# Phobia-Fighting Rock Climbing Simulators This VR Game Can Help People Overcome a Fear of Heights By Joey Haar | Published 2017-06-20 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rock-climbing-simulator References: [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/vr-rock-climbing-sim/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds) & [geekwire](https://www.geekwire.com/2017/students-create-game-help-acrophobes-confront-fear-heights-virtual-reality/) Heights are one of the most common phobias, so students from the [University of Washington](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superhero-therapy) have developed a rock climbing simulator to try to help people overcome their fears of sheer precipices. The project uses [virtual reality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snack-vr) on the Unity platform to simulate the experience of climbing several different rock faces and completing various challenges. The rock climbing simulator was originally developed as a game for the students' final project in a University of Washington course. However, after seeing user responses to the game, the students realized its potential as a tool for helping people to cope with their vertiginous fear. The game has three levels. In the first, the user must climb from one block to another. The second involves handling different elevation levels, and the third requires users to swing across chasms to reach different faces of the wall. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/games) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Virtual Reality Therapy:** Development of more VR simulations can provide immersive exposure therapy that can help patients overcome several types of phobias. - **Gamification of Therapy:** Incorporating game elements into different therapy treatments can increase patient engagement and improve outcomes. - **Mental Health Technology:** The intersection of technology and mental health has vast potential to improve patient care and treatment. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Gaming Industry:** By entering the field of therapeutic game development, gaming companies can explore potential markets outside of traditional gaming demographics. - **Healthcare Industry:** Development of VR simulations as a therapeutic tool can revolutionize the way mental health disorders are treated and managed in the healthcare industry. - **Technology Industry:** Developing new technologies that intersect with the healthcare industry can create opportunities to improve patient access and outcomes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gamified VR Therapy Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/behavr.md) - [VR Physiotherapy Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superhero-therapy.md) - [Nausea-Abating VR Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vr-platform.md) - [AI-Enhanced Virtual Reality Therapies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-reality-therapy.md) - [Action-Focused VR Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skydance-behemoth.md) - [VR-Powered ADHD Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vr-eyetracking-game.md) - [VR Cooking Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vr-cooking-game.md) - [VR-Powered Therapy Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rey-1.md) - [VR-Powered Therapeutic Treatments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vrpowered-therapeutic-treatments.md)