Disclaimer: this isn't a traditional "LinkedIn post", it's a love letter
Why should we even care here about the release of a video game, especially if we’re not even gamers?
Simply because literally it is not one - and if you take some minutes to watch the official mini-documentary at the end of this post, you would understand what I mean for sure.
“We, as a team, have been guided by a conviction to achieve our quest: to make a game that sinks you deep into Senua’s world and to take you on a journey that leaves you thinking and feeling”, Ninja Theory used these words to describe their mission “Senua’s Saga: #Hellblade II” release eve, just a couple of days ago.
This short saga and an incredible (now less) small team used again all the best techniques and technologies available for creating this digital experience that let you live and feel the pain of Senua’s life, a Celtic girl suffering for mental disorder.
Which is nice, good for them - but why, again, should we care about it, after all?
Because, perhaps for the (second) first time, technology is closing an invisible gap: it’s offering us the chance to deeply understand that our reality is not so objective after all, to deeply understand what people suffering for mental illnesses actually feel.
And they do it; so much that I tried, but I’ve never been able to finish the (very short) first chapter all at once. There isn’t anything so difficult to do (so much that some reviewers defined the gameplay “on the rails” again), but it’s such a realistic experience that has been made to hurt you, let’s state it clearly. If you even have just a spark of empathy and you ever met somebody this could refer to, it really does. Or, even if you don’t, you can't ignore how many people throughout the centuries have been treated as monsters or as a cursed like Senua simply because there weren’t the tool yet for understanding them.
So the relevance of this project is not only a matter of aesthetic result, it’s a whole other league: I'm pro entertainment and video games (#gamingIsNotACrime, to be clear), but it’s the driving purpose and the ton of researches and validation behind the scenes that makes it so special. All the senses and tricks they could use, they used them for letting you experience Senua’s illness, while walking part of her tragic journey in her shoes - and here is where the amazing aesthetic fits: it is and has to be fully functional to the purpose, while being one of the best ever anyway.
As a tech lead, this is the perfect real-life example of defining an high ethical mission and working to fulfill it even with few people, rather than using it as a simple claim.
The lesson we could learn (as businesses and/or technologists) is that we already do have everything we need to impact people’s lives for real, to let them understand each other and create empathy and bridges for progress, even “just” with a video game.
We “only” have to commit to act driven by our ethical purposes for real.
Want to give you grey matter a workout? Mind Games is an engaging collection of over 150 fun puzzles, that also features expert insight into the science of brain health and the benefits of regular mental exercise.
Tim Beanland, Head of Knowledge at Alzheimer's Society, gives his top three reasons of why Mind Games is a must-have!
Improve your memory, sharpen your focus, or reduce your risk of dementia with Mind Games. Order at https://lnkd.in/eE7--BCJ or all the usual places.
We anticipation you emotion our recommendations! Some whitethorn person been sent arsenic samples, but each were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners whitethorn cod a stock of income and/or different compensation from the links connected this page.
These cat-themed tarot cards for beginners are each the rage close meow.
1. The Reverse Coloring Book, a cult-favorite for anyone whose coloring publication nights request a delightful shingle up. Instead of adding the colour to these, you adhd the lines — benignant of similar a Rorschach test, but marque it whimsical. Reviewers emotion the "mindlessness" of it allowing them to get into a stress-free flow.
Each publication includes 50 pages of watercolor creation for you to adhd lines, on with suggestions for what to adhd if you privation a jumping disconnected point. Bonus: the pages are perforated truthful you tin easy teardrop them retired and framework them!
Promising review: "Changed my life. So I get anxious doing the big coloring books. This was truthful overmuch amusive and made maine truly deliberation extracurricular of the box. I'm not the champion astatine drafting but I felt similar I was erstwhile I was a kid doodling successful my textbooks successful school." —Carley C.
Get it from Amazon for $9.90.
(Psst — cheque retired these cult-fave black good constituent pens for $9.99 on Amazon for a bully doodling option!)
2. A acceptable of cat-themed tarot cards purrrfect for first-timers, implicit with a usher connected however to propulsion the cards and however to construe them. You'll beryllium doing readings for everyone from yourself to your BFF to your existent feline by the extremity of the week.
Promising review: "I'm caller to tarot, truthful I grabbed immoderate cute looking cards that promised a guidebook. I emotion the artwork that the creator has done and I similar their instrumentality connected immoderate of the cards. Helps the meaning instrumentality a spot much (at slightest successful my semi feline obsessed mind). All the cards person a batch of item to them. I've shown 3 large arcana and 4 insignificant arcana cards that person travel up successful my readings and the cards made it casual to 'get it' erstwhile I work the meanings and person studied the paper meanings extracurricular of this usher book. Would decidedly urge for the artwork unsocial and arsenic a bully starter platform for anyone funny successful learning tarot." —Averey
Get it from Amazon for $17.90.
3. Wreck This Journal, a afloat colour diary with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, successful the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous clip ruining everything."
Penguin Books
Some of the prompts see 1 to adjacent the diary and scribble connected the edges; different to cho...
What's your favourite way to exercise your brain?
