This week I am going to start with a question. Why is the mainstream media always presenting video games as a negative source of entertainment? Interactive media has had its share of controversial issues that dabble into racism, sexism, as well as violence. However, many books and movies cover the same subjects as well. One could also say that games go too far into personal and touchy issues, yet books are praised every day for going beyond people’s comfort zones.

So why are games the only one to never fall into the brave category? Most people say that games haven’t offered anything positive to society and that gamers tend to only think of themselves. At least that’s how the news portrays gamers as a whole. The truth is, video games have been a part of some powerful actions and movements that have touched not only fellow gamers but mankind as well.

Skyrim. Just the name alone is enough to get people excited. It’s game that could be played practically forever. To most gamers, it was the greatest game ever. This included a person named Taylor. He loved the game so much he spent a vast amount of his time just taking in the environment and escaping into the world. He mostly spent time in the center of a town just to let his character relax and enjoy some time away from dragons and other creatures.

Taylor’s brother knew he was greatly involved in the community of gamers. Taylor always helped people in any way he could and he was loved within the community for being a kind hearted soul. One day Taylor met with an unfortunate fate and sadly passed away. He left behind a wife and loved ones who cared deeply about him.

Taylor’s brother knew he couldn’t keep his virtual friends in the dark about his absence. He went on Reddit to inform the community of the sad news. People were greatly hurt by the tragic incident and wanted to band together to honor Taylor. His brother logged into his favorite game, Skyrim, and he noticed he was in his favorite spot on the center of town. The community put together a modification for the game that puts a shining light right in the middle of the town. Two roses are placed within the light in his honor.

Taylor’s brother is grateful for what the community has done in his honor. “The only time I ever play a game on a console anymore is to use his Xbox to sign into his account, boot up Skyrim, and just sit there looking at the last thing he saw in the game. I never move his character, save, or do anything since it wouldn’t be his character anymore. He is frozen in time just like my young brother was.” This is just one prime example of how gamers love everyone in their communities and are willing to ensure that a fallen friend is remembered.

Mainstream media has convinced people that gamers only feel anger or rage. The violence in games fixes a craving for blood that gamers lust after they seem to claim. Gamers show much more emotion then just rage. Gamers feel compassion as we just read in the story about Taylor.

In some sense gaming makes gamers feel emotions that some other form of entertainment can’t do. A YouTube video shows us a person who goes by the name, “00WARTHERAPY00” who explains his personal story about a video game he shared with his father. They played a racing game together quite frequently when he was six years old. His father was really into the game, getting better and better with each time he played. His father soon went to Iraq to fight in the oversea battles.

Unfortunately, his father lost his life in battle. News reached home and the little kid put the game away, never to be played again. Ten years later the now teenager finds the same racing game he put away years ago. He pops in the game and starts playing. He notices a “Ghost car” racing next to him. It is his father. Racing games tend to keep the data of the fastest racer in the form of a “Ghost car” to try to encourage other players to beat the fastest lap.

His father had the fastest time in their house. The teen tried and tried to learn how his dad played on his comfortable PS4 chairs, copying his turns and maneuvers to help get better. One day he noticed he passed his dad’s car and was close to finishing the race. The teen stopped before the finish line. His dad’s ghost car passed him and won the race. “I stopped right in front of the finish line, just to ensure I wouldn’t delete it.” The video ends with him saying he loves his father.

The mainstream put so much research, time, and money on trying to debunk video games as a whole. Thinking they are saving us from some demon who wants us to become more violent and corrupt. The fact of the matter is games help more people than harm them. A blog named “How Games Saved My Life” has a collection of people’s stories just like the ones here that go into detail about how games have made people change for the better. Personally I have contributed to the blog as well for games have also changed my life. Instead of just reading and hearing what others say, why not try games out for yourself? An open-armed community is looking for you.