gaming for a better world?
Apr. 29th, 2005 04:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sigersonThis seems like an interesting cause. It's a project to make online games accessible to pediatric inpatients, so that they can meet, connect with, and play against other sick kids in other hospitals.
"HOPE gives chronically ill children the opportunity to escape stresses inherent in their conditions by providing distraction through gaming and comfort via peer contact. Through our virtual world we are able to ameliorate depression, reduce perceived pain, and improve the quality of our patients’ lives.
We believe that children forced by circumstance to sit in hospitals enduring tests, fear, and uncertainty should be given access to the very best in interactive entertainment and education. They should be allowed and encouraged to explore other worlds, meet new people, and engage in mentally challenging quests. Most importantly, they should have a great time doing these things. Our goal is to allow every child with a debilitating ailment to captain a virtual football team, slay virtual dragons, and learn to build and maintain valuable community relationships. It’s as simple, and as ambitious, as that."
"HOPE gives chronically ill children the opportunity to escape stresses inherent in their conditions by providing distraction through gaming and comfort via peer contact. Through our virtual world we are able to ameliorate depression, reduce perceived pain, and improve the quality of our patients’ lives.
We believe that children forced by circumstance to sit in hospitals enduring tests, fear, and uncertainty should be given access to the very best in interactive entertainment and education. They should be allowed and encouraged to explore other worlds, meet new people, and engage in mentally challenging quests. Most importantly, they should have a great time doing these things. Our goal is to allow every child with a debilitating ailment to captain a virtual football team, slay virtual dragons, and learn to build and maintain valuable community relationships. It’s as simple, and as ambitious, as that."
