Captain Novolin
Encyclopedia
Captain Novolin is a Super NES
video game starring the eponymous superhero
who has type 1 diabetes
. The game became available to the public in 1992 and was sponsored by Novo Nordisk
, makers of the Novolin brand of insulin
.
invaders
who have the appearance of junk food
items while eating healthy meals to keep his blood glucose
within a safe zone. Players can earn bonus points by correctly answering questions that relate to diabetes. In addition, the game has a feature whereby a diabetic player can specify the frequency of their real-life insulin injections.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
video game starring the eponymous superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
who has type 1 diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
. The game became available to the public in 1992 and was sponsored by Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services. Created in 1989 through a merger of two Danish companies dating back to the 1920s, it has become one of the world's leading companies in diabetes care, where Novo Nordisk pursues research into pulmonary delivery systems;...
, makers of the Novolin brand of insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
.
Gameplay
Captain Novolin is the only one who can stop such evil aliens as Blubberman and rescue a diabetic mayor who was kidnapped by evil aliens. Throughout the game, Captain Novolin needs to avoid the alienExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
invaders
Alien invasion
The alien invasion is a common theme in science fiction stories and film, in which extraterrestrial life invades Earth either to exterminate and supplant human life, enslave it under a colonial system, harvest humans for food, steal the planet's resources, or destroy the planet altogether.The...
who have the appearance of junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...
items while eating healthy meals to keep his blood glucose
Blood sugar
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...
within a safe zone. Players can earn bonus points by correctly answering questions that relate to diabetes. In addition, the game has a feature whereby a diabetic player can specify the frequency of their real-life insulin injections.
Evaluations
Richard M. Satava mentioned an evaluation of the Captain Novolin game that involved the interviewing of 23 diabetic children (10 boys and 13 girls in the age range of 6 to 16 years) and the parent of one child on an individual basis. Boys and girls were enthusiastic about the game, and several children said that the game would be useful when telling their friends about diabetes. The game was met with approval from all of the parents in the evaulation and was considered to have value for facilitating discussions with children about diabetes. Barbara M. Hayes and William Aspray mentioned an evaulation of the Captain Novolin game that involved a number of diabetic children in the age range of 8 to 14 years, along with the parents of the children. Participants said that the game could help parents and children to talk about diabetes, along with children talking to their friends about the subject.Criticisms
When playing the game, the player can stomp enemies by pressing the directional control down when Captain Novolin jumps, but this isn't immediately obvious, and some players find difficulty in avoiding many of the enemies.See also
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- Packy and MarlonPacky and MarlonPacky and Marlon is a platform video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System released in 1995. It was designed to improve self-care behavior in children with juvenile diabetes. The game achieved some success with treatment groups.-Gameplay:...
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