Host: Indienomicon
Theme: Healthcare
Sponsors: Advent Health, Cat5 Studios, Cenfluence, E4C (Employers for Change), eXeX, Lake Nona, MS2, Orlando Tech Hub, OMG Labs. Papa Johns, The Florida High Tech Corridor
Itch.io:https://itch.io/jam/mega-health-jam-2024
Before the Jam!
Welcome back to Game Jam Journeys, where I write about my experience at a game jam.
For those unaware, a game jam is a type of competition in which developers create a game or application from scratch within a set amount of time. The time limit can vary wildly from 24 to 72 hours, but no matter what, a product must be ready to present by the end—finished or not.
It’s been a while since my last jam—a year, in fact. Now that I’ve returned, it’s really putting into perspective the things I’ve learned up to this point. All the work, the hours typing and networking bore some ripe plump fruit, for I was invited to attend. It shows that if you put in the effort, people will notice, even if I still have much to learn. Let me tell you, though, I was unprepared for the joy ride I experienced. Many thanks to Indienomicon and OMG Labs for the opportunity!
With that said, there’s a lot to cover, so let’s jam!
Day 1: That’s a Lot of People!
September 6, 2024:
It was my second time visiting Lake Nona, and I must admit, if I had the money, I would move here. Everything by the UCF Campus is so modern and walkable. There’s lots of development going on, and I can’t wait to see it grow. Someday, but not today. I’m only here to blog, and the venue for this jam is marvelous!
This is the MS² Space, also known as the leAD Sports & Medicine Accelerator, which is backed by leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners. It is a coworking space, and immediately after entering, the ebb and flow of productivity activated my neurons. Plenty of rooms to work in private or bring your team together for a meet and massive open office that was mostly off-limits. Unlike the All Hallows Jam I attended last year, the difference is night and day. There’s a lot of money put into this event, and the attendance speaks for itself.
Some familiar faces and lots of new ones. I’ve only attended two jams, but this one is the liveliest. Never have I seen so many people congregate to try and make the next big step in Healthcare tech. Back then, the thought of implementing XR or game-like elements into a hospital space seemed like a wild idea, especially considering the Doctor games I’ve played in the past:
Nowadays, however, the tech is sophisticated enough to provide practical applications. Some months prior, I got involved in marketing an XR concept application for Orlando Health called “Arthur in Mixed Reality.” The project was a proof-of-concept meant to be used for post-surgery procedures. The potential is growing, and it will be a strange world when Healthcare becomes fully gamified. Nothing spoke more to its potential than this page of problem statements:
Of course, a few aren’t VR/AR centered, but the prospect of solving these issues with interactive technology can surge the tinker deep within us. The irony of all this was equally appalling as a week before the jam, my father was rushed to the ER after a nearly 8-foot drop from a stepladder. Thankfully, he survived, and all he received was a fractured vertebrae. Had it been worse and needed rehab, I bet numbers 3 and 4 would suit his conditions. As somebody on the autistic spectrum, number 1 speaks to me and is probably the topic I’d choose. It’s a shame, however, that none of these problem statements tackle the true enemy of Healthcare, Health Insurance. Then again, try as you might, you can’t rid the world of every parasite.
6:30 PM
As the evening approached its first hour and the attendees found their seats, the opening speech began. Kunal Patel of OMG Labs laid down the laws of the jam and some inspiring words for the ambitious crowd before him. It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak to such an extent, with such pride, passion, and nobility underlying his words.
Now, I’m sure that you, dear reader, are no stranger to the evils of health insurers. I’ve heard my fair share of stories also of people being denied care because of an intrusive middleman, but it wasn’t until I heard Kunal speak of the passing of his mother that I realized the sheer depravity of their methods.
A few years ago, Kunal’s mother passed away from cancer. She could have been provided a wider variety of treatments, that is, if it hadn’t been denied due to insurance denial. Her chances of survival were slim, so it is doubtful that any proposed treatments would have worked, but if it meant saving a life, it should have been tried. I can’t possibly imagine being so utterly helpless because of some parasitic middleman. May she rest in peace, and hopefully, is watching her son’s latest gift to the world.
May she grow up happy and healthy and thrive in a world that leaves no ill individual behind. Then we threw balls at Team Orlando News journalist Christa Yates.
After that bit of personal backstory, it was time for the attendants to throw their pitches (no pun intended). I was pretty surprised at the prize pool and the sheer number of players striving for glory. There’s definitely a lot of money in this field. If the opportunity comes to make the next big thing, you might as well take it.
