Play a castaway cat on a desert island for fight his cravings. This is the pitch of Smokitten, a smartphone game designed by the Lyon-based creation studio DOWiNO specializing in serious games. The authors believe that gambling is a good way to distract a smoker’s brain and gradually turn it away from smoking. Smokitten’s Cat Adventures were therefore developed to overcome obstacles to quitting smoking. To achieve this, the designers have surrounded themselves with recognized experts in the field of smoking cessation. Smokitten’s game design is based on a scientific approach to these weaning mechanisms and was designed in partnership with the Hygée Center, the public health platform of the Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Concretely, the player’s mission is to take care of his virtual pet, namely a kitten living on a desert island and who is trying to quit smoking. As its weaning progresses, the kitten improves its state of health and gives life to its island “Smokitten Island”.
The “gamer” occupies his kitten thanks to 8 mini-activities which are unlocked as he progresses in the game. “Each of these activities has been designed to meet the needs of needs and frustrations experienced during the period of smoking cessation. Like its owner, the kitten will for example relax thanks to activities such as yoga, fishing or hot-air ballooning or let off steam thanks to activities such as running or boxing “, explain the designers.
Over the days, his efforts materialize: the gold coins accumulated with the mini-games gradually transform the desert island into a corner of paradise.
Who can play these adventures?
Everyone and not just adult smokers Children can also be made aware of the risks and harm of tobacco through this game.
This game was partially funded by a crowdfunding campaign on the Ulule platform. A successful operation since it raised more than € 25,000 from 400 contributors, both smokers and non-smokers.
#Beta of #Smokitten sent to our testers as well as to those of the @CentreHygee. We are therefore awaiting their feedback in 2 months, via a questionnaire, to deduce statistics on the effectiveness of Smokitten as a tool to help with smoking cessation! #stoptabac#seriousgamepic.twitter.com/DYJF3qQTHJ
– Smokitten (@smokitten) June 19, 2018
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