An award-winning psychiatrist, Dr. Ballon brings over two decades of experience in providing innovative experiential education in the public, private and academic realms.  Dr. Ballon works with industries involved in technology and games, to better understand their impact on people’s lives. He has created games dealing with mental health issues that have garnered awards from the Games Manufacturers Association and other international literary and academic associations (Chaosium, Wizards of the Coast etc.) Collaborating with professional illusionists around the world, Dr. Ballon is an illusionist whose performances educate the public about mental health issues (including giving performances at the Stratford Festival and Canada Stage).  He has written books for children, parents, and the general public dealing with mental health and addiction issues.   In the role of Media Consultant, he has helped create accurate portrayals of psychiatric elements (including television (e.g. Degrassi), films (e.g. Assault on Precinct 13), plays, fiction books etc.). 

Explanation: Some of the above came about due to Bruce buying a TSR boxed set of Dungeon and Dragons in the late 1970s.  During he DMing   a run of the Village of Hommlet, a player’s character was absorbed by a falling green slime… that player had nightmares for  weeks after.  The concept of immersive experiences and the power of simulation was realized by Bruce at that time!  That, and a steady diet of reading Philip K. Dick, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury mixed with TV shows like  Twilight Zone  and The Night Stalker, formed his path: the exploration of reality and illusion as his life’s pursuit.  He, of course, gravitated to Chaosium’s CALL OF CTHULHU when it launched, and over the years, eventually helped with the SANity rules, as well as contribute other materials such as UNSEEN MASTERS (which won not only an Origins Award at GAMA but was the first game supplement  to be awarded a Psychiatry Award as well as be nominated for a Bram Stoker Award).  Bruce has blended all his pursuits to help synergize his offerings.  This led also to working with illusionists and mentalists across the globe, as well as creating various theatrical devices and effects for magic performances. He has now moved into board game creation,  appreciating the amazing quality and scope that such a medium can provide:  he has  been a regular supporter of crowdfunded launched games that have demonstrated amazing innovation and imagination.

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