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According to mainstream media, a lot, usually. In an article on CNN yesterday though, Scott Steinberg asked “Why does the media still think video games are bad for kids?” It’s a good question, video games have been around for decades now and they certainly extend beyond the level of fighting games.

I posted a few weeks ago about the role of video games in sports, and how many athletes today learn strategy by playing the video game version of their sport (and not just by practicing on the field). Beyond sports, war, and fighting games there are also hundreds of video games devoted to education – and according to Joseph Olin, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, “nearly two-thirds of all games sold are rated E or E+, meaning they’re found to be appropriate for players of all ages or children over 10 years of age.”

I think what many people fail to realize is that video games are not simply a distraction or a way to pass the time. We’re heading into an ever more interactive future, and my guess is that eventually we’ll see people applying the logic of online/video games for training in the classroom and all kinds of disciplines. What do you think?