Students from Ludus Académie, a FEDE school located in Strasbourg (France) and Brussels (Belgium), won the Tango & Scan 2016 calls for projects presented by the European Metropolis of Strasbourg for the project known as “Hème, the game”.

A serious game for paediatric professionals, the tool aims to provide information and transmit the appropriate measures and reactions to adopt when a child is experiencing pain.

Designed in partnership with Franco-Belgian companies and associations, the game is now available in hospitals and is expected to spread further in the medical world.

Ludus Académie, a reference European school, is specialised in the design and development of video and serious games. On the back of technical know-how and an artistic outlook, Ludus Académie is also the only school accredited by the FEDE to offer the European Bachelor’s Degree in Video and Serious Games and the European Master’s Degree in Video and Serious Games. 

“11,219,000, is the number of inhabitants in Belgium. 2,280,000, is the number of children in Belgium. 460,000 is the number of paediatric services provided in one year. That is 1 child out of 5 who needs clear information, as any treatment situation can be a source of anxiety.”

To address this situation, an interactive app accompanied by a digital information terminal has been created: “Hème, the game”. This medium is designed for paediatric care facilities. The object, which is a genuine mediator for treatment, houses a serious game which informs children and parents about the appropriate strategies to adopt in order to prevent pain and helps explain, anticipate and downplay the act that may be worrisome for children. The game comes with informative content translated into Dutch, Turkish, English, Russian and Arabic.
This superb project was created upon the initiative of PERIMETHRE, a consulting and training company for the medical sector, in partnership with LUDUS ACADEMIE, delivering training for video and serious games professions.

Students from Ludus Académie developed the app over several months, working closely with:

  • ABLEDI association, whose goal is to apply any possible means to encourage and promote therapeutic, clinical, psychological and moral support for children as well as adolescents with allergies, for all children and adolescents, living in Belgium or abroad.
  • Caregivers from three different institutions (the HUDERF hospital and the Sainte-Anne Saint-Rémi clinic in Brussels, and Strasbourg teaching hospitals).
  • A company specialised in digital signage for hospitals: Mediawind, based in Uccle, in Belgium. Drawing on over 15 years’ experience, it is involved with the healthcare market. Mediawind offers its services to 18 hospital groups across Belgium.

“Hème, the game” was tested for two years under treatment conditions, during preoperative consultations. The game, which was released on 31 January 2017, is now available in hospitals. It is also about to be distributed to Cerballiance laboratories in France, and will equip 50 specimen collection centres in major French cities.

“You notice that the tactile game enables children to familiarise themselves with the treatment process: the child learns while playing and reduces the anxiety level. Then, he repeats and slowly integrates the treatment experience in order to minimise the trauma. ‘Hème, the game’ draws out children’s adaptation strategies and offers a family-centric approach. The Médiatotem terminal informs and provides support to parents in terms of how their child will be taken care of and helps reduce anxiety arising from waiting at the out-patient department.”

“Hème, the game” is the result of a partnership between Belgian and French organisations, and the European school, Ludus Académie. The project was acknowledged by the European Metropolis of Strasbourg in connection with the Tango & Scan 2016 calls for projects.
LUDUS ACADEMIE is focused on developing serious games projects, with the goal of generating innovation by combining the professional skills of creative and digital sectors, and traditional companies. Their numerous projects can be viewed on their website: www.ludus-academie.com