Gamers have devoted countless years of collective brainpower to rescuing princesses or protecting the planet against alien invasions. This week researchers at the University of Washington will try to harness those finely honed skills to make medical discoveries, perhaps even finding a cure for HIV.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may gain better control over their breathing and breathe more efficiently by using their breath to play a computer game, according to new research.

The Nintendo GameCube console is coming back on Japanese shelves. Fans can buy it already in the latter half of April.

Sony Studio Liverpool is reported to resume its work at LittleBigPlanet, announcing the termination of development for the PSP by September 2007.

People who are addicted to playing computer games show some of the same personality traits as people with Aspergers syndrome.

In the ever more complex world of computer games, developers are constantly looking for new ways to make the playing experience more life-like. One problem that had remained unsolved was how to quickly simulate the gradation of shadows caused by indirect light bouncing off objects – until a recent breakthrough by researchers at UCL Computer Science.

Guild Wars has managed to top five million total units sold in North America, Europe, and Asia.

The Swedish computer and video game industry brought in more than 100 million dollars last year.

New generation active computer games stimulate greater energy expenditure than sedentary games, but are no substitute for playing real sports, according to a study in this week’s Christmas issue of the BMJ.

The computer program Captain’s Log ­– originally used with individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, brain injuries or learning disabilities – is being adapted to rehabilitate Ugandan children who are survivors of cerebral malaria.

Get ready to reach for new heights in the unique platformer Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber, now available on Nintendo DS. Using the same gameplay style made popular in DK: King of Swing for Game Boy Advance, Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber delivers an adventure that’s easy to control, but challenging to swing through.

Despite having the red ring of death syndrome Halo 3 sales may save Microsoft Xbox 360 games.