One of the most exciting advances in the industry in recent years is not the killer graphics or exquisite sound, but the ability for games to teach in a deeper and more interactive way. The motion controls have made it possible for players to learn more than just facts and figures, and get better at actual real world skills.
NYCC Is Built on Legos. Batman Legos, That Is.
Grendel Games wants you to learn. The games company has been producing a title called Underground for several years in conjunction with the University Medical Center Groningen and LIMIS Foundation to help train the next generation of surgeons. A lot of 'educational titles' are uninspired and dare I say? Clinical. Underground teaches the fine art of precision surgery without ever having to cut open a digital body (and the horrible, horrible results that may occur).
From the Wii U press release, "The goal of Underground is to guide a character named Sari and a number of robots through several mines. To do so, you'll need to build stairs, bridges, and more. These props can only be built by collecting resources, which can be done by destroying buildings. Later levels will require players to defend against creatures like slugs, bomber bugs, and flying bugs. This can be accomplished manually or by assigning robots to handle the enemies. Because of limited resources and the level layout, players need to figure out where and how to build."
Hyrule Warriors Adds Some Villains In The Upcoming DLC
Players can use a custom built proprietary system that resembles a laparoscopic Wii U add on. "The hardware is comprised of two Wii Remote controllers/nunchucks that act like laparoscopic graspers and a base plate that resembles two trocar sites." You use the equipment to guide the robot arms to build up the structures you need.
"While playing the game," Grendel Games says, users "subconsciously train their basic laparoscopic skills, such as depth perception, eye-hand coordination, inverse movements and bi-manual dexterity." Studies have shown that gamers have above-average hand-eye coordination, and that's simply through passive learning (we're not even attempting to learn, but we still take away something from the experience). Surgeons who play games are better at their jobs than their non-gaming counterparts. Underground hopes to create an even better cohort of surgeons through use of fun, interactive games that eschew the med school setting. Nothing is worse than a 14 hour day at school, only to come back and play a game that takes place in school.
The proprietary equipment will be expensive. The game, however, does not require the set-up in order to be enjoyed. Regular, non-med school gamers can purchase Underground for a regular price when it drops. No release date as of yet has been announced. Currently, the game is being released only in Europe, but an international showing is planned, albeit some time afterward.
In the meantime, there is always Surgeon Simulator!
