Vector Entertainment today announced an association with the National Childhood Obesity Foundation (N.C.O.F.) to encourage children to make wise choices by playing and eating smartly. The company's casual multiplayer online game and community, Vector City Racers, is targeted to kids ages 6-12, a critical time in the development of nutritional values for that age group. The partnership includes N.C.O.F. providing content to Vector City Racers for contests and prizes and Vector Entertainment donating 25 cents to N.C.O.F. for every monthly membership to the Vector City Racers community.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past three decades the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years.

"As parents, we understand the importance of teaching children about limitations – on the playground, with their food choices, and when it comes to screen time," said Nique Fajors, Executive Vice President of Vector Entertainment. "We are providing an interactive environment that is easy to get into and play, where kids can be creative and race against other kids in a safe environment. By incorporating lessons about healthy living, nutrition and making smart choices into our community, we are providing an incredible value to everyone that visits our site. N.C.O.F. reminds us that kids learn by example – and as parents we have a responsibility to give our children the opportunity to make healthy food and lifestyle choices."

N.C.O.F. is developing an educational program called T.H.I.N.K. – Teaching Health In Nutrition & Kinesiology – that teaches parents, educators and children to eat smart, play smart, and to understand there are consequences to making poor decisions with regard to food consumption and play tactics. As part of the program, N.C.O.F. introduces the Eat Smart, Play Smart health philosophy that will be incorporated into each age grouping segment of the curriculum, from pre-school on up to sixth grade.

"The basis of our T.H.I.N.K. curriculum is about making wise choices; and the N.C.O.F. supports companies that offer informative and educational gameplay to children and parents," said Roland Regan, President and CEO of N.C.O.F.

"Obesity has gained a pervasive foothold in our society today, and one way to combat obesity is for parents to better manage the messages their kids are receiving – and that includes which games they play. There are many wonderful games that contribute to the holistic development of the child and Vector City Racers is one of those games. The N.C.O.F. is proud to be associated with them."

Vector City Racers is an integrated game experience that combines the depth of a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) and the competition of circuit track racing in a casual environment where all roads lead to fun. Vector City Racers' environment is comprised of shapes and structures that are constructed in real-time 3D as the players explore and interact through the game's cities. Developed by MCS Games, Vector City Racers is currently in closed beta.