Now then, do your favorite games educate? Would you encourage your kids to play the same games? Would it help them in their academic studies?

Sure, Farmville sent money to Haiti, after the recent disaster, and the contributions made by their online gaming community were significant, but that event has passed, for Farmville. How about a game that keeps on giving, and you won't have to pay one red cent?

Point your browser to www.freerice.com, and start giving, for free. Free Rice is a web-based quiz program, offering drills on a variety of topics. The brainchild of a programmer seeking better study habits for his own children, once he saw the finished product's popularity among co-workers and classmates alike, he donated all rights to his work to the World Food Programme.

The premise is simple - every question answered correctly is met by a sponsor's pledge, gifting ten grains of rice to the World Food Programme, for distribution to the needy. Sponsor ads are inobtrusive, appearing as a banner below and to one side of your quiz window. To the right of your quiz window, where one multiple choice question is displayed, you'll have a graphic display of rice grains slowly filling a bowl, as your score rises.

The beauty of this game is really it's interactive nature - Facebook connect and Twitter support allow you to engage and challenge your friends. You can even form teams, and rely on your Facebook Wall to keep your competitive philanthropy on display. Keep it humble and anonymous, if you prefer - this is one game I'll share, even if my scores stay secret.

A more subtle benefit, for older children, are the blog posts from the game designers and the World Food Programme itself. Learn about the progress Free Rice has made for the WFP, and learn about the World Food Programme's daily work and other projects.

This is the only casual game I've ever played that I would not call a time-waster - the educational benefits and focus on countries outside our own are truly significant. Mobile versions for the iPhone/iPod/Android communities are on their way as well, watch for them.

Now then, how many grains in a sack of rice? That's the one question I haven't seen yet.