Ken Koontzonline
Creative Director of GEMH LabShort bio
I help really cool people craft really cool experiences that leave a real impact on the world. I can confidently bridge the gap between high level design and technical implementation, and I believe building trust is the key to any team success.
Top-3 games
- Ark: Survival Evolved
- Warframe
- AFK Journey
www.kenkoontz.com
“The ability to perceive or think differently is more important than the knowledge gained.”
David Bohm
About me
Throughout my career, I have honed the unique skill of translating complex behavioral, psychological, and learning concepts into intuitive and enjoyable gameplay. Leading cross-functional teams has taught me the importance of weaving in-depth knowledge from fields like psychology and education into engaging experiences that deliver measurable outcomes.
My design journey began with training as an architect, which spring-boarded me into the commercial game industry as an Environment Artist before moving into Level Design. Since then, over the past decade, I have worked alongside psychologists, clinicians, and educators to design a framework for interactive experiences that prioritize both fun and impact.
What defines me as a designer is the versatility and empathy I bring to every project. Whether I'm creating game rules or an emotional arc, my goal is to make "play" a powerful tool for growth and shaping player journeys to be both meaningful and aligned with each project's objectives. I believe that serious games, while immersive and entertaining, can also drive positive change when designed with purpose, insight, and a clear vision of impact.
Projects I’ve worked on
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CategoryBehavior RegulationDate22/05/2025Study/CourseLocation
Designing and Testing a Game Intervention to Help Youth Quit Smoking
About the projectSmoking is one of the leading public health problems in the world. In the Netherlands today, still 1 in 4 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 smoke. Even more worrisome is that there are almost no evidence-based interventions available to help them quit smoking. That’s why we, in collaboration with scientists, game designers and smoking youth, developed and tested a game to help youth quit smoking. HitnRun is a mobile game in which you can train your impulse control, and in which you collaborate in teams, support each other’s quit attempts, and compete against other teams.
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CategoryBehavior RegulationDate23/04/2018Study/CourseLocation
DUST: Decisions Under Stress Training - A Biofeedback Training in Virtual Reality for police officers
About the projectThe work of a police officer can be seen as an evolutionary paradox: in places and situations where most people would fall prey to survival instincts of self-preservation, police officers ought to act calm, with proportionality and benevolence. This is why police officers need to train control over their responses to threat as much as possible. To enable this, we develop a virtual training environment with real-time biofeedback. We combine virtual reality and biofeedback to create a personalized, realistic training experience, while honing state-of-the-art technology and psychophysical theory.
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CategoryBehavior RegulationDate07/08/2023Study/CourseLocation
Detour: A smartphone game to help youth quit smoking
About the projectWelcome to Detour, the innovative mobile game designed to help youths quit smoking by offering guidance, social support, and goal setting. Developed by a team of researchers, game developers, and youths, Detour utilizes cutting-edge psychology research to distract from smoking urges, build healthier habits, and focus on a smoke-free future. With daily reminders, just-in-time interventions, and a habit tracker feature for motivation, Detour empowers young individuals to lead healthier, happier lives. Join the community today and take the first step toward a smoke-free future!
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CategoryAnxiety | DepressionDate22/05/2025Study/CourseLocation
Social Games as Prevention Tools for Depression in Adolescents
About the projectIn my PhD project I study social games for the prevention of depression. In my project I take part in both the development and testing of games. I want to use video games to help youth become more emotionally resilient and to decrease the stigma that surrounds depression. I do this in close collaboration with other researchers and game designers. I am particularly interested in games that are played in a social context, because I believe that both social threat and social support are key factors in the development and maintenance of depression.
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CategoryAnxiety | DepressionDate22/05/2025Study/CourseLocation
Reducing Stress Through Virtual Social Support
About the projectPeople with large social networks on average live longer, happier, less stressed lives. We can potentially leverage video games and virtual spaces to increase the experience of social support and impact daily stress and anxiety. Therefore, this project aims to show that virtual social support can lower stress, and potentially impact stress coping behaviours.
Events View all events
My publications
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Mechanisms of Change in a Go/No-Go Training Game for Young Adult Smokers
Scholten, H., Luijten, M., Poppelaars, A., Johnson-Glenberg, M. C., & Granic, I. (2021). Health Psychology, 40(12), 998-1008. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001068
Author: Hanneke Scholten
Upload date: 07-01-2021
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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Effectiveness of a Peer-Based Social Mobile Game Intervention to Reduce Smoking in Youth
Scholten, H., Luijten, M., & Granic, I. (2019). Development and Psychopathology, 31, 1923-1943. doi: 10.1017/S0954579419001378
Author: Hanneke Scholten
Upload date: 06-17-2020
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Behavioral Trainings and Manipulations to Reduce Delay Discounting: A Systematic Review.
Scholten, H., Scheres, A., De Water, E., Graf, U., Granic, I., & Luijten, M. (2019). Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 26, 1803-1849. doi: 10.3758/s13423-019-01629-2
Author: Hanneke Scholten
Upload date: 07-03-2019
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Do Smokers Devaluate Smoking Cues after Go/NoGo Training?
Scholten, H., Granic, I., Chen, Z., Veling, H., & Luijten, M. (2019). Psychology & Health, 34(5), 609-625. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2018.1554184
Author: Hanneke Scholten
Upload date: 01-29-2019
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Preparing The Heart for Duty: Virtual Reality Biofeedback in an Arousing Action Game Improves in-action Voluntary Heart Rate Variability Control in Experienced Police [Doctoral Dissertation]
A. Michela (2024). Preparing The Heart for Duty: Virtual Reality Biofeedback in an Arousing Action Game Improves in-action Voluntary Heart Rate Variability Control in Experienced Police. Doctoral Thesis. Radboud University.
