored

• StudyStudy• Conventional Gym Class vs. DDR vs. Conventional Gym Class vs. DDR vs.

Winds of OrbisWinds of Orbis• Accelerometer Data for Exercise Accelerometer Data for Exercise

Level (energy expenditure)Level (energy expenditure)• Survey (cognitive and behavioral Survey (cognitive and behavioral

preference on games)preference on games)• Targeting Low Income, Inner City Targeting Low Income, Inner City

Minorities: 1st - 5th GradersMinorities: 1st - 5th Graders


Active-Adventure AdvantagesActive-Adventure Advantages

• Deep Gameplay ExperiencesDeep Gameplay Experiences• Large Market PotentialLarge Market Potential• Incentive Based ExerciseIncentive Based Exercise• RPG Exercise StatisticsRPG Exercise Statistics• Story Based LearningStory Based Learning


Future WorkFuture Work

• Seeking a PublisherSeeking a Publisher• George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University• IGF 2009 - Student FinalistsIGF 2009 - Student Finalists• Indiecade 2009 (awaiting results)Indiecade 2009 (awaiting results)• PAX 10 (awaiting results)PAX 10 (awaiting results)


Seth SivakSeth SivakGame Programmer / Graduate StudentGame Programmer / Graduate Student

Carnegie Mellon - Entertainment Technology CenterCarnegie Mellon - Entertainment Technology Center

email: [email protected]: [email protected]: sethsivak.comwebsite: sethsivak.com

twitter: @sjsivaktwitter: @sjsivakIf you are a researcher looking for game If you are a researcher looking for game

developers please come see me!!!developers please come see me!!!

Questions?Questions?


mailto:[email protected]

Active-Adventure @ Games for Health 2009

Technology

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