Running Head: LAB 1 – WAR OF BRAWNS PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 1

Lab 1 – War of Brawns Product Description

Rodolfo Monterroso

Old Dominion University

CS411W

James Brunelle

26 January 2020

Version 2

LAB 1 – WAR OF BRAWNS PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 2

Table of Contents

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3

2. War of Brawns Product Description............................................................................................3

2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities..................................................................................4

2.2 Major Components (Hardware / Software)............................................................................6

3. Identification of Case Study........................................................................................................7

4. War of Brawns – Prototype Description......................................................................................8

4.1 Prototype Architecture (Hardware / Software)......................................................................8

4.2 Prototype Features and Capabilities.......................................................................................8

4.3 Prototype Development Challenges.......................................................................................9

Glossary.........................................................................................................................................10

References......................................................................................................................................11

Tables and Figures

Figure 1 - Video Game Statistics in the United States....................................................................3

Figure 2 - War of Brawns Major Functional Component Diagram (MFCD)..................................5

Table 1 – Feature comparison between full product and prototype of War of Brawns …………..9

LAB 1 – WAR OF BRAWNS PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3

Lab 1: War of Brawns Product Description

1. Introduction

In 2018 the World Health Organization officially claimed gaming disorder as a

disease(Ivanova, 2019). Gaming disorder symptoms include prioritizing gaming over work,

education and social relationships (Ivanova, 2019). In the United States over 64% of the

population are gamers, at least 1 in 10 adolescent(s) will develop a video game addiction (Hull,

2019). Figure 1 provides more statistics on video game play based in the United States.

Figure 1. Video Game Statistics in the United States by Megan Hall retrieved from

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/process-addiction/video-game-addiction/#gref (2019)

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Gaming addiction can lead to negative effects on a gamer’s health both physically and

mentally. Due to lack of prioritizing, gamers tend to neglect being involved in recreational

activities and socializing. Increase in gaming can lead to unhealthy conditions such as obesity.

Social isolation can take a toll on gamers, as gamers may not participate in either organizations

or hobbies. Instead gamers develop a satisfaction in socializing through video games. Most video

games and gaming consoles have an online feature, where gamers all over the world can connect

and play on the same game through a virtual network. This online feature gives the luxury of

gamers to socialize and game in the comfort of their own homes without having to leave and

meet in person, with the use of a headset with a built in microphone they are able to

communicate. Although these advances in gaming technology are convenient it causes isolation

in the gamers social life. The lack of involvement outside of home and school, can affect a

gamers social skills making it difficult to interact with other people outside of gaming.

War of Brawns is an interactive role-playing game mobile application. War of Brawns

combines gameplay, exercise and diet tracking to encourage players to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

A built-in diet tracker provides the users to observe and record their daily calorie intake.

Workout challenges are tracked so the gamer can advance in War of Brawns’ gameplay.

2. War of Brawns Product Description

War of Brawns is a mobile application game aimed for gamers who have an interest in, or

need to, improve their exercise and dietary habits. Although War of Brawns is based for

individuals with game addiction. War of Brawns portrays Role-Playing Game (RPG) themes to

motivate players to engage in physical exercise. In order for the gamer the win and move through

the storyline the gamer must exercise, by exercising the gamer earns in-game points and bonuses.

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2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities

War of Brawns incorporates elements composed from diet tracking apps and exercising

apps; however, it develops those features into gameplay. Individual accounts are required to use

the application. Users can create individual account by using their personal email, phone and

custom password, securing users profiles in the game. Each user account is assigned to an avatar

that users have the option to customize. Each character displays their individual gaming stats,

equipment and currency. These bonuses are all earned through gameplay and physical activity.

War of Brawns’ diet tracker enables a nutritional database providing the calorie amount

of all food products. Users can look up their calorie portions each meal and confirm that they

don’t surpass their calorie intake. The goal-setting feature allows users to input their starting

weight and a goal weight. As gamers are engaging in exercising, the goal setting feature allow

users to adjust their current weight as they make weight loss progress.

War of Brawns challenge feature displays a variety of different exercises to choose from.

Users may search desired exercises to focus on. Challenges selected provide a video tutorial to

educate users on the proper form and procedures to perform the exercise. A Electrocardiogram

(ECG) and Global Positioning System (GPS) application programming interface tracks physical

performance completed by the users, confirming that the user has completed the physical

challenges. War of Brawns tracks physical activity that has been performed to complete

challenges. Reward points are issued for completed challenges. The reward points are used to

improve stats and advance their character with armor, weapons, strength, dexterity, speed and

stamina.

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2.2 Major Components (Hardware / Software)

War of Brawns runs on iOS or Android smart phones. As shown in Figure 2, War of

Brawns interfaces with the Google Maps API and paired with a smart watch (optional) to capture

data used for monitoring exercise activity.

Figure 2. War of Brawns Major Functional Component Diagram (MFCD)

War of Brawns will rely on Unity for game development and will utilize Visual Studio

for UX, UI features as well for game scripts. ECG API, GPS API and ESHA Nutrition Database

will be required to perform the related tasks in the application. Cloud Storage for Firebase is

used for information storage for our users.

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3. Identification of Case Study

Playing War of Brawns will require performing physical task with the use of a smart

watch with a built-in ECG. Heart rhythm and movement are collected from the ECG and

processed as game points to advance their character in the game. As characters progress and earn

points, gamers will use this advantage to play and win the game.

Our prototype design will carry out similar features but use alternative methods in

performing functionality. Most built-in features will require simulated data to act and perform

certain tasks.

