The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Stress-busting videogame controlled by thoughts

Keep your brain on the ball

Now that Euro 2008 is over, footie fans can keep their minds active until next season with a stress-busting football videogame controlled only by brainwaves. Well, wealthy ones, at least...

Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com

Mindball players won’t get paid £100,000 per week, but distributor Vivifeye claims the game will teach players ways to better manage their stress levels. That’s because the game, which controls a ball’s movement with brainwaves, is tuned into alpha and theta waves, commonly associated with alert concentration and low anxiety.

Opponents sit at either end of a specially designed table with a thin ‘pitch’ down the middle, along which rolls a small white ball. Each gamer also wears a brainwave monitoring headband.

Instead of urging gamers to think only about pushing the ball forwards into the rival’s goal though, Mindball’s ball will only move forward when the player is relaxed enough.

Both players control the same ball, so to regain the upper-hand the rival gamer has to discover how to become more relaxed.

Unfortunately, a punch-bag might be a more cost-effective option because Mindball will set you back at least £3500 (€4400/7000).

More from The Register

Android is a mess and needs sprucing up, admits chief
Can Google really fix it? It isn't in control any more
New Lumia 925: This, loyalists, is the BIG ONE you've waited for
Nokia veep drills high-end master plan for El Reg
Android device? Ooohhhh, you mean a Samsung phone
Koreans nabbed nearly all the Q1 profits – more even than Google
Review: HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook
All roads lead to Chrome?
Borked your iDevice? Pay EVEN MORE to have it fixed by Applecare
Or scream at their hapless techies on their forums
Euro PC shipments plummet into bottomless pit of DOOOOM
11th quarter of decline, 20pc drop on last year - Gartner
Report: AT&T dropping Facebook phone after dismal sales
Turns out folks won't buy that for a dollar