Game for a Little Therapy?

“Video gaming isn’t just shoot-’em-ups. A new breed of designers aims to ease phobias, boost concentration, maybe even fight cancer. Picture this: You must climb a mountain to reach a temple. But to get there, you will need to make an ally of a magic tree, which inhales, holds the breath for five seconds, and slowly exhales. If you can ape that pattern for a full two minutes, the tree will build you a set of stairs to the sky. A mental image to be conjured during an esoteric yoga exercise? Not at all. It’s part of a computer game called The Journey to Wild Divine. Combining elements of Buddhism, Christianity, and Kabbalah, the game comes with sensor rings that slip over three fingers to monitor the heart rate and epidermal skin response. The object is to teach players to reenergize or calm themselves — goals you don’t find in typical video and computer games, many of which are better known for depicting violence rather than relieving stress.”