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Brain Powered Games

From attention and memory to logic and language skills, our games empower each player to play at their ideal level of challenge – just hard enough to grow, but easy enough to be fun. These “good for you” games can be played in as little as 10 minutes.

Developed by the Michigan State University Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab, each Brain Powered Game is designed to exercise one or more different brain functions. Mix and match the games to enjoy a diverse mental workout.

Game Development Team:

Brian Winn: PI, Executive Producer, Designer

Carrie Heeter: Co-PI

Jillian Winn: Co-PI

Release Date: July 2008

Scholarly Merit:

Brain Powered Games has been exhibited, presented about, and is the subject of scholarly research publications.

Peer Reviewed Exhibitions:

  1. Winn, B., Heeter, C., Winn, J., Fisher, J., Bao, L., Roman, C., Foster, D., Lazar, M., and Dong, R. Brain Powered Games. Exhibited at the International Academic Conference on Meaningful Play 2008 in East Lansing, MI, October 9, 2008.
  2. Heeter, C., Winn, B., Winn, J., Fisher, J., Bao. Headline Clues. Exhibited at the International Academic Conference on Meaningful Play 2008 in East Lansing, MI, October 9, 2008.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:

  • Bozoki, A., Radovanovic, M., Winn, B., Heeter, C. and Anthony, J.C. (2013). Effects of a computer-based cognitive exercise program on age-related cognitive decline. Archives of Geronotology and Geriatrics, Jul-Aug;57(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2013.02.009. Impact Factor 1.704

Peer Reviewed Conference Presentations:

  1. Heeter, C., Winn, B., Winn, J., Bozoki, A. The Challenge of Challenge: Avoiding and Embracing Difficulty in a Memory Game. Proceedings of the International Academic Conference on Meaningful Play 2008, East Lansing, MI, October, 2008.
  2. Winn, B., Heeter, C., Maniar, A. An Analysis of Game Design Issues in Brain Games. Games for Health Conference, Boston, MA. June 11, 2009.
  3. Heeter, C., Maniar, A., and Winn, B.  Making Sense of Brain Games: A scientific analysis of game design in the brain fitness market. Presented at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2009 Serious Games Summit, San Francisco, CA. March 24, 2009.