New Genre of Video Games For Mental Health

This is a very good idea and a move in the right direction in video game development on a platform that will support it.

This one goes hand in hand with that brain age software they released on the ds a few months back. I never tried it but I heard it was very helpful in improving memory.

Who thinks up this cynical ploys on human frailties?

There's been documentaries and complaints of 'educational toys' on the market these days.

You have a problem about low self-esteem or IQ, go out and meet people, friends, not hole yourself in a corner twiddling on another piece of tat with a 0.7 cent gaudy label saying it's 'educational'.

These things are marketed to people looking for crutches and parents tripped out on guilt that they haven't spent enough time interacting with their kids. Talk to them, take them to meet friend's children, go out to the park with them - no mobile phones.

Give someone hyperstimuli for extended periods and you're gonna turn into a zombie when that stimuli is taken away (back to reality).

shut that computer off, go out with a mate and get drunk - it's healthier than World of Warcraft, and more fun than Sudoku.

I had the feeling that this was leaning more towards children then anything, because its easier to to shape a child's self esteem, then an adults self esteem, and i highly doubt we should be encouraging 10-15 years to go out and "drink" with their buddies. Personally, i think that if we can't stop this epidemic of children playing video games, might as well throw in something thats actually beneficial to the children. Don't get me wrong, the parent's responsible for their children and playing video games, but lets be realistic, its nice to think of youngsters these days actually going outside in a crime-free area and playing freely in the fields.

Is the source for this story really acceptable? It looks more like a store than a news site.

@StarShadow

It looks like a store to me too, but the guys publish nice news regularly. I personaly like it: it's rather new, i figure; but the guys are doing a good job in maintainig it. <a href="http://today.reuters.com/ another source</a> I've just found.

my previous comment's been ruined... wouldn't think that tags are not accepted...

You been watching Fight club recently? "Self improvement is masterbation; now self destruction..."

I also think that anytime anyone makes a comment like that they are only fessing up to their own insecurities past or present.

I still think its good on the hole. Most teens can't do simple math. If you don't believe me go into a McDonalds and hand them a five for your double cheeseburger and then after they entered the amount tell them you have the extra 16 cents. Be amazed...

not everyone has a mate to go out with thats why computers are so popular

No, not everyone has a mate because computers are so popular.

It's been suggested that I encouraged underage drinking. Actually, you'd be surprised what your teens are up to already.

I was however aware that these 'educational' games could have been bought for children as well as adults. So I didn't expect to have to spell it out;
* more friends for kids
* more alcohol and friends for adults.
I've seen parents buy children all manner of toys from etch-a-sketch to spirographs. Next time I visit them, they're back to playing Gauntlet on their PS2.

Four hours a day on WorldOfWarcraft is not going to help their maths beyond damage statistics and kill ratios. That's hardly an equitable rate of return for the amount of time that's spent on games.

Personally, I've found computers far too time consuming. I've never owned a games console but after a session on one of my mates Xbox, I feel like a zombie and wish I went to the bar instead. I have asked my friends and many of them say that their girlfriends either complain about it or are keen gamers themselves.

But I guess my distrust of educational games was stems from reports I heard a decade ago about food companies and toy companies attempting to introduce it to kids by going to their schools and doing show-tell and seminars in class rooms. Infomertials if you will.

I wouldn't trust BigCorp on this subject.
Don't even get me started on "Sunny Delight".

Since I was born without the gene for self-esteem , this whole issue isn't that important to me. But the concept here is interesting : you press the X-button and no one dies : and you feel good about not killing them.

If I were out selling that concept I think I'd pack a lunch.