Atari gets academic

Atari has launched a new project based around hit PC title Neverwinter Nights that's designed to help students improve their learning skills.

Students at West Nottinghamshire College get to play a NWN scenario where they "interact in a fantasy setting involving team working and problem solving situations." The scenario is designed to help reinforce learning in a fun environment.

Since the project began pass rates have increased by 10 per cent to 100 per cent, and it's received an award from the Association of Colleges. Now plans are afoot to take the Neverwinter Nights educational project to schools up and down the country.

So could playing games be the future of education? Those of us who spent most of our time at University playing Tomb Raider instead of reading Beowulf would certainly agree - just look where we are now.

Neverwinter Nights has already proved to be a huge hit with students and non-students alike, with more than two million copies sold worldwide. The sequel, Neverwinter Nights 2, is due out next year.