Could Casual Gaming Aid Dieters?

DUBLIN - Don’t Snack - Distract!

A PopCap.co.uk pilot study that set out to assess if casual
gaming could aid weight loss has revealed that casual gaming could be an
effective tool in the fight against obesity by helping dieters control their
cravings.

The trial, conducted in January 2009, was hampered by some
participants not finishing the trial but for those who did complete the
trial, playing PopCap’s Bejeweled Twist to distract from snack attacks had
100% success in beating cravings and lifting mood. PopCap.co.uk is so
encouraged by the initial findings that the company has committed to
conducting further research into the positive health benefits of casual
gaming later in the year.

Leading UK dietician, Nigel Denby, who conducted the research,
commented: “While trial results were scientifically inconclusive due to a low
number of participants completing the month-long programme, there were some
interesting findings. For those who finished the trial, we saw that on all
occasions Bejeweled Twist was used, it prevented eating due to a craving,
with participants reporting forgetting about their cravings whilst playing
the game.”

“In addition to forgetting about cravings, these respondents
also reported that their mood improved or changed following gameplay. Mood is
a major cravings trigger for many dieters, with stress at work, anger, or
sadness commonly reported as flashpoints. Distraction is a well established
method to help people overcome stress related food cravings.”

Trial participant, Debbie Hodgson (39), London, who had never
played computer games before participating in the trial, said: “My cravings
have noticeably reduced since I started this trial and I lost 7 lbs over 4
weeks.”

PopCap.co.uk spokesperson Cathy Orr added: “We have so many
customers with full case studies who tell us that they use our games as part
of their weight management so I had pretty high hopes for a scientific
result. That said, there are some interesting learnings - for instance that
they found casual gaming more compelling a distraction than watching TV! I
suppose that’s because it’s natural to sit in front of the TV with snacks,
but try topping your highest Bejeweled Twist score while fumbling with a bag
of crisps!

Results In Brief

- The average craving-related snacking equated to 249 calories
a day. It may not sound like a lot but that’s 1743 calories a week - or
in dieting terms, 4 spin classes!

- Consuming an additional 249 calories a day (in addition to
the recommended 2000 calories a day for a woman) equates to 30 lbs of
weight gain over a year

- Reaching for the keyboard instead of the corkscrew could help
beat the ‘crave and cave’ cycle - just one glass of red wine and 4
squares of dark chocolate could mean an extra 250 calories a day

- Dietician, Nigel Denby, said: If a daily 200 Kcal reduction
in total calorie intake as a result of reduced craving related eating
could be maintained over a period of time, this could contribute to
weight loss and weight management.

- Those that completed the trial would recommend casual gaming
to other dieters as a weight management technique - and reported it more
compelling than watching tv

- Casual gaming as a distraction technique is most likely to
work for you if you already play computer games during the course of your
everyday life - be that Wii-ing with the kids, or playing Solitaire on
the PC. So get playing!

- Stress was noted as the most common cause of craving related
eating. Given the current climate, modern lives are becoming increasingly
stressful, therefore we could expect to see calorie intake increasing as a
result of stress related cravings in the future

- The distraction technique might even work for other types of
behaviour - one participant reported it helped curb her smoking habit as she
needed her hands for the engaging gameplay

Grace Fellows (59), Clitheroe, played computer games 2-3 times
a month prior to the trial: “It wouldn’t have occurred to me to use a casual
game to fight cravings. It’s a great idea and really easy to do. I am trying
to lose weight before m y 60th birthday and have lost over a stone since the
trial started.”

Susan Conway (55), London, had never played computer games
before participating in the trial: “When I started the trial I didn’t think I
would stick with it but playing the game was really good and helped with my
cravings.”

Notes to Editors:

- Research was conducted by dietician Nigel Denby
www.peoplematter.tv/NigelDenby.htm

- 10 out of 30 participants completed the trial

- This study was prompted by work already undertaken in the U.S. by
East Carolina University research published in May 2008 which showed
casual videogames relieved stress - one of the biggest triggers of
cravings [see the following for more information
www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/releases/2008/4/ecupopcapstudy04282008.cfm ]

About PopCap

PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform
provider of “casual games” - fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games
that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington,
PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 200 people in
Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin and Shanghai. Its
games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide,
and its flagship title, Bejeweled(R), has sold more than 25 million units
across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap’s
games are played on the Web, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell
phones, smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod and more), popular game consoles
(such as Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS), and in-flight entertainment systems.
PopCap is the only casual games developer with leading market share across
all major sales channels, including Web portals, retail stores, mobile
operators and developers, and game device manufacturers.

The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are listed at
www.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or its
licensors and may be registered in some countries. Other company and product
names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used
for the benefit of those owners.

For more information about the trial, Bejeweled Twist, or to
speak to Nigel Denby or the case studies please contact:

Cathy Orr/Nora Herron
corr@popcap.com / nherron@popcap.com
+353-1-646-8107 / 8164

Source: PopCap Games International

For more information about the trial, Bejeweled Twist, or to
speak to Nigel Denby or the case studies please contact: Cathy Orr/Nora Herron, corr at popcap.com / nherron at popcap.com, +353-1-646-8107 / 8164