Gamifying Health – Vitalia Duels

Introduction

Vitalia Duels addresses modern challenges like stress, physical inactivity, and social isolation, especially among younger generations. By combining health-focused initiatives with the addictiveness of gaming, the app motivates users to adopt healthier lifestyles through engaging activities.

We combine different aspects of health and gaming to create unique apps that engage people in a more productive life through gaming. Our general aim is to help people have productive lifestyles through health-focused gaming apps.

Key Features:

  • Encouraging Activity: Promotes daily walking habits to improve health.
  • Trivia Challenges: Tests knowledge while promoting learning and engagement.
  • Healthy Competition: In-game duels motivate users to complete healthy tasks.
  • Social Connections: Rewards interactions with friends through charisma points.
  • Tracking Achievements: Provides users with a sense of pride in their progress.

Vitalia Duels also raises awareness about endangered species, creating a meaningful connection between users’ habits and environmental consciousness. By blending health, education, and gaming, the app fosters a balanced and engaging approach to well-being.

Technology Adaptations

Unreal Engine 5 (UE5)

Unreal Engine 5 is a game engine used to make our base application. It is a sophisticated next-generation game engine that enables our implemented imagination. With its built-in blueprint scripting, it doesn’t require prior knowledge of programming languages, and it is pretty easy to understand.

Generative AI

We are able to utilize artificial intelligence(AI) in better performing question-based learning (QBL), which research shows improves thinking process activation and the development of critical ones. GenAI will create questions about a wide variety of topics, making the game constantly be of interest to the users.

Methodology for Vitalia Duels Development

Vitalia Duels combines health-focused gamification with engaging design to promote incremental progress and healthier habits.

User Research: Targeted at users in their 20s with busy lifestyles and phone addiction, the app emphasizes small, impactful improvements over time.

UI Design: Using Figma, the team designed accessible and visually appealing interfaces with themes inspired by endangered species like axolotls and sandcats.

Gameplay Loop: Users earn attributes by completing in-game tasks or real-life micro-habits, connecting personal growth with character progression.

Engagement Features: Milestone tracking, challenges, and exclusive rewards keep users motivated and reinforce incremental progress.

Step Tracking: Integrated with phone health apps, personalized step goals encourage physical activity in a stress-free, achievable way.

Art and Animation: Characters, assets, and animations were hand-drawn using Procreate, adding life and immersion to the app.

Conclusions and Future Directions for Vitalia Duels

The Vitalia Duels project successfully laid the foundation for a gamified health application that targets user micro-habits and promotes a healthier lifestyle. Despite challenges and limitations, the team developed a clear vision, prioritized user accessibility, and combined health-focused gaming elements with engaging storytelling.

Key Accomplishments:

  • Accessible and Aesthetic UI:
  • Designed user-friendly buttons and menus using Figma and adapted them into Unreal Engine with minor adjustments.
  • Followed accessibility guidelines to ensure easy navigation while maintaining appealing aesthetics.
  • Core Gameplay:
  • Focused on incremental progress through storytelling, fights, and duels to immerse users while promoting health-related tasks.
  • Dropped the "vitality" feature reliant on smartwatch heart rate tracking to maintain fairness and accessibility for all users.

Future Directions:

The project will be expanded in future semesters to develop a working prototype with fully functional features, including step tracking, interactive duels, and an expanded storyline. Further refinements will ensure seamless integration of health benefits into gameplay while enhancing user engagement. These efforts aim to create a comprehensive, engaging app that balances fun and health improvement effectively.

Researcher
Kanyanat Atsawabowornnan
Student
CMKL University
Pattharaporn Tungboochakiat
Student
CMKL University
Nachayada Pattaratichakonkul
Student
CMKL University
Thanakrit Punyasuntontamrong
Student
CMKL University
Advisor
Justin Paulsen
Assistant Professor
CMKL University