Brain Age And Other "Brain Food" Games Set To Revolutionize Gaming |
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Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes A Day doesn't really sound like the kind of fun you'd want to have on your DS, but it would seem that Nintendo has taken the risk with this game, with the intent of revolutionizing the gaming industry by placing brain exercises side by side with entertainment.Released earlier this year, Brain Age was the first of a planned series of brain games from Nintendo. In it are several timed activities such as word and number puzzles, connect-the-dots exercises and other challenges. At the end of the game, the "brain age" is tracked on a graph to show progress over the weeks and months that the brain-exercise regimen is completed. The goal, ultimately, is for the brain age to be at least equal to or below the player's actual age.
This game was developed not only for entertainment, but more importantly, to tap into a growing body of medical research suggesting that brain teasers and problem-solving games can improve memory and brain function in older people, even those with dementia. Concurrently, researchers are now trying to quantify the effects of gaming in relation to aging. Some groups such as the Alzheimer's Association even recommend puzzles for therapy, all under the theory that these may improve memory, attention and problem-solving while warding off mental decline, thereby reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The popular number game Sudoku by Ubisoft and Perplex City also cater to such interests, along with other games such as MSN Games' Hexic, Bejeweled, Mozaki Blocks, Bespelled and Scrabble Blast! These "brain food" games are claimed to aid brain function as well as aid in combating memory loss.
John Davidson, editorial director for Ziff Davis' video game magazines, including Electronic Gaming Monthly, has this to say about the emerging puzzle games: "(Nintendo's) Brain Age, I'm sure, will be a huge phenomenon. The challenge is getting people to try it, because once they do, they'll be hooked. ... It taps in nicely to the emerging puzzle-culture thing that's gaining some momentum."
At the rate things are going for these brain-exercise games, the time will soon come when our grandparents will want to have their own Nintendo DS. Now, THAT I have to see!
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