Treasure Tour, a mobile game created for children and teens receiving care at the NIH Clinical Center, just received a booster shot of new and enhanced features.
Updates include a Spanish- language play mode and greater personalization and engagement. To better reflect the hospital’s diverse patient population, players can now create avatars with glasses, more hairstyles (or no hair at all), a wider array of cultural attire and an option to play through in a wheelchair.
Some of the new cultural items include the option of having the avatar wear a yamaka, head scarf, or hijab – but other changes are a bit more subtle, such as the ability for the female avatar to wear a long skirt, pants, or don a short haircut.
Players who select the wheelchair option can use unique power-up skills, such as juggling or spinning their wheelchair, adding a personalized and dynamic element to the game experience.
In 2021 the NIH Clinical Center collaborated with Breakaway Games to develop the Treasure Tour. The game allows pediatric patients to explore six areas of the research hospital and to learn about procedures and tests they might undergo.
The game, which seeks to lower the anxiety of pediatric patients by making the hospital seem more familiar, has earned plaudits from patient families.
“During our previous visits to the Clinical Center, [my daughter] Lucy had difficulties walking and was extremely happy to find out about the game that let her explore the hospital from her room,” said Lucy’s mom, Mary.
“Lucy is more mobile now but continues to enjoy playing it, which distracts her from all the medical procedures she needs to complete,” Mary added.
The update is live now and available across PC, Android and Apple devices. Most players will receive the update automatically, ensuring a smooth transition to the new features.
—Maria Maslenikov and Dan Silber