With mail offers, promotions and pop-up ads, students at Penn State and around the country are tempted to sign up for credit cards everyday. But a new Web-based game created by a Penn State professor educates students about the dangers of credit cards.

A survey of about 1,500 college students at eight eastern U.S. universities by the Center for Credit and Consumer Research at Penn State Erie found that 14.2 percent of surveyed students were considered financially at risk.

Students considered at risk either carried a balance of $1,000 or more, paid the minimum monthly fee on one or more of their cards, or had reached the credit limit on one or more lines of credit, according to the study.

Mary Beth Pinto, an associate professor of marketing at Penn State Erie and director of the Center for Credit and Consumer Research, helped create the game, which could teach some of those at-risk students how to use credit cards responsibly.

"It's an incredibly important life skill," Pinto said.

The game was originally conducted live, but to reach more students the Center for Credit and Consumer Research decided to develop the online version, Pinto said.

"Now we can reach any kid on the Web," she said.

In the Credit Card Online Game, which can be found at www.cccr.psu.edu, participants are prompted with various questions regarding credit cards and how to use them. A score is compiled in response to the participants' answers, and if the score is not high enough, they are instructed to get more information through the Web site.

Arvind Rangaswamy, marketing professor at the Smeal College of Business, said it is important for college students to learn about credit cards and how to use them responsibly.

"Even before you come to college, you need to learn about money," Rangaswamy said. He added that credit card companies use techniques to "generate trial" by giving incentives or gifts to people who sign up for the cards. These types of techniques can prompt students to sign up for the cards, he said.

Deanna Palavra (sophomore-forensic science), who has three credit cards, said it was easy to get credit cards once she came to college.

"They were just throwing them at you," she said.

She added that since her father pays the bills, she has learned to use them responsibly.

Tim Sanker (junior-aerospace engineering) said he has one credit card that he uses sparingly, despite the promotions and mail he has received.

"I get a lot of mail for them," Sanker said.

Sanker added that unless he had some extra time, he wouldn't play the online game.

Maria Lubrano (sophomore-nutrition) said she has five credit cards and pays the minimum payment each month.

"I know enough to get by," Lubrano said, when asked if she would play the online game.

Since the game has only been available on the Web for a short time, the reaction has not been gauged yet, Pinto said. She added that postcards with information about the game have been sent to every college in Pennsylvania to promote it and raise awareness about credit cards.