Tech Shout!

Game developer and NGO HopeLab, have developed a novel concept to help patients battle terminal diseases such as Cancer, stated a few reports.

The joint initiative between Cigna HealthCare and HopeLab has the latter’s video game called ‘Re-Mission’ being offered absolutely free to teenagers and young adults who suffering from Cancer and other chronic ailments.

‘Re-Mission’ is an exciting, challenging 3D shooter with upto 20 levels of gameplay where players control a nanobot called ‘Roxxi’ as she tours through the bodies of fictional Cancer patients, killing cancerous cells, beating bacterial infections and managing innumerable side effects linked with the disease and its treatment.

HopeLab touts the game to be fun and serious, wherein it helps players to understand the significance of adhering to treatment, and of essential behaviors that could probably help the patients to improve their health.

Speaking about the game, Pat Christen, President of HopeLab, said “Re-Mission works as it gives young people with Cancer a sense of power and control over their disease.” He added, “Re-Mission is a powerful example of how rigorous research and rational engineering combined with fun, engaging game technology can improve lives. Teaming up with CIGNA HealthCare provides a great opportunity to get Re-Mission into the hands of clinicians and patients who can benefit most.”

According to Christen, it is a perfect example of how accurate and painstaking research along with rational engineering, matched with fun engaging game technology can improve lives.

Christen noted that joining hands with Cigna HealthCare provides a great opportunity to get this game into the hands of clinicians and patients who would most benefit from it.

Furthermore, HopeLab claims it has authorized the benefits of its Cancer-fighting video game through a randomized, controlled trial with 375 male and female Cancer patients, aged between 13 to 29, and enrolled at 34 medical centers in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Dr Gary Dahl, Paediatric Oncologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University, California, maintained that ‘Re-Mission’ is an imperative tool to help improve the knowledge and understanding of Cancer, its treatment, and side-effects, and the comprehension of all this can result in greater confidence in the ability to face the disease bravely.

‘Re-Mission’ can be ordered free-of-charge in CD and DVD formats on the Cigna website at http://www.cigna.com/re-mission. It is also available as a free download at www.re-mission.net.

This certainly is an extremely positive initiative. Firstly it’s the most interesting, exciting and innovative way to fight a disease such as cancer. And secondly it redefines the entire way at which gaming is many a times skeptically considered.