New Journal Represents Leap Forward for Health Video Games

Recently, we were thrilled to learn about the launch of a new peer-reviewed publication focused on health video games in the fall. Exploring how video games can be used to drive positive health outcomes for millions of people is something we’ve invested in for quite some time, through both our Health Games Research national program and the annual Games for Health Conference, which just wrapped-up its seventh conference last May.

According to Pioneer Senior Program Officer Paul Tarini, the launch of this journal represents a big step forward for the field: "There's an increasing number of people who are interested in the question of whether games work, how well they work, and what makes them work," Tarini said in a post on NewsWorks. "If we weren't beginning to see a critical mass of people who are interested in those questions, we wouldn't see somebody saying. 'I think it's time for a journal.' "

As the first-ever peer-reviewed publication that focuses on this emerging field, Games for Health: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications (G4H), published my Mary Ann Liebert, Inc,  will help build an evidence base of effective interventions,  which  developers can use to build the next generation of health video games. As stated on the blog Gamification  by Health Games Research National Program Director Debra Lieberman: “The Journal will be a starting point for anyone interested in the research and design of health games that integrate well-tested, evidence-based behavioral health strategies to help improve health behaviors and to support the delivery of care.”

Lieberman and several other Health Games Research grantees will serve on the journal’s editorial board and will help shape its direction. Their years of experience studying the impacts of video games on health and deep knowledge of the subject matter will greatly benefit this groundbreaking publication’s body of research.

How do you think video games can impact health? Are there any specific topics you would like to see the journal provide more insight into? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.