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4. War of Brawns – Prototype Description

War of Brawns prototype is an application that will encourage healthy diets and physical

activity through gameplay features that require active participation in exercise. War of Brawns

will allow gamers to access gameplay, track their physical activity, and monitor their calorie

intake.

4.1 Prototype Architecture (Hardware/Software)

War of Brawns prototype will use an Android device, a virtual server provided by the

Computer Science Department of Old Dominion University, Spine, and Adobe Suites including

Photoshop and Illustrator. Software components utilized in our application include GPS tracking

API, Firebase, Unity, Eclipse and Visual Studio for implementing graphics, game development,

mobile and application development. The primary coding languages we will be using for

building out our application are C# and JavaScript.

Figure 2. War of Brawns Major Functional Component Diagram (MFCD)

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4.2 Prototype Features and Capabilities

War of Brawns prototype will feature Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation, where we

will be implementing our own data to act as collected heart rhythm and activity, replacing the

need of a smart watch with a built-in ECG tracker. Our default ECG data will process into in-

game points. Gamers will have the opportunity to advance through the game as they participate

physical process. The calorie database will enable gamers track and record their daily calorie

intake. War of Brawns’ gameplay incorporates the ECG data and the calorie database to offer a

fun and interactive game. Gamers will engage in physical exercises as motivation to elevate

through the game’s storyline. Table 1 list and compares War of Brawns’ prototype capability to

the real world product.

Table 1: Feature comparison between full product and prototype of War of Brawns

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4.3 Prototype Development Challenges

Missing the Electrocardiogram data will be our greatest challenge when developing War

of Brawns. Rather than having ECG data collected from a smart watch processed into a mobile

device we will be implementing our own ECG data. Another challenge our team faces is the

detection of false negative exercise. Determining if users are exercising will be monitored using

from GPS location. Relying only GPS location is not the most effective method in tracking

gamers’ physical performance.

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Glossary

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): The number of calories required to keep the body functioning at

rest. Essentially, how many calories are burned in a day not including physical activity.

Electrocardiogram (ECG): A test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. With

each beat, an electrical impulse (or “wave”) travels through the heart.

Experience Points (XP): A unit of measurement to quantify an avatar’s progression through a

game. Once a sufficient amount of experience points are accumulated, the player or a certain

statistic “levels up”. The higher the level, the stronger the avatar.

Game Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial intelligence is used to generate responsive,

adaptive or intelligent behaviors primarily in non-player characters similar to human-like

intelligence.

Game Avatar: A personalized graphical illustration that represents a computer user, or a

character or alter ego that represents that user.

Gaming Disorder: Pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior in which people lose

control of their gaming behavior, give priority to gaming over other interests and activities, and

continue gaming despite negative consequences, such as impairments in their family

relationships, social lives, work duties or other areas.

Heads Up Display (HUD): The display area where players can see their character's vital

statistics such as current health, bonus attributes, armor level, ammunition count, and more.

Mifflin-St Jeor Formula: Formula that calculates BMR from age, sex, height, and weight

Role-playing Game (RPG): Type of game in which players assume the roles of characters.

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE): The total amount of calories burned in a day

including basic body functions and physical activity

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References

Conrad, B. (n.d.). 15 Reasons & Theories on Why Video Games Are Addictive. Retrieved

October 8, 2019, from http://www.techaddiction.ca/why_are_video_games_addictive.html.

DNPAO Data, Trends and Maps: Explore by Topic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2019, from

https://nccd.cdc.gov/dnpao_dtm/rdPage.aspx?

rdReport=DNPAO_DTM.ExploreByTopic&islClass=PA&islTopic=PA1&go=GO.

Ellis, M. (2018, October 2). Gamified Fitness Apps That Make Working Out Fun. Retrieved

October 8, 2019, from https://stylefox.co/gamified-fitness-apps-that-make-working-out-fun/.

Exantra World: Fitness RPG (Role Playing Game). (2019, September 29). Retrieved October 8,

2019, from https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/altertitan/exantra-world-fitness-rpg-role-

playing-game.

Find your best self with our favorite health and fitness apps for Android. (2018, December 21).

Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-fitness-apps-

for-android/.

Gaming Addiction Statistics. (2019, September 26). Retrieved October 8, 2019, from

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/process-addiction/video-game-addiction/gaming-

addiction-statistics/#gref.

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Hu, F. B. (n.d.). Sedentary lifestyle and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Retrieved October 8,

2019, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11745-003-1038-4.

Hull, M. (2019, November 25). Video Game Addiction. Retrieved December 12, 2019, from

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/process-addiction/video-game-addiction/#gref.

Ivanova, I. (2019, May 28). World Health Organization makes "gaming disorder" a medical

addiction. Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/world-health-

organization-makes-gaming-disorder-a-medical-diagnosis-of-addicition/.

Kravitz, L. (n.d.). Exercise Motivation: What Starts and Keeps People Exercising? Retrieved

October 8, 2019, from https://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/ExerciseMot.pdf

Marrs, M. (2017, November 14). 6 Fitness Apps That Make Working Out Too Fun to Skip.

Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/6-fitness-apps-

that-make-working-out-too-fun-skip.html.

Mastroianni, B. (2018, August 29). Turning Exercise Into a Game Can Make Fitness More Fun

and Effective. Retrieved October 8, 2019, from

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/turning-exercise-into-a-game-can-make-fitness-

more-fun-and-effective

Teemo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://goteemo.com/.

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Video Game Addiction Treatment for Teens. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2019, from

https://elkrivertreatment.com/treatment/treating-teen-video-game-addiction/.

Watkins, M. (2019, June 13). Video Game Addiction Symptoms and Treatment. Retrieved

October 30, 2019, from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/video-gaming-addiction