Why Play Bookworm Adventure?
Given a random array of 16 letter what is the value of the words you can create? A five-letter word and your brave Bookworm, Lex, delivers a strong pounding to the bad -guys. He's gets ever closer to saving the beautiful Cassandra. Maybe it's that power boost that reduces anger in men through this game, a lot more than it reduces anger in women.
East Carolina University's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies today revealed the results of a six-month long, randomized, controlled study that measured the stress-relieving and other mood-lifting effects of so-called "casual" video games. The three puzzle and word games used in the study, Bejeweled® 2, Peggle™ and Bookworm™ Adventures, are all made by PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual video games. (PopCap underwrote the study and provided copies of the games for research purposes.) The hypotheses were tested using state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies to measure heart-rate variability (HRV), electroencephalography (EEG) and subjects' mood states pre- and post-activity (POMS). The study yielded significant findings in several areas while identifying potential therapeutic applications of casual games as a means of addressing serious mental and physical disorders. Due to the significance of the findings and their implications in health promotion, disease prevention and treatment, East Carolina University's Psychophysiology Lab and is planning to start clinical trials in the fall to determine the efficacy of these games and their prescriptive parameters.
We will summarize more results from that study below, but actual field observation of Bookworm Adventure being played in grade 4-10 classrooms proves the learning benefit of this game via student, teacher and parent reporting. Be sure to view the video of teacher and student reviews of Bookworm Adventures. Learn more at our Teacher Center.
Bookworm Adventures (303%) also had significant positive effects on subjects' overall mood. Bookworm Adventures had the greatest impact on left brain - right brain synchrony (421% increase). Males had a 214% greater increase in mood after playing Bejeweled and a 78% increase in mood after playing Bookworm Adventures, compared to females. Age was an important factor as well. Those subjects under the age of 25 had a 156% increase in left brain alpha, indicating a substantial decrease in avoid/withdrawal brain activity when compared to those subjects age 25 and older. In addition subjects under 25 had a significant increase in right brain activity (318%) indicating that they also had an increase in approach/engage brain activity. On the other hand, those subjects age 25 and older experienced an 891% increase in right/left brain synchrony indicating a greater mental relaxation state. Among men, however, Bookworm Adventures had the greatest depression-reducing effect, with male subjects accounting for 98% of depression reduction, on average, when playing that game.
We are eager to share the results of our use of games like Peggle and Bookworm Adventure during Conflict Mediation sessions.
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Bejeweled Benefits |
Peggle Benefits |
Chuzzle Benefits |
Zuma Benefits |
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| Patterning, Prediction, Analysis | High benefit | High | High | High | High | High |
| Eye-Tracking | High | Moderate | High | Moderate | High | High |
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Improved motor skills, timing, planning |
Moderate | Low | High | High | Moderate | High |
| Sequencing, Coordination, rhythm, balance | High | moderate | High | Moderate | High | High |
| Increased oxygen to the brain | moderate aerobic | low aerobic | High aerobic | low aerobic | High aerobic | High aerobic |
| Increased focus | High | High | High | High | High | High |
| Direct academic application | Calms, reduces stress | Spelling, vocabulary | High activity level | calms, reduces stress | High activity level | High activity level |
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| Bejeweled 2 | Bookworm Adventure | AstroPop | Peggle | Chuzzle | ZUMA |
