This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

For some educators, there is nothing wrong with fun and games. Agroup called the Education Arcade recently held a conference in LosAngeles to discuss the future of educational games. The EducationArcade brings together international game designers, publishers,teachers and policymakers. They say they want to lead change in theway the world learns through computer and video games.

The conference was part of E-three, the Electronic EntertainmentExposition. This is a yearly trade show where companies show off newgames and educational products.

The Education Arcade started at the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, near Boston. Professors worked with the Microsoftcompany to create what they called the Games-to-Teach Project. Thegroup began to explore ways to use technology in teaching andlearning. They worked with game designers to develop ideas about howmathematics and science could mix with game playing. The EducationArcade is the research part of this Games-to-Teach Project.

The group recently announced that a "Games for Learning"statement will be placed on some products. This should begin toappear in American stores in about six months. The goal is to helppeople find games that are fun but will also teach. The EducationArcade says it also wants to get businesses to produce more gamesthat teach.

The Entertainment Software Association says fifty percent of allAmericans age six and older play computer and video games. Sales ofsuch games in the United States grew eight percent last year, toseven-thousand-million dollars. The industry group says the averageage of a game player is twenty-nine years old. And it saysthirty-nine percent are women.

Experts say developing a successful computer game can takemillions of dollars and years of work. They say many companies arenot willing to invest that much money and time in educational gameswhen other kinds sell better.

Still, companies have been creating systems like hand-heldeducational devices made by LeapFrog. And new educationalrole-playing games are being developed. M.I.T. and the ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation in Virginia are developing a game called"Revolution." Players will get to experience the American Revolutiononline.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Steve Ember.