Table 5.
Characteristics of a Videogame for Health: Land of Secret Gardens
| Health topic(s) | HPV vaccination |
| Targeted age group(s) | 11–12 years of age |
| Other targeted group characteristics | Boys and girls |
| Short description of game idea | The game is designed to entertain children so that they are more receptive to learning about HPV and the benefits of vaccination. |
| Target player | Individual |
| Guiding knowledge or behavior change theory(ies), models, or conceptual framework(s) | Health Belief Model; Self-Determination Theory |
| Intended health behavior changes | Decisional balance; communication |
| Knowledge element(s) to be learned | Facts about HPV and HPV vaccination; Dispelling myths about how vaccines are made |
| Behavior change procedure(s) (taken from Michie inventory) or therapeutic procedure(s) employed | Information about general and individual consequences; normative information about others' behavior; anticipate future rewards |
| Clinical or parental support needed? (please specify) | Parents can play with child as an observer but not required |
| Data shared with parent or clinician | No |
| Type of game: (check all that apply) | Strategy; Casual Play; Educational |
| Story (if any) | |
| Synopsis (including story arc) | A back-story about a secret garden was developed as a metaphor for a preteen's body and keeping it healthy. The goal is to plant a lush secret garden and protect the seedlings by treating them when they sprout with a potion to keep them healthy as they mature. Points to buy seeds and create the potion are earned by playing mini-games. Throughout the process of play, players are exposed to messaging about HPV and the benefits of the vaccine. |
| How the story relates to targeted behavior change | Land of Secret Gardens is a metaphor about keeping oneself healthy by vaccination against viruses that can cause infection and disease |
| Game components | |
| Player's game goal/objective(s) | Level up by planting and tending to a flourishing secret garden—protect the seedlings before they mature. |
| Rules | Players must earn points by playing mini-games to purchase seeds for their garden and ingredients to create a vaccine to protect seedlings. Embedded within the game are HPV messages. Points earned in the game are exchanged for seeds and ingredients to create a vaccine. |
| Game mechanic(s) | Feedback loops; encourage discovery/exploration; resource management; levels; points; badges |
| Procedures to generalize or transfer what's learned in the game to outside the game | Players are encouraged to discuss the game with their parents |
| Virtual environment | |
| Setting (describe) | Third-Person Point of View |
| Avatar | |
| Characteristics | Static cartoon picture |
| Abilities | None |
| Game platform(s) needed to play the game | Smartphone, tablet, computer |
| Sensors used | Touch and keypad |
| Estimated play time | Unlimited; players can keep playing until they are satisfied with their garden. |