DS Games Make Self Improvement Fun For Adults
I'm now being offered an excuse, err... I mean valid reason to buy a portable gaming system.
As a member of the first generation to grow up with video games, I'm now being offered an excuse, err... I mean valid reason to buy a portable gaming system. It's like being told that eating candy is healthy. You get to play fun little games and put it in the same category as going to the gym, or cleaning your room. It's good for you!
Many (not all) of the first generation to grow up with video games are looking for something more than just shooting aliens. It's created a whole new Personal Improvement category of games.
Take a look at my lens on Big Brain Academy.
Origins of Nintendo DS Brain Training Games
A book titled Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain
written by Dr Ryuta Kawashima in 2003, is the main source of the popular brain training movement. It's based on a program developed by Dr. Kawashima to keep brains young.The elder members of the Nintendo board of directors wanted a game for the Nintendo DS that would appeal to their adult sensibilities. Dr. Kawashima's book was popular in Japan at the time and was suggested to be used as a model for a game that would allow players to compete against each other and compare scores.
I'm impressed that the board of directors took enough interest in their gaming systems to be the impulse that creates a new genre of game. There's a more detailed account of the origins of Brain Age in this article at Game Spot.
The first half of Dr. Kawashima's book contains simple mathematical calculations, with memory and counting tests. It's recommended to do a set of math questions every day and note the time it takes. In addition, a memory test, a counting test, and a stroop test (found at the back of the book) are recommended every five days. A set of graphs are provided at the back of the book to monitor your progress. A second book of more tests is available titled: Train Your Brain More: 60 Days to an Even Better Brain
Brain Training
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!
Amazon Price: $18.82 (as of 12/04/2009) 
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!
Amazon Price: $18.90 (as of 12/04/2009)
Big Brain Academy
For a detailed description, see my lens on Big Brain Academy
Amazon Price: $44.98 (as of 12/04/2009)
Left Brain, Right Brain
Amazon Price: $71.94 (as of 12/04/2009)
Left Brain Right Brain 2
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Cooking
Some games like Personal Trainer: Cooking however, are designed specifically to help you to cook in real life.
Personal Trainer: Cooking
It's a combination of interactive cookbook and live cooking demonstration with 245+ to recipes to choose from. Browse recipes by country, ingredients, difficulty, cooking time, cooking technique or even calorie count.
Tap a box to mark ingredients you need to buy. They will be automatically stored a shopping list to take to the store with you. While cooking, keep your DS clean using voice commands to continue to the next page, repeat a step, go back and more.
A tap of the touch screen lets you adjust the serving size automatically, and users can write and save cooking notes, just as they would in a paper recipe book. Recipes include photos of the dish as well as instructional videos on how to perform different cooking techniques, such as how to chop an onion or clean a fish.
Amazon Price: $27.60 (as of 12/04/2009)
What's Cooking? With Jamie Oliver
This is a combination approach that provides mini-games to play on the DS, and also recipes to make in real life. However, does not excel at either one.
This is a good buy if you are a Jamie Oliver fan. Otherwise buy Personal Trainer: Cooking or Cooking Mama
Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 12/04/2009)
Cooking Mama
One of the more popular cooking themed games for entertainment purposes. This game does not teach you how to cook in real life.
Amazon Price: $16.34 (as of 12/04/2009)
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends
Cooking themed game for entertainment purposes.
Amazon Price: $28.59 (as of 12/04/2009)
Imagine: Master Chef
Cooking themed game for entertainment purposes.
Amazon Price: $88.29 (as of 12/04/2009)
Fittness / Health
My Weight Loss Coach
This game creates customized coaching sessions based on skill level, and includes a pedometer. It was developed in collaboration with a fitness coach and a nutritionist.
It's is an excellent motivator. It includes simple tasks like walking 500 steps or putting the salt shaker in the cupboard. The emphasis seems to be on simple tasks that feel easy to accomplish.
Compares your calorie intake to your activity level and helps you balance them to maintain or loose weight.
Amazon Price: $15.73 (as of 12/04/2009)
My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr
Best used in conjunction with Allen Carr's book: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
It talks you through the basics of Allen Carr's program and tells you about the trap, the illusion, and how to overcome cigarette urges.
Your coach will give you personalized advice and tips based on your smoking habits and history.
15 innovative mini-games: A fun way to help you dispel the illusions about nicotine addiction.
Reward system: Using the Path to Freedom meter, track your progress as you move from dependence to freedom.
Amazon Price: $5.56 (as of 12/04/2009)
Let's Yoga
Excellent instructional game to assist you in learning and maintaining the practice of yoga.
An avatar demonstrates poses, as well as how to get in and out of them. And also has an option to rotate the avatar to see the pose in more detail.
Has routines for doing yoga while seated in a chair.
Design your own routines or ask for routines to fit a specific purpose.
Includes 80 poses.
Amazon Price: $28.48 (as of 12/04/2009)
Let's Pilates
Good help for mixing up and maintaining your Pilates fitness routine.
Amazon Price: $19.82 (as of 12/04/2009)
Quick Yoga Training
Buy "Let's Yoga" before this one.
Includes 180 poses. Hands free voice navigation.
Amazon Price: $19.73 (as of 12/04/2009)
Learn a Second Language
My Spanish Coach
Amazon Price: $29.48 (as of 12/04/2009)
My French Coach
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
My Japanese Coach
Amazon Price: $29.82 (as of 12/04/2009)
My Chinese Coach
Amazon Price: $17.97 (as of 12/04/2009)
Kanji Dictionary: Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten
Amazon Price: $118.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Build Your Vocabulary
My Word Coach
Amazon Price: $13.26 (as of 12/04/2009)
Wordmaster
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Nintendo DS Game Consoles
Nintendo DS Lite Metallic Rose
Amazon Price: $129.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt / Black
Amazon Price: $129.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Nintendo DS Lite Metallic Silver
Amazon Price: $129.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
Nintendo DSi Bundle - Metallic Blue
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2009)
Nintendo DS Lite Crimson / Black
Amazon Price: $129.99 (as of 12/04/2009)
by MagicBeanDip
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