IBM introduced <A HREF="http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22549.wss">a new video game designed to help university students</A> and young professionals develop a combination of business and information technology skills. Thousands of universities around the world now have access to Innov8, IBM's new "serious game," available at no charge.

Serious games are computer and video games used as educational and training tools. Just as airline pilots initially learn using flight simulators, many corporations and universities see serious games as an effective way of teaching new skills to a generation that has been brought up in the video game era. In fact, according to The Apply Group, by 2012, between 100 and 135 of the Global Fortune 500 will have adopted gaming for learning, with the U.S., United Kingdom and Germany leading the way.