‘Skeleton Chase 2’ kicks off next week

The alternate reality game “Skeleton Chase 2: The Psychic” is designed to do two things: to get students engaging in physical activity and let them have fun.

“We want to get to the population,” said Jeanne Johnston, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology.

She said 65 percent of college students play games, and most do it because they are fun. Her goal is to combine the fun of games with physical activity that is meant to improve the health of students on campus.

Studies show physical activity decreases during students’ freshman year at college while their weight increases, Johnston said.

The program was given a $185,000 grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which is focused on health games research.

Lee Sheldon, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Telecommunications, developed the game with Johnston and Anne Massey, professor of information systems in the Kelley School of Business. It is designed to send students all over campus and Bloomington searching for clues in the game.

“We want them to do more physical activity and learn about teamwork,” Massey said.

The game makes students complete puzzles and tasks that will save Bloomington from a hypothetical threat. The players receive communications from the characters via Web sites, e-mails, texts and Twitter.com to help them in their tasks.

The teams of three players also have fitness goals. Each player will try to walk 50,000 steps every week of the seven-week game, and teams attempt to get all their players to meet that goal.

The teams and players who meet their goals are entered into a drawing for cash prizes. Additionally, the team that completes its task first each week will be awarded various cash prizes. The total value of the prizes is about $4,000.

Senior Matt Lawrence is writing a paper on the TV show “Lost,” which has alternate reality games between seasons in addition to Web content.

“I want to see how they’re constructed and what types of people play,” he said.

This is the second “Skeleton Chase” IU has developed. The first ran during fall 2008.

“Last semester there was an increase in steps during the game,” Johnston said. “It was a positive influence and an introduction into modes of transportation that aren’t motorized.”

So far, more than 16 teams of three have signed up for the second “Skeleton Chase.”

The game will start Monday and end the week before Little 500. The game is supposed to take about three to four hours each week to play.

“We hope that players will make new friends,” Massey said, “and learn about teamwork.”