CoH as legitimate therapy

redgiant · December 13, 2012, 08:17:08 AM

Has the angle of CoH as a valid treatment for PTSD, physical deformity, wounded veterans, terminal children been approached?

I have to think there are many players who unofficially got help from the game.

Are there medical or research organizations that see the value in having this game continue? The escape of movement and flight and empowerment that someone with real-life issues can enjoy should be obvious. We all escape somewhat, but for the more serious conditions like I mention it would seem even more important to preserve a world like this.

Victoria Victrix · December 13, 2012, 08:45:13 AM

We did try something like that in the course of our initial letter-writing campaign to convince NCSoft either to not pull the plug at all, or at least keep it going until a buyer could be found.

I don't know if anyone ever actually found a researcher willing to back us up.

healix · December 13, 2012, 09:05:27 AM

Theraputic video games

Tech-game therapy

Helping patients

Gaming and emotions

Victoria Victrix · December 13, 2012, 09:52:09 AM

Well if someone wants to run with this one...it'll be more glacial than the Disney pitch but it might get us some nifty academic attention. Problem is, Team Wildcard has no one with academic credentials.

Globetrotter · December 13, 2012, 11:08:14 AM

Quote from: Victoria Victrix on December 13, 2012, 09:52:09 AM
Well if someone wants to run with this one...it'll be more glacial than the Disney pitch but it might get us some nifty academic attention. Problem is, Team Wildcard has no one with academic credentials.

I am sure this community has members with academic credentials. I am one. Even MD, but not in the filed of psychiatry.
IN RL I am a medical oncologist. Willing to help teh cause, if I only knew how.

Victoria Victrix · December 13, 2012, 11:40:15 AM

Quote from: Globetrotter on December 13, 2012, 11:08:14 AM
I am sure this community has members with academic credentials. I am one. Even MD, but not in the filed of psychiatry.
IN RL I am a medical oncologist. Willing to help teh cause, if I only knew how.

You start with research.

You need to track back the media stories to their academic sources. You need to see what those sources are doing their research on, and locate their papers. From there, you gather more names, and projects, and research papers, then you sift the results for anyone that might be interested in using CoH specifically for their projects.

You contact those researchers, you find out if any of them actually are interested in using CoH for their projects. Then you have them simultaneously apply to NCSoft for the IP/servercode while you contact Team Wildcard with your list. We create a press release "Academics denied use of software for vital research into (X, Y or Z) by NCSoft."

When NCSoft says no, which they will, we unleash the press release on the world. I suspect that is one that Reuters would even run with.

Mindscythe · December 13, 2012, 12:32:11 PM

I'm a Ph.D. in Telecommunications, and I was using CoH as part of a unit in my web design classes to demonstrate/emphasize the concepts of virtual identity and virtual community. If that's helpful in any way, I'm willing to assist.

Victoria Victrix · December 13, 2012, 12:33:24 PM

Quote from: ProfJ on December 13, 2012, 12:32:11 PM
I'm a Ph.D. in Telecommunications, and I was using CoH as part of a unit in my web design classes to demonstrate/emphasize the concepts of virtual identity and virtual community. If that's helpful in any way, I'm willing to assist.

You feel able to take the helm on this one?

johnrobey · December 13, 2012, 01:00:45 PM

Quote from: redgian on December 13, 2012, 08:17:08 AM
Has the angle of CoH as a valid treatment for PTSD, physical deformity, wounded veterans, terminal children been approached?

I have to think there are many players who unofficially got help from the game.

Are there medical or research organizations that see the value in having this game continue? The escape of movement and flight and empowerment that someone with real-life issues can enjoy should be obvious. We all escape somewhat, but for the more serious conditions like I mention it would seem even more important to preserve a world like this.

My two cents: not long after becoming disabled, I met with a vocational rehabilitation specialist. She was sympathetic and not dismissive, but noted I was "high functioning" as compared to the population she works with, persons recovering from strokes, particularly aphasia. Her advice to me for retaining cognitive function was to do sudoku puzzles (something I find boring) but she also noted that the games I enjoyed (Civilization III at the time, Heroes of Might & Magic) would be as beneficial as sudoku.

While I have doubts that City of Heroes can claim to have uniquely therapeutic qualities, I do know a number of people ranging from children with learning disabilities and Asberger's syndrome to war veterans were benefitted by playing CoH. It also looks like Healix has found some excellent articles on this topic.

