Odyssey by UPMC

Odyssey by UPMC is a mobile health and wellness application developed by Schell Games for UPMC. Built using the Unity engine, the app is designed to support patient wellness and behavior change through gamification and habit-tracking mechanics. Targeted at an adult audience, Odyssey transforms clinical health goals into a journey-based experience, encouraging users to engage with their health plans, monitor progress, and adopt healthier lifestyle choices. By combining Schell Games' expertise in "transformational games" with UPMC's medical insights, the app serves as a digital companion that bridges the gap between traditional healthcare and daily life management.

• Schell Games
• UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)
• Health habit tracking
• behavioral change
• patient engagement
• digital wellness
• Gamified health journeys
• "Transformational Play."

What is the primary purpose of Odyssey?

The app acts as a behavioral change tool. Instead of just providing medical information, it uses game-like elements—such as progression systems and goal-setting—to motivate patients to follow through with their health routines, such as medication adherence, exercise, or dietary changes.

How does gamification help in a healthcare context?

Healthcare can often feel overwhelming or "unfun." Gamification uses intrinsic and extrinsic rewards (like badges, streaks, or level progression) to provide positive reinforcement. This helps move the patient toward a "flow state" where maintaining their health feels like a rewarding activity rather than a chore.

Is the app used for specific medical conditions?

While the portfolio lists it broadly under Health & Wellness, Schell Games and UPMC designed it to be flexible. It is part of a broader trend in Digital Therapeutics (DTx), where software is used to prevent, manage, or treat medical disorders through evidence-based behavioral interventions.

Why was the Unity engine chosen for a health app?

Unity is typically used for high-end games, but it is excellent for health apps because it allows for cross-platform development (making it easy to launch on both iPhone and Android) and provides a highly interactive, visually engaging user interface (UI) that standard app development tools might lack.

Does Odyssey replace a doctor?

No. It is designed as a supplementary tool. It helps patients follow the advice given by their clinical team at UPMC by providing a daily, interactive framework to stay on track between doctor appointments.

Who is the target audience?

The app is specifically designed for Adults. The interface and habit-tracking mechanics are tailored to the complexities of adult healthcare and long-term wellness management.