London, Apr.28 : The University of Portsmouth in Britain is in the process of developing a computer game to help overseas students deal with culture shock on the university campus, such as seeing a couple kiss in public, or people drinking alcohol and smoking.

Academic Nipan Maniar hopes that this three dimensional recreation would help students know what to expect.

The senior lecturer in the university's faculty of creative and cultural industries, who is an Indian, was quoted by the BBC as saying that he experienced a "massive culture shock" himself when he came to Portsmouth in 2000 to do his Masters in Science.

"It was not just the environment I was in, but the teaching - the relationship with tutors was very informal." ccording to Maniar, students from South Asia are particularly vulnerable when they see women smoking, drinking and being friendly with the opposite sex.

"I deal with many Indian students in my capacity as an international co-ordinator. They often ask for a long list of all the things they should bring with them to Portsmouth. Then, when they arrive, they become very worried and they don't know what to do - they can be really dependent," Maniar adds.

"So we thought we could devise a game that they could play on their mobile phones on the way here so they would know what to expect - so they don't get so much of a culture shock," he says.

Fellow researcher Emily Bennett, who helped design the prototype of the game, says it has been well received by students.

"For the 18-year-old who is away from home for the first time, who is feeling disorientated and doesn't know where they are, it could help them as well," Bennett says.

The game is the final stages of development, but Maniar is looking for a commercial sponsor to help produce it.

He also believes gaming could have a much greater role in university learning.