Author: Abele Michela
Upload date: 06-13-2024
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Deep-Breathing Biofeedback Trainability in a Virtual-Reality Action Game: A Single-Case Design Study With Police Trainers
Michela, A., van Peer, J. M., Brammer, J. C., Nies, A., van Rooij, M. M. J. W., Oostenveld, R., Dorrestijn, W., Smit, A. S., Roelofs, K., Klumpers, F., & Granic, I. (2022). Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 29. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.806163
Author: Abele Michela
Upload date: 02-10-2022
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The Benefits of Playing Video Games
Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). American Psychologist, 69, 66-78.
Author: Isabela Granic
Upload date: 01-17-2014
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Breathing Biofeedback for Police Officers in a Stressful Virtual Environment: Challenges and Opportunities
Brammer, J. C., van Peer, J. M., Michela, A., van Rooij, M. M. J. W., Oostenveld, R., Klumpers, F., Dorrestijn, W., Granic, I., & Roelofs, K. (2021). Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 586553. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.586553
Author: Jan Brammer
Upload date: 03-12-2021
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Reducing the Noise of Reality
Michela, A., van Rooij, M. M. J. W., Klumpers, F., van Peer, J. M. J. M., Roelofs, K., & Granic, I. (2019). Psychological Inquiry, 30(4), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2019.1693872
Author: Abele Michela
Upload date: 01-04-2020
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Developing and testing social video games for adolescent depression [Doctoral Dissertation]
A. Tuijnman (2023). Developing and testing social video games for adolescent depression. Doctoral Thesis. Radboud University.
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 11-28-2023
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A game-based school program for mental health literacy and stigma on depression (Moving Stories): Cluster randomized controlled trial
Tuijnman, A., Kleinjan, M., Olthof, M., Hoogendoorn, E., Granic, I., & Engels, R. C. (2022). A Game-Based School Program for Mental Health Literacy and Stigma on Depression (Moving Stories): Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health, 9(8), e26615. https://doi.org/10.2196/26615
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 08-17-2022
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A game-based assessment of the effects of rejection on young adults.
Tuijnman, A., Kleinjan, M., Chen, S., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2021). A game-based assessment of the effects of rejection on young adults. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CHI PLAY), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1145/3474681
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 10-06-2021
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A Game-Based School Program for Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Regarding Depression (Moving Stories): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Tuijnman, A., Kleinjan, M., Hoogendoorn, E., Granic, I. & Engels, R.C. (2019). JMIR Research Protocols, 8(3):e11255, doi: 10.2196/11255
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 03-14-2019
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Developing and Testing ScrollQuest: A Video Game Targeting Rejection Sensitivity in Adolescents
Tuijnman, A., Granic, I., Whitkin, J., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2017). In CHI PLAY'17 Extended Abstracts: Extended Abstracts Publication of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (pp. 213-221). New York, NY: ACM.
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 10-15-2017
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Current Opportunities in Research and Development of Games for Mental Health
Tuijnman, A. & Weerdmeester, J. (2017). CHI PLAY, October 15 - 18, 2017, Amsterdam.
Author: Anouk Tuijnman
Upload date: 10-15-2017
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The Sims: A Social Improvement Mechanism for Adolescents
Lobel, A., Engels, R., Tuijnman, A., de Valk, T., & Granic, I. (2013, April). Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Author: Adam Lobel
Upload date: 04-15-2013
Worked together with
Professor and Chair of the Developmental Psychopathology department in the Behavioural Science Institute; writer; voracious podcast consumer; mother of two upstanding little gamers
Professor at McMaster's University & Co-founder of PlayNice Interactive
Researcher, interdisciplinary work and collaboration, wants to understand the how's and why's, loves her high heels and coffee in the morning, walks and talks too fast.
Assistant Professor at Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital
Game developer, VR-guru, mocap artist, animator, video editor, and all-round problem solver. Avid gamer, movie lover and knowledge sponge.
Multimedia Designer at Radboud University
Behavioural scientist, lecturer, consultant, gamer, dungeon master, language enthusiast, and lover of all things geeky.
Freelance Consultant
I work with clients to design ecosystems, adapt bleeding edge research and develop end-to-end strategies that help improve the lives of their patients, practitioners and users.
CEO and Co-founder of PlayNice Interactive
I am a passionate researcher interested in improving the well-being of young people with the use of innovative interventions.
PhD-Candidate at Radboud University
Associate Professor within the Developmental Psychopathology group, currently interested in belongingness needs, emotional processes, and internalizing problems in adolescents.
Behavioural Science Institute - Radboud University
Assistant prof. and data geek at the GEMH lab, dynamical modelling, personalisation, wants to put the I back into AI, news junkie, cat lover.
Assistant Professor
Maartje Luijten
Associate ProfessorI both perform research and teach in the area of developmental psychopathology. My main expertise involves neurocognitive aspects of substance use.
Behavioural Science Institute - Radboud University
Wil Cunningham
William Cunningham is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto and holds a cross appointment in the Marketing Area at the Rotman School. Research and Teaching interests in: Affective Science, Social Cognition, Neuroscience, Attitude and Evaluation
Associate Professor, University of Toronto