'Jam' Encourages Development of Games to Improve Personal Health
"Health Game Jam," an experiment to encourage the rapid prototype development of new games for the education and improvement of the user's personal health was held at the University of Baltimore in October. Sponsored by the Games for Health Project, a growing community of game innovators bridging the worlds of games and health; the two-day competition hosted independent, professional and student game developers who built rapid game prototypes during the weekend marathon.
Seven teams competed for $4,000 in cash prizes. The prototypes they built had to deal with the issue of caloric differential (i.e. many people are eating slightly more in calories then we expend - about 150-200 calories on average per day) in just 24 hours.
All seven teams produced some level of prototype. A student team from the University of Baltimore won by designing two mini games (of an envisioned series of mini-games) that were designed to help people think of the ever small number of things they can do to reduce the calorie differential in their daily lives. The University of Baltimore at USG winning team included Alex Tran, Mike Couture, Brian Doyle, Jenny Lees, Derek Willemstijn and Phillip Weisberg.
"We are extremely proud of what our students accomplished," said Kathleen Harmeyer, director of the Simulation and Digital Entertainment program. "They exhibited outstanding teamwork and creativity in developing the winning prototype. The University of Baltimore's program integrates the full range of concepts and skills needed to launch a career in game and simulation development. With its internships and capstone development seminar, the Bachelor of Science program provides an ideal entry point for aspiring professionals."
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.
The Universities at Shady Grove is an innovative model for delivering top-quality college degree programs. USG is not one university; instead it is a collaboration of nine leading public universities in Maryland offering more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Montgomery County. Established in 2000, USG serves more than 3,000 full- and part-time students.
Participating USM partners include: Bowie State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland University College.