My show "GameBreaking" that I individually planned, created, and continued to produce weekly at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as a part of my first co-op/internship at the hospital's Seacrest Studios.
GameBreaking showcases the game design elements of a new video game and analog game each week. Each episode is an hour's worth of interactive content for pediatric patients to participate in live. Below is the commercial I created which summarizes and exemplifies some of the weekly content, along with a general explanation of the show and its features.
GAMEBREAKING - ORIGINAL SHOW PRODUCTION
COMPONENTS OF THE SHOW
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
GameBreaking had the primary goal of creating entertaining content that is also educational, using the knowledge I’ve learned about game design from my studies at Drexel University and discussing it in a way that people from all ages can learn something new. Each episode discussed one video game and one analog/board game. Within these discussions, I focused on three main topics:
NARRATIVE DESIGN
Plot/story of the game
Worldbuilding & NPCs
Tone and themes
ART DESIGN
Art style conception
3D vs 2D elements
Characters/environments
INTERACTION & GAMEPLAY
SOUND DESIGN
Music theory analyses
Sound effects in use
Audio engineering skills
Interaction is a core part of every show at CHOP’s Seacrest Studios, and mine was no exception. My show featured trivia and game-show-inspired segments that connected to the video or analog game I discussed each episode. These interactive breaks also gave me a chance to reset during the hour-long broadcast. Patients could call in from their hospital rooms to participate, answering questions live on air and winning prizes for correct responses. Here are some of my favorite examples:
Beyond the games, patients could call anytime to ask questions or share comments, with their voices broadcast on the show. Some even visited the studio to co-host live or record segments for future episodes!
Many pediatric patients at CHOP experience long hospital stays, where mental well-being is just as important as physical health. Engaging them in the show provided a sense of inclusion and escapism. As a pediatric cancer survivor who was treated at CHOP myself, I felt a deep connection when working directly with patients and their families, making their hospital experience a little brighter. ♥
RELATION TO PATIENTS
From the very beginning, I wanted this show to be for the patients. Growing up in hospitals, video games were a core part of my childhood, providing both an escape and a way to bond with my older brother. Board games were just as important, giving my family and me something to enjoy together during long hospital stays. CHOP offers video game carts that patients can rent for free, along with board games available on each floor. I designed my show to highlight these options, ensuring that every game I covered was something patients could easily access. The only exceptions were major upcoming releases from popular franchises like Nintendo, which would likely be available to patients in the future. Doing this helped ensure that my show was not only teaching patients something new, but also allowing them to experience more of that excitement even after my show was over!
software used!
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Used for creating the interactive game content along with show graphics and branding.
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Used for creating pre-recorded content, like the commercial. Utilized templates and animation keyframes to create the show’s logo.
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Used for writing scripts and compiling all digital content for each episode. Episodes could have anywhere from 30-100+ images and graphics, so having an organized system through Google Drive folders helped create an easier pipeline when transferring content into CHOP’s broadcasting system.