Walk into any video game arcade these days, and you'll see the same types of games you've seen for the last 15 years: You've got the usual shoot-em-ups, a few sports titles, racing games, fighting games starring scantily-clad Asian ladies with Britney Spears physiques, and the permanent fixture of the pinball machines.

These games have been around ever since I can remember. With a few exceptions, the themes, plots and goals of arcade games haven't changed much. The changes have been more in the look and feel: The graphics and effects are amazing (just ask someone playing Tekken 5 to compare that game with 1992's Street Fighter), but apart from looks and sound there's been little innovation. With computers maturing so much in the last 10 years, the gee-whiz value has (sadly, in my opinion) been the aspect with the most improvements.

Lately, though, there's been a change. Walk into an arcade today, and you might be lucky enough to play a new type of game that's innovative, fun to play, fun to watch, and good exercise.

I tend to talk too much, so let me repeat that last part for those who have glazed over: These VIDEO GAMES are GOOD EXERCISE.

One example of an exercise focused game is "MoCap Boxing". Stand it front of the game, and it will monitor your body movements and allow you to interact with things on screen. You wear weighted gloves and box against computer opponents: When you crouch and weave and punch, the onscreen opponent reacts to your movements.

Other games of this type are the real winners: I'm talking about "Dance Dance Revolution" and its cousins. These are games that innovate on existing technology to give you a workout of which Jane Fonda would be proud. The work is all lower body, as you do some fancy footwork, dancing and jumping to step on foot panels. The game tells you what panels to step on while blasting music and cool graphics. The difference between these games and Ms. Fonda, though, is that you actually look pretty cool doing the workout.

Some versions of these games are even available for home users. If you have a Playstation, Playstation 2, or Xbox, you're in luck. See http://www.getupmove.com for details. If you have a PC, check out the excellent and free Stepmania software.

The trend towards physically interactive games is hopefully one that will last. It brings life into the arcades through exercise and a new way of looking at technology and entertainment. And the most important bit: It's a lot of fun. Now excuse me while I make a fool of myself in a public arcade with my embarrassingly bad rhythm and footwork.