>>544023640
there are definitely games out there that serve only as timewaster dopamine factories and little more (which may or may not be a positive thing for society), but there are also ways games provide obvious good to the world like
>Creating virtual third spaces where people can socialize, participate in group play, and build communities.
As a designer you get to choose how these third spaces work. A bowling alley has physical strength requirements, and needs to charge money by the hour to stay in business. A video game doesn't have to do either of those things. Even a one-time 10 dollar entry fee is optional, and circumventable by those who are unable to afford it
>Challenging people to practice, research, and improve at something when they maybe have never done that before, all without requiring any big investment of space, capital, or health.
As a designer you get to choose how the ladder works, what types of skills are tested, etc. you can choose skills that are transferrable to the real world, or you can choose skills that are worthless outside of gaming. it's all up to you