He spoke at length...; afterwards I couldn’t find anyone who could nail down just what he’d said. He should fit right in at the UN.

RAE CERTAINLY DIDN’T THINK THERE WAS A MESSAGE BEING SENT. — KELLY McPARLAND

— KELLY MCPARLAND

ON BOB RAE

Video games have seen a remarkable rise in popularity during this pandemic — and it’s not just so-called nerds with extra time on their hands who are playing them. With all these hours being invested in screens, it’s time to consider what and who these games are for. From cultural insights to social cohesion, video games can offer something for everyone.

While books and films are widely consumed and considered for their cultural commentary, video games are often sidelined. Despite their top earning position in the entertainment industry, video games have long been associated with a niche group of people. The medium carries a nerdy stigma, which means its contents carry little weight in cultural conversations.

This is unfortunate. For those who have immersed

WHAT CAPTURES US IS THE VERY THING WE LOVE ABOUT MOVIES AND BOOKS.

themselves in the unique worlds and stories many of these games offer, it becomes clear that what captures us is the very thing we love about movies and books.

Particularly when it comes to role playing games, we accompany characters as they explore their universe and develop throughout the narrative. And while there are bad games just as there are bad books, the best games confront us with the complexities of the human condition.

Consider, for example, the recent release of Final Fantasy VII Remake. The game sold 3.5 million copies in its first three days. It’s no surprise why, as the game invites players into the riveting world of a fraught, smog- and poverty-ridden city that’s controlled by the Shinra Electric Company.

The hero is part of an eco-terrorist team that’s intent on rescuing the planet from the industrial giant. And yet the situation is not so simple. The team must confront the moral quandaries of collateral damage on their quest for liberation. The story and characters are an intricate exposition of the moral conundrums we encounter in real life.

And the video game can do this better than a book or film. With these latter two types of media, the reader or viewer is passive. She does not influence the course of events. But the gamer does. He makes choices, and outcomes in the game may change accordingly.

Rather than simply contemplate the dilemmas presented to the characters, he is a proactive agent in the situation. Should you take on this job? Should you defend this or that party? The game does not just present us with commentary, it invites us into it.

In this age of hyper-partisanship and political finger-pointing, video games force us to confront simulated problems and face the consequences of our decisions. It puts us in other people’s shoes. Books and movies don’t do that.

Beyond cultural engagement, the appeal of video games is also felt in social contexts. Consider the additional flexibility offered in multi-player video games. The experience can be a collective one, and many have taken advantage of this during the pandemic, when we have been disconnected from friends and family. This shared activity can be instrumental in fostering social connections. The maladjusted, basement-dweller stereotype doesn’t work anymore.

Of course, video games are not without risks. Addictive game playing can pose a risk to the health of players, just as binging Netflix or compulsive reading may. But this is a fault not of the medium, but of its improper use.

Taking measures like limiting the time spent playing, evaluating content and collective play can mitigate the risks. Furthermore, as pointed out by the Canadian Paediatric Society, appropriate use can be associated with an increased sense of well-being.

It’s time to take video games seriously. They aren’t going away anytime soon and the practical reality has already confronted us, as practically everyone is playing video games.

Rather than ignore them and be unprepared to engage when our kids, friends and even grandparents are playing them, let’s recognize and utilize the many goods that they offer our world.

National Post

Lester Liao is a pediatric rheumatology fellow and medical humanities scholar at the University of Toronto. He acts as director of the community organization

Common Pursuits.

The recent release of Final Fantasy VII Remake sold 3.5 million copies in its first three days.