Using a Game Jam for concept generation: experiences from the Diabetes Game Jam

Anne Maas1,2 (anne.maas@mmc.nl)

P van der Molen1,2, R van de Vijver3, W Chen2, C van Pul1, EJE Cottaar2, PAJ Hilbers2, NAW van Riel2, HR Haak1.

1 Máxima Medical Center, Eindhoven; 2 Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven; 3 Fontys School of Applied Science, Eindhoven.

Current problems:•Too much info for patient•Care givers have limited time•Quite complex information•The disease is very personal•Patient gets demotivated

??

food

insulin–

stress + exercise–

+blood glucose concentration

Current situation

Two paths, one project

+=

The E-DES project

“Design a digital application to educate people about

diabetes in a personal and playful manner,

which fits the lifestyle and needs of our target audience.”

Concept generation

Preparation

• Location: Máxima Medical Center, dedicated areas for working, sleeping and presenting

• Board games and WII available to relax• Snacks and drinks available freely, main meals

provided by catering

• Recruitment through flyers&posters on TU/e and Fontys, facebook and personal network

• 20 participants, of which five programmers and two 16-year olds

Program

• Introduction to E-DES• Introduction to diabetes by

DVN• Dinner with diabetes patients• Workshops:

‘making design choices’ or ‘programming in Unity’

• Team formation and start• Progress report• Game demo fair • Voting and closure

Roodhapje Suiker race

Hyper Weet wat je Diab-EET

Results

Game Jam evaluation

• Winner: Suiker race

• Unique features:– Hyper: Simple, fast paced– Weet wat je Diab-EET: Hunger bar, visually pleasing– Roodhapje: Child – grandparent relation, fairy tale

theme– Suiker race: Sidebar with ‘active’ effects, moving

with cards instead of dice

Organizing a Game Jam

• Make it fun:– Provide good food and a quiet sleeping area– Encourage the participants to relax as well

• Stimulate involvement in your project:– Give an introduction to your work– Get the target population involved

• Communicate about what you want to use

• The earlier in the process the better

The team

Anne Maas MMC, TU/ePieta van der Molen MMC, TU/eReinier van de Vijver Fontys

Peter Hilbers TU/e, BMTNatal van Riel TU/e, BMTWard Cottaar TU/e, SMPE/eWei Chen TU/e, ID

Harm Haak MMCCarola van Pul MMC