How do you grab the attention of the MTV generation?

The answer, perhaps, is an online game. mtvU, the Internet distributed channel of MTV which is specifically designed for college students teamed up with the Peter G. Peterson Foundation to teach the intricacies of budgeting with a dose of fiscal responsibility thrown in.

The game itself is called Debt Ski and you manage a character named Piggy Banks. You must maneuver through a series of obstacles, maximizing your savings, limiting your debt and maintaining your desired level of happiness while paying bills for necessities like housing and food.

The wild card is what the game makers call a spending tsunami, an unexpected life event which can ruin savings and add to debt. This can be an illness, natural disaster, or having all of your retirement savings invested with Bernie Madoff.

If you're meticulous about making a budget and doing your best to keep it, and you have a pretty good idea of what your personal income and expense sheets look like, Debt Ski will be more than a little simplistic. But if you're one of the millions who pay little or no attention to such matters, it may open your eyes. Give it a try at www.InDebtEd.com.