As for the judges and advisors, Indienomicon has invited knee-deep people in the healthcare field. From doctors to nurses to medical scientists, more unique people are eyeing this event than I even realized. It speaks to the growing power of games, simulations, and interactive technology that these experts lend their knowledge to the contestants.
As you saw from the pictures above, there were a lot of contestants! Among them was my business partner, Danny Tapia, and one of the winners of last year’s All Hallows Jam, Cole Montrose. Seeing as I’m not judging, I won’t hold any biases. I just want to eat some Papa John’s Pizza and do a little networking before the reality of having my work cut out for me sinks in. Let the jam begin, and let the best team win!
Day 2: Draft and Chill
September 7, 2024:
Today was relatively quiet and uneventful. In times like these, I remember a golden rule: waiting for something to happen is part of the journalistic life. I definitely should have arrived earlier when the medical consultants were around to discuss all things health. In any case, the teams worked diligently, building and coding their contraptions.
One team in particular was building some kind of wheel—most likely for an interactive platform. Just observing the contestants work and bring their wild ideas to life they were putting out makes me wish I was competing. My coding knowledge extends to programming light diodes in high school. Maybe if someone needed light diodes for their invention? Who knows? What I do know is that I should always attempt to learn new skills and that Chick-fil-A’s mac and cheese is the bomb.
1:00PM
After lunch, I spent most of the day on the couch by the entrance, either working on my draft, letting people through the door, or conversing with other attendees. I had a most engaging conversation about math and acting with Christa.
During the waning hours, I walked around to snap some pics, assisted the volunteers with taking interviews, played a bit of table tennis, and chowed down on some lasagna made by a local chef.
Seriously, this was delicious!
And thus, day two comes to a quiet close. The clock was ticking, so I hope the teams got everything they needed for the big showcase. I could already feel the hype looming closer.
Day 3: Presentations and Winners
September 8, 2024:
It was the final day. I arrived early to make sure I didn’t miss any surprises. I had a lot of time before the judges arrived, so I had to use it well. The agenda for the day was to get interviews and some more pictures for good measure. I actually arrived early enough to catch breakfast.
It was also an opportunity to learn a little about the history of previous MeGa Health Jams. On the Itch.io page, these specific jams trace as far back as 2018. They are far from a yearly occurrence as four years later, in 2022, MeGa Health Jam returned, right smack in the second year of the COVID outbreak. Counting this year, it totals three MeGa Health Jams, and each one was covered extensively by Team Orlando News. Christa shared a story with me about the equipment Indienomicon had access to back in 2022, one of them being the TESLASUIT. I don’t know what was running through her mind that day, but she tried it on and asked to be electrocuted by it. I would love to see footage of that request, but I didn’t dare ask; I was just surprised it was allowed.
12:00PM
I mentioned that I wasn’t able to speak to the consultants who visited yesterday, but I was able to snag a few questions from Officer Michael Riviera, who also works as an EMS Para-Medic. As someone who believes in the infinite power of video games, I wanted to get the perspective of someone in the field. After speaking with him, I can confidently say that my world was opened a little more to the possibilities of “Gamifying Healthcare.”
But first, lunch.
Officer Riviera told me that all medical licenses require continuous education and training. It’s paramount that medical professionals keep up with all of the latest practices and procedures. Applications like the ones made at this jam help supplement the training of those in his line of work. Other fields include, and are not limited to, Exposure Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Vision Training. As I researched the topic, I learned that simulated training environments for Healthcare have been around since the 1990s.
The first doctor to use VR to treat patients was Psychologist Dr. Barbara Rothhaum, who used it to treat certain phobias. Since the turn of the millennium, XR tech has slowly been integrated into the healthcare space and between 2012 and 2017, interest skyrocketed. And the rest is history being made.
If you, dear reader, desire to read examples of established companies that are actively pushing XR into Healthcare, click the link here.
6:00PM
The time has come. The games have been submitted, and the judges have begun their evaluation. I wonder how exactly these applications will be judged. They’re not your standard games, so what’s the x-factor?
Games & Summaries:
- Ambulance in Space
Developers: Alex Brown, Gabriel Holmes, Jonathan Montague, Sam Woodstock, Wyatt A.
