WORLD FIRST VIDEO GAME HELPS KIDS COPE WITH LIFE CHALLENGES
Announcement posted by Capture Media 30 Mar 2015
The world’s first adventure video game that uses the healing power of rhythm to help students tackle issues such as bullying, drug use and peer pressure has been unveiled in Perth.
DRUMBEAT Quest was created by leading West Australian drug and alcohol counselling and support services provider Holyoake as an engaging, youth-friendly way to teach kids aged 8 to 17 the social and emotional skills central to healthy relationships.
Drawing on the success of Holyoake’s award-winning DRUMBEAT global therapeutic drumming program, DRUMBEAT Quest is a rhythmic drumming journey that embraces the latest neuroscience to help with motor coordination, and managing emotion and anxiety.
Holyoake CEO Angie Paskevicius said she was thrilled the Youth Minister Tony Simpson MLA could attend today’s event at Bankwest Place to launch the game which was funded by a Social Innovation Grant of $217,960 from the Western Australian Government.
“The feedback from students so far has been extremely positive and with values like empathy and social responsibility at the heart of DRUMBEAT Quest, we’re very excited about the potential of this powerful game to improve the lives of kids who play it,” said Ms Paskevicius.
“We’re fortunate WA’s Fogarty Foundation has come on board to offer some scholarships to students and are confident more groups will jump at the chance to help out too.”
DRUMBEAT Quest is designed to be played in the company of a counsellor or educator and puts a community’s fate in the hands of the player who must venture into the ‘Badlands’ to bring light back to a world in darkness.
Along the way, players encounter challenges such as rescuing vulnerable friends, confronting bullies, avoiding peer pressure, and choosing which rhythm will be most effective – listening, tolerance, respect, or teamwork.
“The gaming element makes this fun for students, reduces defensiveness and breaks down barriers so the educator or counsellor can open up important discussion areas that might otherwise be difficult,” said Simon Faulkner, DRUMBEAT Manager.
“The face-to-face interaction with adults and sometimes other players is unique and avoids further isolating players through over-reliance and involvement with the game itself.”
Australian gaming company Robot Circus, whose team has been involved with creating games such as Jurassic Park, helped develop DRUMBEAT Quest.
The launch event was sponsored by Bankwest.
Visit www.holyoake.org.au/drumbeatquest for further details on DRUMBEAT Quest.
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