MindHabits Released for Mac

Got Game Entertainment is now shipping MindHabits for Mac, a game based on more than a decade of research and findings by Dr. Mark Baldwin of esteemed McGill University in Montreal. It presents simple but fun challenges for maintaining a more positive state of mind.

Tests run by Dr. Baldwin showed obvious positive results for the subjects, according to Got Game. Those results included reduced stress, boosted self-confidence, reduced exam anxiety, improved work performance and even a better golf game. Mr. Baldwin offers an example of how the game works on the MindHabits site. He says that, at one point in the game, the player must identify the smiling faces in a crowd of frowns, which, studies have showed, can help train one's mind to react to positive information. Using the same concept, word challenges associate certain elements with one's personal words, reinforcing positive personal associations. This,  Dr. Mark Baldwin upholds, ultimately triggers positive patterns of thought.

MindHabits features 200 levels of gameplay in four core games, daily tracking of results and measurement of progress over time, customizable male/female only options, over 1,500 face images on higher levels, different levels of gameplay difficulty, the ability to customize it according to age, neighborhood and facial characteristics and a science lab (for tutorial purposes).

Fndings behind MindHabits showed that people can actually train themselves to develop positive mental habits using specially designed games. Playing games such as MindHabits can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol by up to 17%, the developers noted, while the benefits can allegedly be gained from playing just five minutes a day.

The game was developed Dr. Mark Baldwin and his MindHabits team and is being published in North America for PC and Mac by Got Game Entertainment. MindHabits is available from retailers, as well as the Got Game Store, and other online retailers. You can also purchase the game as a download. It costs $19.99.