Table 1.

Features, dose and tasks

Features	Dose (in game frequency)	Tasks
Introduction	1	—Choose Avatar gender and name —Receive instruction: to identify with the personal Avatar —Introduction to Avatar storyline —Receive task instructions from LAKA (non-playing character with a mentoring role)
Encounters (see online supplementary appendix 1) for screenshot and user interface)	16	—Select action plans for the Avatar in encounters with non-playing characters (each instance offers five optional action plans, which are modelled after a reference set of values: generosity, moral discipline, patience, enthusiastic perseverance).
Mood scenarios	8	—Select action plans for the Avatar when subjected to an adverse event. —Given the adverse scenario: think of what your own affective state would be in this situation and bear in mind the depicted emotional state of the Avatar.
Reflections	4	—Assess satisfaction about selected Avatar actions on a scale of 0–10. —Receive feedback from LAKA on chosen action plans. —Receive feedback about the correspondence between satisfaction rating and LAKA assessment.
Attention training	3	—Guided (focused attention and open-monitoring) meditation exercises for mental stability.
Tours	16	—Skip or listen to ‘tour-guide’ voice-overs informing about pictures of the location visited by the Avatar.
Loading screens	-	—See where travel destinations are located on a geographical map.
Mini games	8	—Action games: steering a vehicle (by using tilt mechanism of tablet pc or keyboard arrow controls) to arrive at the next encounter (reference: ‘rocket bird’). —Puzzle: fix a road by connecting parts of the road to arrive at the next encounter (reference: ‘plumber games’).
Festive closing	1	—Replay of ‘extreme’ responses throughout the game.