If your house is spotlessly tidy then ignore this post.

Aaaah. So I take it your house isn't spotlessly tidy?

If you're sharing a student house, if you have children who have never put their own clothes in the washing machine or if your husband/wife (let's be honest here-it's probably husband!) is under the impression that the tidy-up ninjas visit every day, then I may be able to help.

Our house has never been tidy and never will be, but it's closer than usual and the reason is an online game called Chore Wars.

Before I go any further you may be wondering what this has to do with anything academic.
Well I'll tell you. There's published evidence that tidy environments can lead to greater academic output.
Or put it another way; you can concentrate more on writing assignments when you're not clearing up everyone else's mess!

Chore Wars works like this; it's in the style of online games such as World of Warcraft but rather than fighting demons and dragons you get rewarded by doing real-world jobs around the house like doing the hoovering.

We set up an account for our house 2 weeks ago and my boys who are 4 and 9 are now offering to do the washing up and cooking because they want to get stronger (in video games terminology it's known as 'levelling up') as their virtual selves in the game!

You may be thinking it sounds daft but all I can say is it's worked in our house. So if you're fed up with being the only one in your shared house who takes the rubbish out, or you're an exasperated mum or dad who should be writing essays not putting toys away, find out more and set up a free account by clicking here and give it a try.

If any of you give it a go then please let me know?