Researchers have developed a 3D videogame helping people to recognise their emotions and regain self-control. Within the European PLAYMANCER project, it is successfully implemented as complimentary treatment in therapy of Binge Eating Disorder, chronic pain and various addictions.European game developers, psychologists and therapists developed a 3D game and investigate its potential in the Health Care Sector. The European Serious Gaming Environment Project called “Playmancer” was brought to life to help improving the patients’s physical and psychological conditions. “Video games are entertaining and motivating”, states Elias Kalapanidas, coordinator of the project. “Our aim was to motivate patients to know their body and mind better.”The game uses augmented reality techniques to interact with the gamer. The patient playing virtually explores a fictional island where he has to collect certain items. While playing, the patient’s data is logged by biosensors and emotion recognition technology. Their cognitive response, muscle tension and boredom, excitement or anxiety patterns are then immediately fed back to the gamer. He can thereby identify and rely to the state that he is in at any given time. During development, a particular priority was taken to avoid all eventual side effects in the game, like addiction to playing. In comparison to common commercial games, the therapeutic game shows no score patterns and the patients have to play alone and are always under supervision by a trained physician.At Bellvitge University Hospital in Barcelona, the developing scientists study the effect of the game on the complex Binge Eating Disorder. As complimentary treatment, it can help the patients to raise their level of tolerance to frustration and to lower their impulsivity. Other teams of developers in the Netherlands look into treatment of patients with chronic back and neck pain issues or addictions.“This game goes well beyond virtual reality”, says Miriam Vollenbrock, Human Movement Scientist. “It is like a bonding factor between patients and their therapists and doctors. A serious game for a serious purpose.”For more information, please visit: www.playmancer.eu