Games involve using the controller like a magic wand, to swing a sword or a racquet, or (inevitably) shoot a gun, but at least players are on their feet and, hopefully, in the living room interacting with the rest of the human race, and getting some exercise too.

When you've tired yourself out, there's also a geeky book that might be worth a look: Think Like A Rocket Scientist. Most intriguing, we thought. New Scientist reports that it offers mental tricks of the trade.

But be warned, even eggheads make mistakes ' as in the Mars Climate Orbiter which crashed because no one bothered to check who was working in imperial units and who was doing metric calculations. A case of boffin absent-mindedness no doubt.

Racy navel-gazing

How old is too old? Borland Inc. New Zealand country manager Chris Gray may have an answer. At the Trentham races recently, while enjoying corporate hospitality, he got roped into a hen party in the same area. The bride-to-be was given a number of tasks, including finding an elderly gentleman and kissing him on the lips. Guess who got chosen?