The Balanced Care Method focuses on six areas of wellness that are great for everyone, including cognitive stimulation.
Here are some engaging games you can play with your aging loved one over the holidays that are also great for the mind:
1. Trivia Board Games: Challenge each other, fostering mental agility and camaraderie.
2. Puzzles: Collaboratively solve puzzles to stimulate cognitive abilities and memory.
3. Video Games: Boost thinking skills and concentration levels.
4. Music Games: Play popular songs to stimulate brain activity and create delightful memories.
5. Word Games: Enhance attention spans and spatial awareness with crossword puzzles and word searches.
Learn more about how we keep your loved one's body and mind healthy with our unique approach to home care:
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Laughter and Learning: The Unbeatable Combo of Family Game Nights. : Dive into the fun of Family Game Night with games that bridge generations and spark laughter. From the strategic twists of board games to the creative joy of charades, there’s something to light up everyone's night. Embrace teamwork, creativity, and healthy competition in every play.
#FamilyGameNight#BoardGames#CreativePlay#OutdoorFun#Teamwork#HealthyCompetition#FamilyBondinghttps://bit.ly/4bxuSzW
4️⃣ Game No. 4: THE ENCHIRIDION
>>> TESTING IN PROGRESS <<<
The fourth game that will be added to the library is “The Enchiridion”.
The Enchiridion in a nutshell:
✅ Wellbeing area’s: (Isometric) workouts, meditation, mental health, philosophy (stoicism).
🌎 Setting: Dystopian future where you play as Ari; a young guy experiencing anxiety attacks, taking care of the Enchiridion.
🎯 Goal: Collect money to buy new batteries for the Enchiridion, as his neural implant is failing and without batteries… his brain will cease to work.
🎮 Gameplay: Maintain a mental balance, avoid anxiety attacks, chat with locals, plant and grow vegetables to earn money, do workouts to remain the status of healthy civilian and get rewards from the government. All to keep the Enchiridion alive until his implant is removed.
👉 First 10 days Available to everyone in July.
👉 Full game available to Patreon members in July.
Stay tuned for more!
Stay happy and healthy,
Mathijs
P.S. My name is Mathijs and I make Games that are Good for you with Dark Matter Studio. If you wish to support the creation of these games at zero-cost consider downloading them on the google play store: https://lnkd.in/eD3Tht-9#workout#gamedevelopment#gamedev#meditation#philosophy#enchiridion
There are two main types of glaucoma: Open-angle and angle-closure.
The former is the most common type. It appears gradually when the eye doesn’t drain its fluids properly.
It doesn’t affect a patient’s vision in its early stages, making routine checkups extremely important.
On the other hand, angle-closure glaucoma happens when the iris is too close to the eye’s drainage angle, blocking it. When it becomes completely obstructed, ocular pressure raises rapidly. This is defined as acute angle-closure glaucoma.
Many people who suffer from angle-closure glaucoma develop this affection slowly, which becomes a chronic angle-closure glaucoma.
The animation in this video shows how each type of glaucoma happens.
Credit 📹 YouTube/FauquierENT
🧠 If you're trying to sharpen your skills, perform well, or feel your absolute best, Dr. Williams from Cedars-Sinai prescribes getting physical activity daily and taking deep breaths, along with practicing mind games. This can help you stay on your A-Game!
➡️ Read the full article to learn more! #CedarsSinai#UniversalHomeCare#StaySharp#BrainGames#HomeCare#LosAngelesHomeCare
Regenerative Aesthetics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
💊Healthcare Disruptor 🏔️Digital Creator ❤️ Disciplemaker 🧗♀️Servant-Leader 🤝Community Builder 🔥Firestarter
📷@doctorjasonchen
🚀 Boost Your Brainpower with Games! 🎮🧠
Playing games isn't just fun—it's a powerhouse for your brain! Engaging in mentally stimulating activities can significantly enhance neuroplasticity, foster creativity, and even reduce the risk of dementia. 🧩✨
🔍 According to a study published in *Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience*, regular cognitive engagement, such as playing games, can improve cognitive function and slow cognitive decline in older adults.
🎨 Another research article from *Scientific Reports* highlights how creative tasks, including game-playing, promote neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
💡 Here’s why you should incorporate games into your routine:
1. Neuroplasticity Boost: Games stimulate brain regions associated with memory, strategic planning, and spatial navigation.
2. Creativity Enhancement: Puzzles and strategy games push your creative problem-solving skills to new heights.
3. Dementia Prevention: Keeping your brain active can lower the risk of dementia by maintaining cognitive functions.
So, next time you reach for a game, remember—you're not just having fun, you're also investing in your brain health! 🏆🧠
#BrainHealth#Neuroplasticity#Creativity#DementiaPrevention#GamingForGood#MentalWellness#Innovation
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References:
1. Yates, L. A., Ziser, S., Spector, A., & Orrell, M. (2016). Cognitive Leisure Activities and Future Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. *Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience*. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2016.00097
2. Román, F. J., De la Vega, R., & de la Fuente, J. (2018). Enhancing Neuroplasticity Through Cognitive and Physical Exercise: Implications for Healthy Aging and Dementia. *Scientific Reports*. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-29041-4