The EU-funded PlayMancer project is using existing 3D video gaming engines to develop innovative ways of interaction between the player and the game world. The project is focusing on supporting the development of universally accessible games so that players of all abilities can use the games, especially for physical rehabilitation.

Although the Playmancer website is not really fun and far from an interactive environment, the deliverables are interesting for people who like reading documents instead of playing games. So if you like playing games more, stop reading here.

Playmancer wants to seriously improve the accessibility of games, making them playable by all kinds of people, including the disabled. They are developing a series of game modules in two application domains: physical rehabilitation, and therapeutic support and lifestyle management programs for behavioural and addictive disorders. Health is embedded in the methodology and available from the game engine itself. The Playmancer team wants to build actual games, serious games, around serious health-related problems like bulimia and chronic pain. The website offers many research papers and video examples. The State of the Art document has just been updated in March 2010 and can be downloaded from the website. If you enjoy it, let us know..  If you like playing games more, let us know also (smile).

The Playmancer project will end this year. More information:

www.playmancer.com