Playing a video game? No, it's health therapy

By John Gaudiosi

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Video games are known to improve hand-eye coordination but can they help someone quit smoking or lose weight?

Hot on the heels of Nintendo's 7974.0S smash success, "Wii Fit," game makers are introducing new titles with a healthy focus, such as French game publisher Ubisoft's "Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking" that hits on Nintendo DS in November.

Over 10 million smokers worldwide have turned to Allen Carr's Easyway books, clinics or DVD in order to stop smoking but now smokers wanting to quit can instead play 14 mini-games.

The games, designed by Ubisoft's (UBIP.PA) Quebec studio and Allen Carr's team, focus on why people smoke rather than why they shouldn't.

"Each game has been designed to be very accessible, using only the stylus on the Nintendo DS, so a non-gamer can have fun instantly," said Denis Dore, producer of the game.

"We are not talking here about a game that will allow you to gain virtual rewards, but one that can in fact help you quit smoking."

Robin Hayley, CEO of Allen Carr's Easyway International, said research has shown that people absorb information better when they are actively and enjoyably engaged in a learning process.

In addition, the game could attract younger smokers who are less inclined to visit a clinic or read books to quit the habit and being played on Nintendo DS makes the games portable.

"Some games explain and illustrate the points better than is possible in a book as, using the senses of touch and vision," said Hayley.

WALK THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Ubisoft is also putting weight loss in your palm this summer with "My Weight Loss Coach" for Nintendo DS, which just shipped.

This game comes with a pedometer that gamers can wear all day then plug into their DS to feed that data into a game.

If a player walks enough, the game will let them know when they've navigated the equivalent of the Great Wall of China.

In addition to mini-games and quizzes on fitness, the virtual weight loss coach makes suggestions like taking the stairs rather than the elevator and parking farther away from the store.

"'My Weight Loss Coach' is designed to help players develop healthy lifestyle habits like eating well and staying active," said Ubisoft spokesman Tony Key.