Concerned about your health? This new-fangled DS ‘game’ says it’ll help everyone walking their way to a better body from 20 February.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise; you’ve heard it a million times before. We doubt that the person who first said this lives in the UK – or they might have added ‘though not when the weather is like this’.

Anyway Nintendo is soon to release “Walk with me! Do you know your walking routine?” (catchy) for DS in February – just when the weather is picking up.

The software is designed to “help you to get in tune with your personal walking regime, compare it with friends, family or even your pet, and see how you compare to walkers across the globe.” Although we’re quite sure that we’re not being asked to discuss our health habits with the family budgie here, we get the idea.

“Walk with me...” comes boxed with two Activity Meters (pedometers) that have been designed to hide away in your bag or pocket while walking. The default setting is 3000 steps per day, which is probably what you’ll accomplish going to / fro the coffee machine each day at the office. The data collected on the Activity Meter is transferred onto the DS via infrared, where you can keep track of up to four individuals… yes including the dog. Ho, ho, ho.

Since this is billed as a game you’ll unlock scientific walking facts after completing set distances. Come one, this has got to be worth freezing your cheeks off this winter! If you just can’t help being competitive you can compare your walking feats with people from all over the world every Sunday. But not during the sermon, please.

Or, you could just go for a walk.