Boston Scientific tasked StudioPMG with creating an interactive game to help physicians better understand the advantages of using its new product technology as an option in reducing chronic neuropathic pain in the back, trunk or limbs. Dubbed the SmoothWave™ Challenge, this large touchscreen experience combined educational content, interactive gaming and a leaderboard to increase engagement with physicians.

The SmoothWave Challenge is played on a large touchscreen display presenting an illustration of a patient’s spine and nerves that transmit pain signals. Physicians play the game by touching a contact that sends an electrical impulse to mitigating the pain impulse before it reaches the brain.  A metered scoreboard (indicating the amount of pain the "patient" feels) shows how the player is doing during the game.

The game has two modes meant to demonstrate the contrast between SmoothWave Technology and conventional neuromodulation. In conventional play mode, fewer pain impulses are intercepted, resulting in a higher level of pain and a lower score. In SmoothWave play mode, the player can intercept more pain impulses, which yields a lower level of pain in the game and a higher player score.

The physicians with the highest scores are placed on a leaderboard, demonstrating their expertise to the other physicians at the convention and instilling a sense of competition among them.