Exploring deep content in physical rehabilitation games

Abstract

This paper argues that game mechanics are important tools to combine rehabilitation therapy concerns with immersive game play. Through the practical design of a game we describe how properties of game mechanics (actions, attributes, dynamics, rules, space, and skill/ chance) connect to elements of rehabilitation therapy (exercise motion, parameters, therapy context, goals, motion trajectory, and motion constraints). We aim to stimulate rehabilitation game researchers to consider applying the presented approach in their own designs.