Pleasant Cove

Pleasant Cove is a therapeutic VR experience developed by Schell Games in partnership with REAL Systems (a division of Penumbra). Designed for the REAL Immersive System, the project serves as a rehabilitation tool for adults dealing with cognitive impairments, including symptoms of dementia. Built on the Unreal Engine, the game transports patients to a tranquil beach house environment where they engage in "intrinsically motivating" activities. These tasks are designed to address deficits in attention, memory, psychomotor skills, and sequencing. By utilizing a tablet-based TherapyView interface, therapists can customize the experience in real-time, focusing on the core design pillar: "turning a bad day into a good one" through positive emotional impact.

• Schell Games
• Penumbra
• REAL Systems
• Cognitive rehabilitation
• dementia symptom management
• attention and memory training
• Tranquil beach house setting
• "Magical" VR moments
• TherapyView (tablet-based therapist interface)
• Service and support for REAL System products ended in 2024

What is the primary "Challenge" Pleasant Cove was designed to solve?

The challenge was to create a VR experience that was calming and relaxing while still providing structured tasks that could challenge a patient’s cognitive abilities. It needed to motivate patients who might otherwise be reluctant to engage in traditional physical or cognitive therapy.

How does the therapist interact with the patient's VR world?

Therapists use a tablet-based interface called TherapyView. This allows the therapist to see what the patient is seeing, select specific activities, and adjust the level of difficulty in real-time to match the patient’s progress and needs.

What specific cognitive skills does the game target?

The activities in the beach house focus on several key areas: Attention: Focusing on specific objects or tasks in the environment. Memory: Recalling where objects are or the order of steps in an activity. Psychomotor Skills: Using physical movements to interact with the virtual world. Sequencing: Completing tasks that require a specific order of operations (e.g., preparing a simple meal or organizing a shelf).

Why was a "Beach House" chosen as the setting?

A beach house provides a familiar, non-threatening, and inherently relaxing environment. For patients with dementia, familiar settings can help reduce anxiety and "sundowning" symptoms, making them more open to the therapeutic benefits of the activities.

What was the "Design Pillar" of the project?

The team focused on positive emotional impact. The internal goal was to "turn a bad day into a good one," using the immersive and "magical" nature of VR to lift a patient's mood while simultaneously providing valuable medical rehabilitation.

Is Pleasant Cove still available for purchase?

No. The portfolio page contains a legacy note stating that REAL System products are currently not available, with all service and support having ended in 2024. However, it remains a key example of Schell Games' work in the healthcare industry.

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