INFO PANEL 1: SUPERBETTER
Chelsea Howe – director of design, SuperBetter Labs
Clarins offers a spa-themed game
“Game designer Jane McGonigal came up with the idea for SuperBetter as an alternate reality game when she found herself struggling to recover from severe concussion. It’s about helping players to achieve health and wellness goals – most commonly weight loss, healthier eating, regular exercise, stress reduction and better sleep – in their real lives and not just on a games console or in a virtual world. “It draws on core online gaming mechanisms – social involvement, overcoming
Chelsea Howe
obstacles, feedback and tracking progress – to give players a system to help them achieve their goals. Players recruit allies, complete quests (steps to help them achieve their goals), battle bad guys (things standing in their way), and activate power-ups (boosts to keep players motivated). It was designed to increase players’ resilience – their ability to stay optimistic, curious and energised in the face of challenges. “The game launched on 9 March 2012, with 20,000 users registered within the
fi rst two months. It was designed to help anyone, but currently has slightly more female players than male, predominately aged 20–50 years. “Gyms could use SuperBetter as an additional resource for clients who are
Nintendo’s WiiFit is well established
looking to achieve personal health or wellness goals. Operators could create their own package to complement their brand, product philosophy and approach to health and wellness. Alternatively, they could use the starter packages as a template that can be personalised. These blend in-game content, scientifi c research and expert advice – McGonigal received guidance from leading doctors, psychologists, scientists and medical researchers. “In the past, a customer might leave a gym with recommendations to improve
their daily lives. Games like SuperBetter ensure those recommendations won’t get lost or forgotten, by providing a social structure of close friends and allies for long-term support and real change. By integrating games into their repertoire, gyms can integrate their programmes into clients’ lives even after they leave the building. In addition, they could use elements of games – like tracking progress towards a bigger goal or giving clear feedback – to make clients feel like every visit is a step towards a serious and tangible improvement in their lives.”
Nike+ has an app that connects runners
Howe has headed up the design of SuperBetter for the past 10 months and received the 2012 Rising Star Award by Women in Gaming. Details:
www.superbetterlabs.com
Keas offers programmes for employees
OptumizeMe dishes out challenges
june 2012 © cybertrek 2012
SuperBetter was developed with advice from doctors and scientists
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92