OXISTRESS
Developed for LabVR Unisi in collaboration with the Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare dell’Università degli studi di Siena, Oxistress is a Virtual Reality game that helps understand the biological process of oxidative stress and the effects of dietary habits on male fertility.
The Challenge
Oxistress is a game built to give visibility to the results of a research project linked to the correlation between eating habits and male fertility.
The main challenge was to be able to communicate the research results in a language simple enough to reach a general audience and also a good deepening and full coherence with the scientific bases to deserve scientific value and dignity of scientific publication
Our Solution
Oxistress is an exciting VR game with a science-fiction setting.
The setting involves a narrative stratagem to isolate the system we wanted to focus on and maximize engagement through the building of intentionality.
The game creates a believable context to associate specific choices (space crew diet) with macroscopic consequences (probability of being able to colonize a new planet). Players can drive a microscopic spacecraft inside the human body, closely observing the interaction among the molecules (ROS, Antioxidants, Omega-3) introduced with the diet and other related indications to lifestyle with the quality of sperm membranes and the health of spermatozoa.
Impact
The game is actually fun to play and was a great success as an edutainment activity, being one of the most crowded stands in the 2021 Maker Faire in Rome.
From a scientific point of view, it has been the subject of two scientific publications:
The space captain would say “Mission accomplished!”
Gameplay
In Oxistress, the player helps a group of astronauts, transiting through a “hyper-consequential field” to make optimal dietary choices to keep their fertility high and the successful expectations of the colonization mission.
The science-fiction setting provides a narrative stratagem to isolate the system you want to explain and maximize the agency, creating a sensible context for the association of individual game choices (what to eat) with immediate macroscopic consequences (effect on the fertility of the crew).
In addition to giving guidance on choices, the player can guide a microscopic spacecraft inside the seminiferous tubules, observe behaviour and interact with the molecules that have been introduced as a result of its indications.
About Oxistress
Giulia Collodel
Professor – Università degli Studi di Siena
the Whitesock team showed a remarkable ability to research and adapt to our scientific needs. The final result, Oxistress, rigorously respects scientific data and conveys it through an accessible and engaging experience. With this project, Whitesock has successfully transformed complex content into an active and immersive learning experience that enhances student engagement and understanding. That’s why I highly recommend Whitesock to any educational or research institution looking to innovate its teaching and scientific dissemination methods. Giulia Collodel Associate Professor of Applied Biology, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena.
Alessandro Innocenti
LabVR UNISI Coordinator – Università degli Studi di Siena
I have had the pleasure of working with both Vincenzo and Francesco, and I hold them in high regard for their professionalism and expertise. Whitesock’s team excels in transforming complex content into engaging and effective serious games. Their meticulous approach to design and technological proficiency make them an invaluable partner for delivering research projects as well as didactic experiences. I highly recommend Whitesock to academic colleagues and companies seeking innovative and impactful solutions.
