The first thing I thought, feared even, when I saw a sign for a game called Social Justice Warriors on the PAX South show floor, was that it was the first in an incoming wave of games decrying the "social justice" movement in the gaming community, a term I dislike for the smug superiority it implies (I like to call it "being generally nice to one another"). Happily, it's the farthest thing from it.

“ Social Justice Warriors expresses frustration with how people use divisive labels to discredit and silence each other.

Speaking to its creator, Eric Ford, was refreshing, if for no other reason than that his goal isn't so much to "fight the good fight," but to elevate the way gamers, critics, and everyone in-between have the conversation. In Social Justice Warriors, the most effective way to "defeat" your opponent isn't always the right one.As you level up, you earn the most powerful "attacks" in your repertoire: reasoning and understanding. It's telling that Ford sees these as the most effective tools in the toolbox. It's a sentiment echoed on the homepage for Social Justice Warriors:"Social Justice Warriors expresses frustration with how people use divisive labels to discredit and silence each other. No matter what social values you have, attacking and shaming other people not only fails to achieve progress but has an additional effect of escalating the conflict while exhausting your patience and eroding your reputation."Couldn't really have said it better myself. Social Justice Warriors fascinated me because it shows the potential that video games have beyond entertainment: to be instruments of education, and conduits through which ideas can be disseminated, shared, and discussed. Look for it on Steam Greenlight soon.

Vincent Ingenito is IGN's foremost fighting game nerd. F ollow him on Twitter and argue with everything he says about them.