For years, we have been being excited and amused by playing games (the term 'games' refers to game software that runs under any console boxes and computers). Indeed, we are always passionate and addicted even for the most modest games. There are many types of games available from simply aging 2-D graphic games such as DIGGER to sophisticated and advanced flight-simulator games. However, I am not so keen on playing games but I still remember the day I hooked and stuck staring the screen just playing minesweeper all day long.
In the beginning, games played by maniacs and hobbyist prefer games rather their opposite sex :-). Later on, several local and international organizations have managed many tournaments competing great amount of prices. Winners also get acknowledgement and prestige. FYI, this dude has made over $100K in a year from gaming. Now there are professional gamers who earn salary by playing games in the office hours. Games companies pay them to criticize and analyze many weak points that exist on the games which are about to launch in the market.
Again, games industries have moved toward its pace to have wider audiences. It started when military simulation software that ran under heavy workstation computer ported to personal computer. People could learn from how to ride certain vehicles. The SIMS era was also breeding. People can seriously learn how to manage city, transportation, amusing parks, roller coaster, and many more. The industry realizes that it could be handled more sophisticated.
Instead of having popular games title such as Doom, Quake, War Craft, The Sims, and many more. I was not surprised when I found this site. They focus on uses for games in exploring management and leadership challenges facing the public sector. Recently, they started a project called Games for health consisting of many professionals to develop. It demonstrates how game technology is advancing into professional fields particularly in medical fields. Somehow, in my humble opinion, some of their titles are bizarre and scary enough. Here are some of the titles, which I think not proper for gamers: Life & Death I, Life & Death II, and Epidemic.
To my conclusion, I think those serious games are different kind of methods to enhance teaching and learning. The games themselves won't heal the players when they get ill.
Hmm, will the games really make people healthy?