Toward a design theory of sleepy games

Abstract

For many, healthy sleep is either not a priority or not a possibility, a deficit which has far-reaching consequences. We explore the potential for "sleepy games" as a genre of transformational games with embedded content, relevant in both the digital and physical design space. We present design challenges unique to sleepy games, synthesized through an iterative design process. Lights Out, one of nine sleepy games created, provides an example of our insights in context.