If you are a parent worried that your son or daughter is spending too much time sitting in front of their games console, you can inject a little exercise into their life by giving them a rhythm action game.
This kind of game first appeared in 1997, when Sony released PaRappa the Rapper. The idea was that the player copied on-screen images by pushing buttons in time to the music.
From those beginnings, Konami's Dancing Stage games were born. Simple button-pushing was transformed into players moving their feet on sensor-filled dance mats to try to mimic scrolling arrows in the game.
Arcade and home versions of games such as these have seen them become a trend. Now Sony has announced its new EyeToy: Groove, a new rhythm action game for the recently-released EyeToy camera.
Eyetoy: Play, with its ability to get the player heavily involved in the game, has proven to be one of the great gaming successes of the year, despite being regarded by many as something of a gimmick.
The series of mini-games that comes with the camera allows players to try their hand at washing windows, sweeping away bad guys away with a flick of the wrist, and creating the kind of weird effects normally only seen in the opening credits of a James Bond movie.
With Groove, gamers can dance to familiar tunes from the likes of Madonna and the Cheeky Girls. Those feeling especially energetic can challenge their friends to a dance-off via the challenge mode.
Like many rhythm action games, it will also contain a calorie counter, meaning that people will be able to swap an aerobics session for an hour in front of their PlayStation2 instead. Who said that gaming wasn't good for you?
Eyetoy has been at the top of the gaming charts for a number of weeks, clocking up a few awards along the way.
Its appeal as a pseudo-games platform that everyone can enjoy is obvious, and undoubtedly the reason why it picked up the Best in Show award at Edinburgh's recent Go Play Games exhibition.
The EyeToy will be running as part of the PlayStation Experience at the European Computer Trade Show in London (www.ects.com) next week.
Anyone unable to tear themselves away from this year's Pop Idol competition to experience ECTS could always stay in and wait for Codemaster's official Pop Idol rhythm action game, out in October.
Here, players get to strut their stuff in the dance mat mode, control the vocal talents of your on-screen character with well-timed button presses, and face down the ultimate Pop Idol baddie, Simon Cowell.
Don't live the dream, play it!
Official UK Leisure Software Charts (c) ELSPA, compiled by Chart-Track
1) Eyetoy: Play (PS2) Sony - £39.99
2) Pokemon Ruby (GBA) Nintendo - £29.99
3) Pokemon Sapphire (GBA) Nintendo - £29.99
4) Tomb Raider: the Angel of Darkness (PS2, PC) Eidos Interactive - £34.99
5) Norton Antivirus 2003 (PC) Symantec - £34.99
6) Norton internet Security 2003 (PC) Symantec - £47.99
7) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PC, PS2) Take 2 - £29.99
8) The Sims (PC, PS2, Xbox, GM) Electronic Arts - £32.99
9) Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets (GBA, PS2, PL, PC) - £17.99
10) Aliens Vs. Predator: Extinction (PS2, Xbox) Electronic Arts- £39.99
