Hi everyone, I’m in the medical field and have been working on a research project relating to the potential role of video games in medical education. In order to conduct this research I have first been trying to create a basic level based on a disease process (in this case pneumonia). Problem is I have no game dev experience, so I have started to make the level but keep running into roadblocks.
Would appreciate and support from the community, whilst I unfortunately can’t offer financial compensation for your time. You would be included in any further opportunities which arise from the project. The initial goal would be to publish this project as an abstract and present it at a conference. However, further opportunities may arise.
If anyone is interested please get in touch.
Thanks
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Just a thought, why not using a LLM and build around it just a text interface?
Like a dialoge between a physician and a patient …
Your initial idea said a little about the game mechanics. Like patient vs. docter, or at virus level …?
What needs to be visualized …?
Hey man, thanks for the response.
Things similar to what ur describing with a LLM based conversation exist and are undoubtedly useful.
My idea was to gamify the education even further, for example the level background would visualise the anatomical structures in different organs. With educational signs describing the features. In this case the game would be a 2D platformer.
Another example would be giving the player the choice of choosing a treatment option (weapon) to fight the infection again in the context of a 2D platformer.
Some of the game would also be quiz based eg allowing players to choose investigation to order and showing them the results eg. chest x-rays.
I am trying to lean more into the gaming side and incorporating education through a 2D platformer rather than just a conversation.
Hope that makes sense
The game mechanics look a lot like a simulation instead of a game mechanic.
In game design it is important to define a goal and if that is achieved (next level) there is a new goal (problem).
That game concept (script, storyline, story) must first be written out. In doing so, issues such as how do you keep the player active and interested must be taken into account.
For a simulation, the goal is more education. Cause and effect. The question then is how do you build up the education. From basic understanding to more specific problem areas with more knowledge of the subject and how do you transfer that knowledge.
What is currently a hot topic, but not the real solution, is something like Vibe-coding. Where you ask the AI to help you write code. This does not make you a great software application. But it does get your thinking process going about the product to be made.
For 2D games Godot is popular, you can also process 3D elements (objects) in it. And WindSuft IDE, is a coding AI, based on the widely used MicroSoft VCode editor. But you can also use ChatGPT for this, to work out your ideas and see where the possibilities lie.
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I guess my hope would be to combine the two, some simulation elements such as picking the scans etc.
But also some game elements for example working through different platforming levels based on the human anatomy. Eventually reaching the lungs and having to fight the infection in a boss fight.
The reason is that I’ve used simulation things in the past and there is issues with keeping students engaged and actually caring about the scenario. I wondered if integrating some gaming elements could make this a more enjoyable educational experience and improve engagement.
Thanks for ur help again and I’ll definitely look into some of the options you suggested.
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