'Exergames' such as Pokemon Go, that combine augmented reality technology, geocaching and other novel techniques, have potential personal and public health benefits, researchers claim.
Tom Baranowski from Baylor College of Medicine in the US identified many lessons that can be learned from the success of the popular Pokemon Go, in which players can log hours of walking as they physically chase the virtual Pokemon creatures based on video images displayed on their smart phones.
Baranowski encouraged researchers to conduct well-designed studies to assess the health effects of active video games (AVGs).
Game developers could then use this information to create new games that would be both fun to play and promote beneficial physical activity, he said.
"Pokemon Go stimulated substantial amounts of physical activity in many likely-otherwise sedentary game players without intending to," said Baranowski.
"We might call this stealth exergame programming, and we have a lot to learn about how to achieve this," he said.
The research is published in the journal Games for Health.
Tom Baranowski from Baylor College of Medicine in the US identified many lessons that can be learned from the success of the popular Pokemon Go, in which players can log hours of walking as they physically chase the virtual Pokemon creatures based on video images displayed on their smart phones.
Baranowski encouraged researchers to conduct well-designed studies to assess the health effects of active video games (AVGs).
"Pokemon Go stimulated substantial amounts of physical activity in many likely-otherwise sedentary game players without intending to," said Baranowski.
Advertisement
The research is published in the journal Games for Health.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
New Pokemon Game Rewards Users For Sleeping, Becomes Instant Hit Pokemon Go Creator Cuts Quarter Of Workforce, Shuts Down Games And Studio Microsoft Explored Acquiring Sega, Bungie, Niantic to Strengthen Xbox Game Pass and Mobile Portfolio: Report MiG-27 Ejection, Then Gun In Mouth: Kargil War Hero Recounts Capture In Pak Captain Vikram Batra's Twin Chokes Up Looking At Peak His Brother Captured After BJP Attack Over C Channi Comment On Amritpal Singh, Congress Says... "Disgusting": White House Describes Sexist Attacks On Kamala Harris RBI Recruitment: Registration Begins For 94 Posts, Check Exam Structure United Spirits CEO Summoned By Delhi Police In Liquor Payments Case: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.