Why Playing Video Games Is GOOD For You

Some video games just love a good old dollop of moral choices don't they? Whether it's choosing to risk your life for some precious reward, or determining who to leave behind in the face of disaster, moral quandaries are rife in the industry.

And it's not just a means to shock players and media outlets alike with rough (and tough) stuff, it's a perfect way to get a new form of interaction with the player, to make their actions feel immediate and meaningful. And with this immersion comes a chance to experience the value of choices. To question our surroundings and not simply accept them is one of the best qualities of being human, and recognising what aspects of our life can be shaped by our own decisions is a truly important thing to learn.

While I doubt we'll be deciding whether to cut off our arm for fear of zombie infection in the average day to day, the act of recognising emotions such as empathy and the sheer weight of what a choice would mean to our chosen avatar, has the possibility to make us more compassionate and understanding in real life.