Introducing Pollen
Pollen reimagines mental wellness through an interactive mobile game centered around deep breathing exercises. Players assume the role of wind, revitalizing a desolate world by collecting plants and flowers, each action powered by their breathing.
(Note that the described features/visuals are meant to be representative of our final product but may be subject to change pending final development)
The Core Loop: Escape and Collect
Our game is designed to appeal to two types of players
For the persons needing a mental break, our game offers an evolving story-like progression in a single, immersive world. You'll begin in a barren desert landscape, a blank canvas awaiting the breath of life. With each level, your breath transforms this environment bit by bit. The desert sprouts into grassland, which then blossoms into a lush forest, and ultimately, transforms into a vibrant garden filled with flowers. This progression allows you to quite literally breathe life into your game world.
A progression system where you can collect and unlock new plants and flowers
For the individuals interested in collecting each and every reward, we've incorporated an exciting collectible system into the game. Each level you complete rewards you with coins or collectibles, providing a sense of achievement and a memento of your journey. To keep track of your collection and add to the sense of progress, all your collectibles will be displayed in a special section in the menu UI. Your collectibles might even make into the gameplay world. This personal display not only provides a tangible record of your progress but also serves as an enticing reason to return and add more to your collection.
Rewards for the completion of each breathing session
Example of different flower and plants
Integrating Deep, Slow Breathing
The uniqueness of Pollen lies in its incorporation of deep, slow breathing into the gameplay. You'll take on the role of a breeze, guiding pollen along a serene environment. The distance the pollen moves is controlled by your breathing: exhale to push the pollen forward, and during the periods of non-exhalation, the pollen continues its path at a slow, steady pace.
To ensure an optimal deep breathing experience, we're planning to embed clear, intuitive cues into the game. Audio and visual cues will prompt when to inhale and exhale and provide feedback during gameplay. A tactile cue, in the form of short or long vibrations, will further enhance the immersive experience.
GIFs are limited to 5MB uploads, please excuse the quality. This is a WIP build.
Our game aims for inhale and exhale cycles that research has shown are associated with higher levels of parasympathetic nervous system activity. We've designed an algorithm to track your exhales, ensuring that your breath guides your progress through each level.
A Whimsical Visual Experience
We believe that a game promoting relaxation should have an aesthetic to match, which is why we've crafted Pollen with whimsical visuals and adorable elements. Whether it's the gentle sway of the pollen or the blooming flowers you've helped nurture, we plan for every aspect of the game's design to soothe and delight.
More Than Just a Game
Example of health-tracking features
Aside from the relaxing and engaging gameplay, we envision Pollen offering health tracking features. Players can opt-in to provide general ratings of their day, and take specific notes to refer back to at later dates. We plan for players to answer validated questions about stress, anxiety, and burnout helping them monitor their mental wellness over time. Answering surveys can also earn players rare items, adding an extra incentive for those keen on collecting.
Breathe with Us
The aim of Pollen is to make the practice of deep, slow breathing a daily habit. It's a hyper-casual, 5-minute game that you'll want to return to every day. Not just because it's fun and rewarding, but because it offers an enjoyable way to reduce stress and promote mental wellness.
Join us. We can't wait for you to try our early alpha build of Pollen and look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback!
James Xu MD, MPH
CEO Co-Founder, Breathe Healthy Interactive
Disclaimer: The Breathe Healthy Interactive application, "Pollen" is intended to support and encourage a healthy lifestyle by providing users with resources and tools to enhance their general mental wellness. This Application has not been evaluated by the FDA to be a medical device, and it has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other governmental authority.
