ErGoGenic
Games
Research Group
building games for a healthy future
What is the
ErGoGenic Game Research Group
(EGG)?
• EGG is committed to developing dynamic, engaging
digital games which combine fun, education and
health.
• EGG builds on interdisciplinary collaborations between
the arts, medical science, exercise physiology, computer
science, social science, and engineering.
• The EGG team consists of a core interdisciplinary team of
game developers, psychologists, and a physician.
• EGG fills a critical need to facilitate the integration
of recent research and practice from multiple
disciplines, academia and industry.
• Specific to the nature of this unique interdisciplinary
group, are overlapping areas of study including:
* medical physiological factors
* behavioral technology
* innovative interface development
* game design & development
The Evolution of the
ErGoGenics Game Research Group
• EGG grew out of an interdisciplinary group project in Experimental
Game Design class, a class which encourages students to create
next generation games which go beyond the first person shooter
paradigm.
• The project entitled, Synergy, a cooperative action game, was
featured in articles from:
– the Times Union
– Reuters International
– the New York Times
• A medical physician, Dr. Richard Adler, former CEO of CDPHP read
the first article and wanted to team up with us for research he is
doing with childhood obesity and diabetes.
• EGG works in dialog with Rensselaer Alumni owned companies such
as 1st Playable and ZBM Games in addition to other companies such
as Red Octane, a well known DDR (dance pad) manufacturer.
EGG Interdisciplinary Research
Team Members
Ralph Noble Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sybillyn Jennings, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Russell Sage College
Kathleen Ruiz, M.A. (abd, Ph.D.)
Associate Professor of Electronic Arts
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Julie McIntyre, Ph.D.,
Professor of Psychology
Russell Sage College
Richard Adler, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
ZBM Games:
Brian Ratta
B.S., Comp Sci ’05 RPI
Technical Designer
Matthew Giacomazzo
B.S., EMAC ’05 RPI
Art Designer
Andrew "Zif" Horton,
B.S., Comp Sci/EMAC ’05
Game Designer
Ralph Noble
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science
Rensselaer
Professor Noble will direct the project
to reverse engineer the behavioral
technology underlying DDR
and reduce the barriers to entry as a
first step in developing an array
of computer based fitness software
projects that are friendly to the casual
user.
Kathleen Ruiz
Associate Professor of Electronic Arts
Rensselaer
Develop concept art, maps, and drawings
for level designs, characters, and schemas
for game simulations. Oversee large scale
design with our affiliates.
Richard Adler, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Rensselaer
Determine physiologic and biochemical
measures to be monitored during the
project, establish an efficient method of
collecting information and storing data,
ensure safety of project, and monitor
accuracy of information being collected.
Sybillyn Jennings, Ph.D. &
Julie McIntyre, Ph.D.
Professors of Psychology, Russell Sage College
• will design interview protocols and other datagathering techniques to probe DDR users’
perceptions of their game play as leisure or an
exercise regimen and whether these perceptions
differ between women and men.
• examine the role of social support and peer lifestyle
influence in regulating food intake around the
game environment.
• determine the kind of game design that will appeal
to female populations.
• find out whether casting the game as DANCE rather
than as EXERCISE—play rather than work--makes a
difference in females’ interest and sustained
engagement with a game.
ZBM Games
Research Team consisting of RPI student
alumni Brian Ratta, Matthew Giacomazzo
and Andrew "Zif" Horton
Software development and technical
design, game art development, 2d visual art
and animation production, audio
composition, and interface design.
The First Target Problem
• Obesity and insulin resistance are related
predecessors of heart disease, hypertension,
diabetes and other serious diseases.
• Over 70% of Americans are affected by these
disorders.
• Sedentary lifestyle is rampant with a 13% decrease
in physical activity over the past 20 years.
• The termination of physical education programs,
the widespread use of computers, and videogames
significantly reduce caloric expenditure previously
experienced by children.
It is widely known that
regular, rigorous exercise is
the major modifier of insulin
resistance and obesity.
EGG Methodology
• The Basic approach is multidisciplinary: integrating
research, design, and implementation in one group.
• EGG is developing physical interfaces that use biofeedback to directly effect game play in digital
games to encourage reaching and maintaining
healthy levels of cardiovascular activity.
• EGG will prototype, test, and evaluate various
strategies of cardiovascular interactive game play.
• EGG will design games which will test satiation.
EGG is creating a wide array
of interactive videogames
for a healthy digital lifestyle.