Has your mom or dad ever told you to stop playing videogames and go play outside instead? Well, if you're below 12 years old, then you might not hear them say that again. Instead, you might end up being subjected to a different kind of exercise.

See, there's this machine that has been developed to encourage children to work out while they are playing computer games. It's called the Step2Play step exercise machine, and it links directly to a videogame console. When the Step2Play is connected, the game's controller will only work if the child keeps up a constant pre-set rate of exercise.

Dr. Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, had this to say about the machine: "We know children are not as active as they need to be. Anything that encourages them to exercise has to be helpful. However, how sad that we have to bribe children into physical activity. It's a terrible indictment on our society."

Not everybody feels pessimistic about the machine, though. Dr. Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, supports the Step2Play machine and had this to say: "Sport doesn't appeal to everybody and we have got to think beyond the playing field. This machine is a novel way of getting children to be more active. I don't think it's a bribe, it's just an incentive."

The director of Step2Play's launcher Gymkids, Rick Dalton, adds that while he doesn't think that parents will ever be able to stop playing with their videogame consoles and go frolic under the sun, "Step2Play combines both activities and, whilst it isn't an alternative to outdoor play and exercise, it is one way of combining a previously sedentary activity with a bit of movement and exercise."

Will it work? We have no idea. The "movement and exercise" thing sounds like one of the things that the Wii is aiming for, though. Plus, we're thinking that in today's world, even kids under 12 are tech-savvy enough to find a way around the Step2Play. Still, it's for a good cause, so maybe it'll really end up helping kids. We just don't think the kids themselves would want to have a go at it, though. After all, it's kind of hard to focus on playing when you also have to keep walking on a stepping machine.