Video games, ever since their inception, have done nothing but grow in popularity. This has happened in spite of a great deal of bad press. People have suggested that video games can contribute to violence and popular media portrayed them as nothing but hack and slash gore for a long span of time. The truth, however, as evident by the rise in popularity, is quite different.

Video games (like books, television, and plays) serve to tell stories. However, video games add something that the others lack: interaction. Video games force the user to be involved in decisions in many cases. Often, players will find themselves forced to make some sort of moral choice. In this way, video games force you to consider them. What would I do? What is the moral thing to do? In many games, no option is free of negative consequences. This holds true for real life. Thus, many valuable lessons can be obtained from video games.

As a case in point, in the popular video game "Skyrim," the player is confronted with a choice along the main story arc. The story of the game follows that dragons enslaved man for many years, but eventually man overcame the dragons and drove them nearly into extinction. This was only made possible by the actions of a dragon named Paarthurnax, who gave man the instrument to free themselves. Being a lieutenant, Paarthurnaax was responsible for the death and suffering of thousands over the ages. However, without his help, mankind would never have been free to begin with. When the dragons return during the time-setting of Skyrim, Paarthurnax again aids man by helping the main character, who is the last person capable of permanently killing dragons. The Blades, a group dedicated to wiping out the dragons and who also aid the main character, ask them to kill Paarthurnax. In the eventuality that the main character dies, no human will be able to kill him. The player is left with the dilemma of weighing Paarthurnax's considerable sins against his help, with the added factor that no one can permanently kill him if the player doesn't. One who has already killed and enslaved thousands must be trusted to remain benevolent for eternity after the main character's death. Neither choice is free of consequences and you are forced to think.

So, whether you're a gamer or not, don't believe that video games are just some mindless thing the kids are doing. They are stories, many just as effective as books or movies, if not more so. The interaction just makes the telling all the more interesting.