Games for Science
The citizen science game Sea Hero Quest demonstrates how games can even be used to undertake scientific research. Sea Hero Quest is a pioneering project that could be played by anyone and at the same time helped scientists understand how our brains navigate space. The data collected in the process was used to build the largest crowd-sourced database on human spatial navigation. The game was developed by Deutsche Telekom in collaboration with international research institutes and game designers. As a player you assumed the role of a young man who retrieves the lost memories of his father (once a seafarer). The player’s movement through the 3D game world generated reactions and movement patterns which were collected by researchers (anonymously) and saved in a database. This data was analysed in terms of people’s spatial orientation and helped refine diagnosis approaches of dementia. More than four million players worldwide played the game and helped build the databank. Unfortunately, the game is no longer available to be played but it may inspire you.
Source: Telekom
You can find out more about the game and research project here.