Re-mission, the Videogame for Cancer Patients

Nanobot Heroine in Computer Game Battles Malignant Cells

Oct 10, 2009 Marian Henderson

Re-mission is a videogame developed with stunning visual affects and an engrossing storyline; however, the game has a greater purpose than entertainment.

The videogame Re-mission teaches cancer patients about the tactics and medications used in healthcare to combat cancer and cope with the side effects of cancer treatment. The videogame was released in 2006 and was developed to graphically simulate the actions of cancer-fighting medications and therapies, to educate cancer patients using videogame technology, and to inspire the patients to take medications regularly.

Videogame to Inspire Cancer Patients

Inspiring and encouraging patients to maintain strict adherence to cancer therapy and treatment is important because patients don’t always follow the prescribed schedule for taking medications. The developers of the videogame Re-mission provide patients with a graphic simulation of medications, treatments, and therapies literally battling malignant cancer cells in their bodies. The developers believed that the visual imagery and informative videogame dialogue would motivate patients to maintain their regimen of prescribed medications and cancer therapy.

Re-mission – More than a Game

Apparently the videogame approach has been successful. Research indicates that “those who played Re-Mission maintained high levels of adherence to their prescribed medication regimens. Participants playing Re-Mission maintained higher levels of chemotherapy in their blood (an indicator of adherence) and took their antibiotics more consistently than those in the control group who did not receive Re-Mission” (RedOrbit, 2006).

The innovative Re-mission videogame was developed by HopeLab. Pat Christen, the Chief Executive Officer of HopeLab explains that the concept of the videogame originated with Pam Omidyar, who designed the game “to help teens have a sense of power and control over their cancer” and to provide cancer stricken videogamers “the experience of blasting away at their disease within game play” (Knutson, R., 2009).

Opinions of Cancer Patients who Played the Videogame

The game has thus far yielded physical (improved compliance with medication regimen) and psychological benefits. Among the testimonials from young cancer patients who played the Re-mission videogame, Dan Neumann (now 19 years-old) recounts his experience as a 14 year-old undergoing cancer treatment and states, "There's a lot of complex medical terminology, which is hard to digest at that age….Re-Mission encourages you to learn that your chemotherapy is doing something" (Wong, 2009).

As for the psychological benefits, Neuman adds that, “When you go through cancer treatment, chemotherapy becomes something you dread. But with the game you're actively playing something and shooting cells."

Also 13 year-old cancer survivor Taylor Carol attests to the psychological benefits of Re-mission. The young patient “imagined blasting the malignant cells in his body” and stated “I felt like I was getting back at those guys who were keeping me from my friends and family” (Szabo, L., 2008).

The videogame Re-mission has been successful enough to warrant development of a new version of the game that is scheduled for release in 2012. Although the videogame is focused on teen cancer patients, adult cancer patients can also benefit from playing the game.

Battle with Cancer Simulated in a Videogame

The videogame itself features a nanobot (microscopic robot) named Roxxi who travels throughout a human body combating and destroying cancer cells. The character Roxxi, (modeled after popular videogame heroine Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider videogame series) battles cancer cells with such weaponry as "the Chemoblaster, the Radiation Gun, and the Antibiotic Rocket."

The developers who designed the videogame were determined that Re-mission would be comparable in quality to the most popular videogames in the market. Re-mission was to be more than a boring computer simulation consisting of simple digital images and textbook lecture.

To that end, a team composed of researchers, healthcare professionals, game developers, and other specialists worked to create a compelling game with accurate information about cancer treatment and physiological responses. These elements were combined with excellent graphics and storyline; in fact, according to HopeLab's CEO Pat Christen, some of the most popular videogames on the market, including Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Halo 3 were studied to determine what aspects of gameplay intrigued and appealed to videogame enthusiasts and to determine how to structure the game to appeal to its intended audience.

Purchasing the Game

HopeLab is the non-profit organization that produces Re-mission. The videogame is free to young people living with cancer and is available at Remission.net; however, a donation is recommended.

Re-mission – Videogame for Cancer Patients

A battle with cancer is a challenge for anyone – young or old. Developers at HopeLab searched for new ways to motivate cancer patients to adhere to treatments, and they searched for new methods of educating patients (especially younger patients) who were not intrigued with educational pamphlets or other conventional education media. The videogame Re-mission was developed as a result of the search for innovations in patient education and medication adherence. Research indicates that the videogame is effective in educating cancer patients, and efforts to expand on the success with a new version of Re-mission are underway.

Updates on the development of the 2012 version of Re-mission as well as other projects by HopeLab are available on the "sticky notes" website.

References:

Knutson, R. (2009). How a third-person shooter helps fight cancer. Digits Technology News and Insights. Wall Street Journal.com

Szabo, Liz. (2008). Video game on a 'Re-Mission' to help kids with cancer. USA Today.

Unprecedented Research Shows Re-Mission(TM) Video Game Benefits Young People With Cancer. (2006). RedOrbit

Wong, G. (2009). 'Shoot-em-up' helps teens battle cancer. Vital signs.CNNHealth.com

The copyright of the article Re-mission, the Videogame for Cancer Patients in General Medicine is owned by Marian Henderson. Permission to republish Re-mission, the Videogame for Cancer Patients in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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