Drama Rama 2015

DRAMA-RAMA is part of the JUEGA! study at the University of Miami. The goal of this project is to empower latina youth in making confident decisions in social situations involving risky decisions.

DRAMA-RAMA is a computer game prototype in which the avatars’ verbal and non-verbal responses are tailored to the responses of the player. The game provides children and adolescents opportunities to practice resisting peer pressure.

Unlike other computer based educational games that involve avatars, DRAMA-RAMA is designed to be played without keyboard or mouse input. The player verbally and non-verbally interacts in private with a group of early adolescent avatars displayed on a large screen, and earns game points for socially competent and effective responses to simulated, every day, early adolescent, interpersonal encounters. The unique DRAMA-RAMA method of play creates a high sense of perceived realness which argues for the skills practiced in game play being more likely to be used in real life.

The game was designed so that players earn points for verbally and non-verbally resisting early adolescent female and/or male avatar pressure to make choices that could get them into various potentially risky situations. Players earn POW points for the Power of Words and V-BAM’s (Voice and Body-language Always Matter) for their use of considerate, convincing, and confident voice and body language. The player’s verbal and non-verbal responses are scored in real time with summative verbal and numerical feedback provided at the end of the game.

Other parts of the study that were developed by E2i Creative Studio include the JUEGA! website and the JUEGA! surveys. The JUEGA! website can be viewed at www.JUEGAenMiami.com.