August 13, 2005

Nintendogs Good for You?

Nintendo is going out there say their new Nintendogs virtual dog simulator for the Nintendo DS is good for people.

The DS based "game" has caused a bit of a stir in Japan and is due to hit the UK on October 7th. Relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam claims that the virtual puppy can not only help develop our attention spans and motor skills, but also improves our ability to solve problems and think creatively.

Quilliam found that the game teaches us how to bond and provides us with a sense of nurture and responsibility. But it can also have emotional effects, helping to raise self-esteem and develop strategic thinking. This is supported by research to coincide with the report, which reveals that nearly half of parents believe that owning a pet can teach the owner about a variety of emotions.