Topic: (Future of Work)
The future of EMTs! When humanity eventually colonizes the stars, this game will serve as the basis for what those jobs will look like. Just be sure to avoid any black holes; I doubt insurance will cover those. - Coworker Joe
Developers: Andy Darby, Chris Gullette, Connor Darby, Debbie Corbett, Doug Brozek, Mike Bianchin, Nick Piazza, Ruby McDonald
Topic: (Future of Work)
You are Joe, and your goal is to learn what to do when your coworker is on the ground and needs medical assistance. When someone needs 911, you will be the 911! (don’t quote me.) - MedTech VR
Developers: Danny Tapia, Delano Igbinoba, Jeremiah Garcia, T.J Forest, Patrick Rasmussen
Topic: (Future of Work)
An interactive simulation that healthcare professionals can utilize to manage patient data and medical schedules. With a little more finesse, I could see this integrated into the greater healthcare field. If I can make a suggestion, call it “MedTech XR.” - Missing
Developers: Dylan Periera, Gregory Dsouza, James Williams, Joshua Carver, Josiel Quijaro, Liya Elan
Topic: (Mental Health Focus)
This one’s unique. It’s a puzzle game in which you play as an elderly lady suffering from dementia—a pretty serious topic. Household objects disappear, and she tends to forget what she’s doing. Were it not for the fact that it’s meant to educate, it could be an excellent horror game. - Nimble Nursing
Developers: Christian Dall, Fernando Villegas, Michael Acosta, Nick Drobes, Paulo Castro, Zoran Diaz
Topic: (When I grow up)
Fun and cartoony, it teaches children about nurses’ daily tasks without the bone-crushing stress. Games like these could possibly be the solution to the nursing shortage. Cigarettes are not included. - Purrfect Sip
Developers: Alexis Tjarks, James Furniss-Roe, Maxwell Moolchan, Sir Fletcher Rumblebottom
Topic: (Future of Work)
Gotta have a chill game in there. You play as a wheelchair-bound person working at a cat cafe. You may have lost your ability to walk, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying both life and cute virtual kitties. - Rehab Realm: Quest for Vitality
Developers: Brian Strigel, Joey Fisher, Julian Holmes, Robert K.
Topic: (VR/AR Rehab)
Easily the most creative of the bunch. You may not be on a quest to save the world but to strengthen yourself through physical therapy. I could see it being played for fun if it was a bit more feature-rich. - Seasonal Flow
Developers: Brendan St.Espirit, Jade Hutson, Johnathan Montague, Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, Kendra Kennedy, Sadie Raghunand
Topic: (Don’t wait to talk and be too late!)
I will never experience the wonders of womanhood, but having a game like this to help young girls and women better understand their biology can be a godsend. It’s also just a fun little platformer. - Silly Chef
Developers: Avery Hart, Morgan Schafer, Willow Rachaels, Zach Webb
Topic: (Future of Healthcare and Gamifyng Patient Goals)
This one has great potential for innovation. As we get older, our diets can change on a dime. One day, you’re scarfing down all the pizza in the world, and then the next, you develop a gluten intolerance. If we suddenly develop food allergies or intolerances, games like these can help prepare us to deal with them. - Wheels of Fate
Developers: Cole Montrose, Joseph Demartini, Noa Baggs
Topic: (VR/AR Rehab)
This is ridiculous (in a good way). If the Nintendo Wii had a peripheral where the player controls the game using a wheelchair, this would be it. While very rudimentary in its aesthetic, it makes up for it by being gameplay-intensive with five levels to play. With the proper funding and applications, I can see this being used not only in hospitals but also in arcades.
I am thoroughly impressed by all of these applications. They never fail to remind me that having the mindset of a game-maker is akin to having a sixth sense. You’re not just building technology for everyday serious usage but creating an experience that can be utilized in unlimited scenarios. I even got to play one.
8:00PM
Now, it’s time for the moment the past two days have been leading up to—presentation time! We all wore our shirts and sat by the central area eating some Jersey Mike’s.
For the Jam Bounties, the winners are…
Most Fun: MedTech VR
Best Social Post & Most Social Engagement: Willow Rachaels (Silly Chef)
Special Challenge Winners: Seasonal Flow
Enjoy your 500 dollars. I seriously wonder how they’ll end up splitting it.
The winners of MeGa Health Jam 2024 are…
Personally, my money was on Missing, but the judges made the right call. Dr. David Medcaff, the middle judge, explains that Healthcare is all about metrics and that implementing a unique peripheral that trains patients to use wheelchairs goes beyond what is capable within a three-day timeframe. I definitely should have asked them about the trackers they used; regardless, congratulations to them.
Final Thoughts
I never followed Healthcare closely. I’m no doctor or paramedic. I have no internal knowledge of the progress of medical technology, but after this jam, I can’t wait for the next big one. All Hallows Jam was more for fun than solving problems. MeGa Health Jam gave me a bird’s eye view of the workings of an entire industry and the possibilities gamers can bring to it. Health affects everybody; it is our moral responsibility that everyone can live healthily and that nobody is gatekept from any treatment.
Thanks for reading! See you at the next jam!
Embrace the Pixels 