It’s not an adventure
game, not an action/adventure nor even a puzzle game, so what is
this product called The Journey to Wild
Divine? Well, it looks to be something that adventure gamers, especially
those who are stressed out from too much pixel-hunting, may find
interesting; especially as the screenshots look as though they were
ripped from the pages of Myst or
Schizm.

The developers are promising
that this first-ever, truly ‘inner-active’ gaming
experience will harness the player’s mind and body as they
navigate a stunning fantasy world.

The intriguing website has some absolutely stunning trailers and
panoramas from the different realms of The
Wild Divine along with an explanation of the biofeedback technology
that has been used to enhance the player’s experience.

Now, I’m hoping
to serve as a guinea pig for this unique product and we should
have a review for you soon, but in the meantime the
company press release describes The Journey to Wild Divine in much
more detail than I ever could!

UNIVERSES OF ALTERNATIVE HEALTH & WELLNESS AND COMPUTER
GAMING COLLIDE

Startup technology innovator, game developer and music label The
Wild Divine Project has announced it will release The Journey to
Wild Divine on November 1, 2003 for PC and Mac computers. The Wild
Divine Project produces transformational multi-media products and
their first product, The Journey to Wild Divine, is an interactive
multimedia adventure that integrates the power of a healing journey
with innovative human-computer technology to help cultivate an enhanced
sense of self and soul-awareness.

While traditional gaming relies on the user’s reaction to, and interaction
with, the gaming environment, The Wild Divine starts on the inside.
First, players hook themselves up to a biofeedback module which measures
heart rate and other functions. Following a training session where
guides familiarize users with the interface and the types of mind/body
exercises they will need to master to navigate, players explore a
lush, fantastic world of challenges, adventures and other experiences.

The Wild Divine is both a healing journey and exhilarating adventure.
PhD biomedical engineer Kurt Smith and animator/developer Corwin
Bell and their development team, located in Eldorado Canyon, have
created a deeply detailed, lush world that will reward gamers with
hours of pleasure. Playing the game also reduces stress, centers
the mind and calms the body. Benefits may extend well beyond the
playing experience as the game shows promise as a therapeutic tool
and a focusing exercise for businesspeople.

“I’ve always wanted to experience the amazing things that wizards,
sages and mystics experience in movies I’ve seen, books I’ve read
and dreams I’ve had,” says Bell, who met Smith while rock climbing. “In
The Journey to Wild Divine, users can actually experience mythological
images and states of being; the game is cast in a way that it looks
and feels like magic, but it’s all working within the psyche.”

“The journey that Corwin has developed is very profound,” Smith
says. “All his life, he’s been churning on it and working on
it. When you combine his spirituality with graphics capabilities,
the artistry is mind-blowing. I’ve seen people sit down with it and
have transforming experiences.”

In addition to Bell, Smith
and the development team, who work in a game studio Smith built
in the canyon, other individuals have served
as what they call “allies” to the project, including biofeedback
specialist Dr. Liana Mattulich, former Buddhist monk Nawang Khechog,
one of Tibet’s foremost world musicians and composers, Dr. Jean Houston,
a world renowned researcher in the development of human capacities
and Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the
Mind, Inner Peace for Busy People and other books on health, well-being
and spirituality. Smith recorded the music for the game in his own
studio, the Crucible, and it features Wild Divine recording artists
The Wild Divine Band as well as Chris Berry.

The Journey to
Wild Divine, including the biofeedback hardware,
starts at an introductory price of $129.95. The first units will
become available online and in select retailers on November 1, 2003.
In the weeks leading up to the launch, Wild Divine will host demonstrations
at events as diverse as the EarthDance in Northern California, The
Institute of Noetic Sciences Consciousness Conference in Palm Springs
and the Yoga Expo in Los Angeles.