Do video games make players smarter? As these games grow in popularity, some game creators are tackling global issues, such as poverty, climate change, and international diplomacy. Playing these socially and politically oriented games, they argue, allows users to build tangible skills in handling crises and solving critical problems. But others see the multibillion-dollar gaming industry, dominated by portrayals of crime and war, as a threat that desensitizes players to violence and encourages anti-social behavior. Will video games soon provide innovative solutions to our most pressing social, political, and economic challenges? Or is their impact overrated and potentially destructive?
