I was someone who was initially sceptical of video games, but my now-adult children and their partners have worn me down. Games can tell great stories and provide aesthetic experiences impossible in any other medium while also being fun and relaxing.

The gamers in my life have shown me that gaming can foster skills and creativity, something some employers also recognise. The United States Federal Aviation Administration has run a successful recruiting campaign targeting gamers because of their excellent hand-eye co-ordination, quick decision-making and ability to stay alert while glued to a screen for hours.

Most parents recognise the positive aspects, but many are also sick of children in foul humour after hours of playing and having meltdowns because their parents want them to stop.

But the problem is bigger than individual families can manage. The people who changed my mind about games as a medium are increasingly worried about the direction that medium is taking.

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A blog by independent game developer Joey Schutz critiques the systemic aspects........

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