On July 7, 2026, researchers presented a novel video game inspired by cheetah chases at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence, Italy. This game, titled Run FoVE Your Life, utilizes real movement data from predator-prey encounters to create realistic simulations that enhance our understanding of movement decision-making and fatigue during life-or-death scenarios.
Combining Human and Animal Movement Data
Movement data from wild predator-prey encounters, along with controlled human chase-tag games, have been synthesized to provide realistic simulations of high-intensity movement dynamics. According to Dr. Baptiste Morel, the project lead, the goal was to apply sports science methods to better understand animal movement capabilities and their implications for survival.
Dr. Morel, an associate professor at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, emphasized the challenge of obtaining high-quality movement data in the wild. “High-quality movement data from wild predator-prey chases is limited and practically impossible to produce in controlled conditions,” he stated.
Understanding Fatigue in Predator-Prey Dynamics
The study investigated how fatigue impacts both predators and prey during chases. Fatigue is defined as the reduction of muscle and movement capacity when operating above a critical threshold. The team utilized two methods to measure fatigue: performing sprints before and after the chase and analyzing blood samples for lactic acid levels.
