Yesterday, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced the winners of its 2007 Games for Health competition. $30,000 has been awarded in 3 categories – game prototypes, general storyboard, and student storyboard.

Prototype: Neuromatrix, submitted by Morphonix of Sausalito, Calif. Award: $20,000
A game targeting adolescents, it “takes the players through a series of short movies and games where they participate in a brain exam and make decisions very much like a neurologist would encounter in a real-life setting.”

Storyboard: Food Finder, Erin Hoffman, Albany, N.Y. Award: $5,000
This Nintendo DS game, meant for the 8-14 age groups, takes the player through an interactive quest to find nutritional food groups. Status bars indicate what is lacking. Finding healthier food becomes harder as you progress.

Student Storyboard: Bizarro Olympics, Team Fun, Indiana University. Award: $5,000
This Nintendo Wii based exergame “takes players through a series of futuristic Olympic-style events, while educating players about the important lifestyle choices that should be made to maintain good health—and win the game.”

It is interesting to see serious games moving from PCs to game consoles.

This competition was US-focused. There is an international version. And it is currently accepting applications. Ashoka and RWJF are partnering on this one, called “Why Games Matter: A Prescription for Improving Health and Health Care.” Deadline is Sep 26, 2007.