Hobbies And Interests
Operation
Operation is recommended for children age 6 and up. During Operation, players take turns using tweezers to extract fake body parts from Cavity Same, a dummy on an operating table. The object of the game is to remove the body part without touching Cavity Sam. A player "operates" on Sam until he touches the dummy, ending the player's turn. There are many variations on Operation that incorporate more complex operations or have special characters like Homer Simpson from "The Simpsons" or "The Incredible Hulk" replacing Cavity Sam.
Pandemic
Pandemic is a cooperative board game for players 10 and older. In Pandemic, four lethal diseases are threatening to infect the entire world and it's up to the players to find out what the diseases are, and to neutralize them before the pandemic spreads beyond control and ends the game. There are five charaters to play with: scientist, researcher, dispatcher, operations expert and medic. Players are given a role at random. The board is a representation of Earth, with interconnections between continents. Players are given action cards and special event cards that can be viewed by other players. Infection cards are distributed throughout the map, with Infection Cubes representing the strength of a virus strain in a given region. Players can make up to four actions per turn. Actions include moving to a new location, sharing information with a teammate, healing a region of infection, finding a cure for a virus and erecting a research laboratory.
Medical Monopoly
Each player acts as a doctor with a hospital to run. Suggested for players 8 and up, Medical Monopoly has fun with the concepts of medicine and health care while giving adolescents a unique way to learn the human anatomy. Each player starts with $500. Using this currency, players need to choose to invest in a phramacy, operating room, donor organs and other medical necessities. Players roll dice to move across the board, and can purchase medical supplies as they go. When landing on "Office Visit," the player needs to successfully treat a patient by diagnosing the patient and offering treatment. The first player that fills his or her hospital with patients wins.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Trauma Center: Under the Knife is a surgery-simulation game for the Nintendo DS, in which players use a stylus to reenact medical procedures. Also, a new virus is threatening humanity and you have to play your part in finding the cure. As Dr. Derek Stiles, players can use the "healing touch" for assistance with procedures. Successful operations require a steady hand and quick reflexes, as all of the operations have a time limit. Trama Center: Under the Knife has an Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating of "T," recommending this game for the teenage demographic or older players.