Quote from: healix on December 13, 2012, 09:05:27 AM
Theraputic video games

Tech-game therapy

Helping patients

Gaming and emotions

Terwyn · December 13, 2012, 10:48:18 PM

As a classicist, I'm certain that I have knowledge and skills that could prove solidly useful to any such endeavour. Just let me know where you need me. ^_^

dwturducken · December 13, 2012, 10:52:07 PM

Didn't someone post, on one of these myriad threads, about her son, who was wheelchair-bound, loving the game because he could not only walk and run, but fly? I'd have to dig, but I'm sure I saw that.

Mindscythe · December 14, 2012, 01:08:53 AM

Quote from: Victoria Victrix on December 13, 2012, 12:33:24 PM
You feel able to take the helm on this one?

I wish I could, but I'm headed into my tenure decision year, and while I can help, I can't helm. I have to make sure my own house is in order first or I won't be able to help at all. Timing... it and I have seldom been friends. :(

Perfidus · December 14, 2012, 01:48:28 AM

This was a big part of the military thread. A lot of service men and women spoke of how this game helped them personally and emotionally. Improved their lives and took the edge off. I call that therapy.

DrakeGrimm · December 14, 2012, 02:00:02 AM

The cartharsis City and roleplaying within its community gave me, prevented me from committing suicide due to loneliness and depression.

If that's not therapeutic I don't know what is.

Victoria Victrix · December 14, 2012, 03:03:54 AM

The thing is, we really need someone with academic credentials to helm this. I do not have the credentials (A BSci from Purdue that is over 45 years old does not academic credentials make). This means we either have to recruit from within, or recruit from without, by following up those links to the sources, and seeing if we can recruit one of them. I'm....stretched thin, folks. I can't do this.

DrakeGrimm · December 14, 2012, 03:05:38 AM

I lack the contacts or time. I work retail. It's the holidays. I live at work. :(

Perfidus · December 14, 2012, 03:09:44 AM

There's no time limit though. When or if someone comes along that is willing to helm something like this, we'll do it then. It isn't a big deal otherwise.

houtex · December 14, 2012, 03:14:29 AM

Quote from: redgian on December 13, 2012, 08:17:08 AMHas the angle of CoH as a valid treatment for PTSD, physical deformity, wounded veterans, terminal children been approached?

I have to think there are many players who unofficially got help from the game.

Are there medical or research organizations that see the value in having this game continue? The escape of movement and flight and empowerment that someone with real-life issues can enjoy should be obvious. We all escape somewhat, but for the more serious conditions like I mention it would seem even more important to preserve a world like this.

The bolded part is mine, of course.

In the EULA, in all of section 11, and specifically parts 11(iv) and 11(v), cover their indemnity from any real world benefits OR harm. Ergo, they're not gonna bring anything back because it helps anyone. And they're not responsible if it hurts them either.

I know... I was gonna use that to try to stop them, but they wuz too sarmt for me. Curse you, legal document, curse youuuuu....! - Zim(ish)

/I could use a little therapy right now in using BH to beat the tar outta a Rikti Pylon in yet another attempt to beat it into submission with Brawl...
//Needed moar powah...
///Not that someone couldn't try.. but I highly doubt they'll listen at this point.

Victoria Victrix · December 14, 2012, 03:21:11 AM

Quote from: houtex on December 14, 2012, 03:14:29 AM
The bolded part is mine, of course.

In the EULA, in all of section 11, and specifically parts 11(iv) and 11(v), cover their indemnity from any real world benefits OR harm. Ergo, they're not gonna bring anything back because it helps anyone. And they're not responsible if it hurts them either.

I know... I was gonna use that to try to stop them, but they wuz too sarmt for me. Curse you, legal document, curse youuuuu....! - Zim(ish)

/I could use a little therapy right now in using BH to beat the tar outta a Rikti Pylon in yet another attempt to beat it into submission with Brawl...
//Needed moar powah...
///Not that someone couldn't try.. but I highly doubt they'll listen at this point.

Ah but you forget the power of public pressure....when news stories appear about the heartless game company that is refusing to help trauma patients and crippled kids. Mainstream news stories...

johnrobey · December 14, 2012, 03:27:51 PM

This argument has more traction (imo) IF it can be demonstrated that CoH has uniquely therapeutic purposes not found elsewhere.

I think that's a pretty tall order even before one gets to designing and conducting a rigorous academic study - and those often require grants or other funding.

City of Heroes remains my MMORPG of choice. It stinks that I can no longer log in and enjoy it. Does anyone feel like posting about therapeutic benefits unique to playing CoH?