Ben's Game

Ben's Game is a video game developed with the collaboration between a young cancer patient named Ben Duskin and professional game developers, including Eric Johnston from LucasArts. The game was created to help children with cancer manage their illness through gameplay. Ben's Game has gained attention not only for its unique origin but also for its approach to helping children cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.

Development and Purpose

The development of Ben's Game began when Ben Duskin, who was undergoing treatment for leukemia, expressed his desire to create a game that could help himself and other children understand and cope with the battle against cancer. Ben shared his idea with his mother, who then reached out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The foundation connected Ben with Eric Johnston, a game developer at LucasArts, who volunteered to help bring Ben's vision to life.

The primary purpose of Ben's Game is to provide a fun and engaging way for children to learn about and fight their cancer. In the game, players navigate a character through various levels, each representing different aspects of cancer treatment. The game incorporates elements of education about cancer and its treatment, aiming to empower children by giving them a sense of control over the disease.

Gameplay

In Ben's Game, the player controls a character that represents Ben, navigating through a series of levels that symbolize the fight against cancer. The game features enemies that represent cancer cells, infections, and other challenges that patients may face during treatment. Players can collect power-ups that symbolize different forms of treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, to help defeat the enemies.

The game's design focuses on providing an optimistic and empowering experience for children, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and positive thinking in the face of illness. The gameplay mechanics are designed to be accessible to children, with simple controls and a difficulty level that can be adjusted to suit the player's ability.

Impact

Ben's Game has been praised for its innovative approach to helping children with cancer. By turning the experience of treatment into a game, it helps demystify the process and provides a sense of agency to its players. The game has been used in hospitals and by healthcare professionals as a therapeutic tool, offering both entertainment and education to children undergoing cancer treatment.

The success of Ben's Game has also highlighted the potential of video games as a medium for health education and psychological support. It has inspired other projects that use gaming to address health issues, demonstrating the positive impact that games can have on patients' well-being.

Legacy

Ben's Game represents a significant achievement in the field of serious games and health education. Its development process, involving collaboration between a young patient and professional game developers, serves as a model for how games can be designed to address specific health challenges. The game continues to be a valuable resource for children with cancer, offering hope and encouragement through its engaging gameplay and empowering message.