Video games = money and medicine!
That slogan up there is the summary of a speech given by the governor of Texas at this year’s E3 Media & Business summit. San Antonio Express-News has his full commentary here, with Gamepolitics providing their opinion here.
Personally, it is nice to hear a politician speak for the benefits of the gaming industry; though I wish he would focus a bit more on how gaming benefits society at large rather than mention its economic aspects.
Speaking of games’ positive aspects, the Associated Press has a report about how games are used as medicine in certain cases. The full report is here, while Gamepolitics has their analysis here. I believe that if games can be used in this way, it will go a long way towards removing their negative perception. However, like Gamepolitics notes, this practice has already been done; despite this, it is good that it finally recieves recognition in the mainstream press.
Finally, our current ESA president thinks that the gaming industry is entering a golden age. While I agree with his assessment; he has a long to go to convince me that he is as capable a president as Doug Lowrenstein was.