When I was growing up, I loved playing video games. Many of these games also had a powerful impact on my worldview and intellectual development. A few of the old games and series that I loved most, and still think about occasionally, are Fallout 1 and 2, Age of Empires, Civilization by Sid Meier, Total War, Starcraft, Panzer General, X-Com, The Legend of Zelda, NBA 2K, and innumerable more. 

These games had a magic to them that allowed you to disappear into a different world. And I would argue that it was not a frivolous pastime. Games are an immersive way to learn about history and culture. Playing Civilization really made you curious about what these "civilizations" really were, and did more to pique my later interest than simply being told they were important by someone else. 

These days I find with regret that I don't have much time to play games. Work, family life, and study take up a lot of time. But I have my eye on the news that a new Civilization game is coming and am going to make time for that.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

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