Humana's video game technology initiative to inspire healthy behavior

Dec 22 2009

Have you ever wanted to learn how to dance like a star? The winning entry in Humana’s InsertCoin game idea competition could have you showing off some fancy new dance moves. Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today its Games for Health team has selected the winners of this unique competition. First, second and third place winners will each receive a cash prize and the chance to have their idea prototyped or commercialized. Humana Games for Health sponsored the competition as a way to generate new and differentiating active video game concepts to positively impact the health of kids, families and seniors.

“Humana’s Games for Health team is grateful to all the participants for their creative submissions”

“This competition can be considered a listening post to what gamers are looking for in health games,” said Ben Sawyer, InsertCoin judge and co-founder of Games for Health Project, which spearheads the annual Games for Health Conference. “Gamers want to play health games with some type of story that can draw them deeper into the game experience. The winners are representative of three major themes that came out among all the entrants. Those were: we want some dance games that aren’t as metaphorical, we want some active games with more storyline, and we want games that we can take out into the world not just in our living room.”

The winning entry is a game called “Dance Class” and is the idea of Shelly Warmuth of Green Bay, Wis. Players are taught to dance by virtual dance instructor avatars. For her winning entry, Warmuth will receive $5,000.

John Green, of Brooklyn, N.Y., submitted the second place idea called “Camp Awesome.” Green’s concept is a summer camp simulator where players get the full action-packed experience of a camp. Third place in the competition went to Kevin Ray for the idea called “Jungle Mayhem,” an activity and social based game. Green and Ray will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, for their winning entries.

“Humana’s Games for Health team is grateful to all the participants for their creative submissions,” said Paul Puopolo, leader of the Games for Health team. “It was a very difficult decision to pick the top three entries from such a competitive field and we look forward to discussing these ideas in more detail with each of the winners. This contest is representative of Humana’s continued belief that game technology can be used to help people lead healthier lives.”

InsertCoin is the latest in a series of efforts to use video game technology to inspire healthy behavior. The Humana Games for Health team also recently launched the second phase of The American Horsepower Challenge, an activity based program for nearly 1,500 middle school players nationwide; Operation Planet Savers, an activity based game that was a collaboration with Walt Disney Motion Pictures; and earlier this month launched Dancetown, a dance mat game for active seniors. The team believes that by making fun things healthy, people of all ages can be motivated to live an active lifestyle.

Source Humana Inc.,