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he USDHHS recommends that children accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day. Regular physical activity is believed to be an important component for reducing the levels of obesity. One way to increase physical activity levels that is gaining popularity is interactive video games (exergames). This is evidenced by its use in school districts throughout the US and also in middle schools throughout the state of West Virginia. Two of the more popular exergames are Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) by Konami, Inc. and EyeToy Play by Sony, Inc. DDR is a dance simulation game which requires the player to step (lower-body) on a motion sensing dance pad; whereas, EyeToy is a game that requires the use of the arms (upper-body) to play the games. At this time, there is little evidence to suggest one game is more effective than the other for accumulating MVPA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in time spent in MVPA while playing DDR and EyeToy. Design: Participants in this study were 12 children (ages 9-18) from a local YMCA that were invited to play both DDR and EyeToy while wearing a heart rate monitor. Seven of the children were girls; five were boys. Each child was permitted to play each game on different days for up to 45 minutes. Results: An analysis of gender difference of each game revealed no significant difference (p = .455); therefore, the data was collapsed. Overall, participants spent more time in MVPA while playing DDR when compared to EyeToy, 80.84% to 53.45% respectively. This difference was found to be significant (p =.039) using a Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. For this study, it appears that playing DDR was more effective than EyeToy for accumulating MVPA. It is important to note that both exergames were played at MVPA for at least half of the time (≥ 20 mins), and all participants played the entire 45 minutes except one. These findings suggest that these two exergames could be healthy alternatives to other physical activities for accumulating the recommended 60 minutes of MVPA. Read more...

This article presents the ways in which Muslims and Arabs are represented and represent themselves in video games. First, it analyses how various genres of European and American video games have constructed the Arab or Muslim Other. Within these games, it demonstrates how the diverse ethnic and religious identities of the Islamic world have been flattened out and reconstructed into a series of social typologies operating within a broader framework of terrorism and hostility. It then contrasts these broader trends in western digital representation with selected video games produced in the Arab world, whose authors have knowingly subverted and refashioned these stereotypes in two unique and quite different fashions. In conclusion, it considers the significance of western attempts to transcend simplified patterns of representation that have dominated the video game industry by offering what are known as 'serious' games. Read more...

IEEE Annals of the History of Computing will publish a special issue for July 2009 on the history of computer games.

The term “computer game” is understood in the broadest sense of including any form of digital game based on computer hardware or software, playable on a range of devices and networks from game consoles to the Internet. Essays covering this subject area from a variety of perspectives are welcome. These perspectives might include historical studies of hardware platforms, interfaces, artificial intelligence, programming, player interfaces, virtual reality, military simulation, commercial games, player-generated content, social networks, case studies of game development, or the evolution of the game industry. Perspectives on both development and use of computer games are welcome. Please keep in mind that every essay in this volume should contribute to the journal’s intention of “recording, analyzing, and debating the history of computing.”

This article describes intermediate stages in the development of TRAFFIC JAM, a computerized gaming simulation for children and adolescents. TRAFFIC JAMfocuses on the environmental and health impact of various means of transport, such as walking, biking, and going by bus or private car. It is being developed within the field of environmental psychology as a tool for promoting attitudes related to proenvironmental choice of transportation. So far, the program has been assessed in three empirical studies. In the first study, the background pictures were validated by means of semantic environmental description. Study 2 aimed to evaluate the hero figures in terms of Küller’s basic emotional process, and in Study 3, players’ emotional reactions to the first version of TRAFFIC JAMwere studied with both quantitative and qualitative methods. The important question of attitudinal change is not discussed in the article. Read more...

The purpose of this study is to present an overview of the current writings and research in the field of educational complex games and simulations and their use in the classroom. In addition, it will look at the complex gaming software currently being used and/or developed to help meet the learning needs of the digital age student. It will consider the implications of using games in the classroom and make recommendations for future research. Read more...