Personally, I think the Devil invented Gaming .... which is why we are all here, living the big one.

Remember, there is No Laughing In Heaven ... or so they say ... or sex ... or games ... or fun ... so some tell me.

Civilization depends on your point of view ... some say humans haven't changed much since the beginning ... though they have improved with the veneer.

Is gaming a veneer?

Supplementary question - Are some of us being sarcastic?

Ha ha ha ha .... just kidding .... I think. ;)

makes little sense
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization it can be spelt with a z. I am not a native speaker

But what about you? How's about you post your own answer to your own question that you posed in the OP?

Certainly helps alphabetisation, but fortnite & such i doubt being culturally relevant.

There's always been introverts and people who'd prefer a good story to bar hopping or flying a wingsuit over South Africa. Only difference nowadays is those people play games or watch Netflix instead of listening to the radio or reading books.

Though there might be a heightened danger of addiction with games and so much other media being at people's fingertips. I think the internet in general is a much bigger factor and danger in that area though, video games can just be a part of that (WoW, Twitch, etc.). Still, there are research studies being done that show a potential significant mental impact from over-stimulation and "screen addiction." I often wonder if I should restrict my internet access somehow, out of concern for it. I'm not addicted to games themselves though, I play 2-3 hours a day maximum, usually not even that.

yes , he managed to push out the lame forum games from the first page , thats good very good

Following this reasoning, I'd say yes. Less angry young men out in the streets wasting their lives (and those of their fellow citizens) in fights over who to procreate with or which new "corrupt elites" to replace the current ones with, according to the latest conspiracy theories - sounds like an improvement to me. ;P

Although now I'm confused, since I was led to believe that videogames make young men angry and violent, and now they're supposed to turn them docile? Unless - of course! - that was all just a lie spread by the corrupt elite's media, in order to make videogames look bad and have them taken away from the youth, so that ... No, wait, that doesn't make any sense either then. So are the videogame slandering media actually the good guys fighting against the corrupt elites? What a turn of events! Can't wait to waste my life on finding out what it's all about, once that new Deus Ex style game is released. ;)

Careful, GeraltOfRivia_PL might be a member of the corrupt elites trying to keep you docile with those threads!

I think it has had a mostly positive impact on society. It has done some stupid things to our society, no doubt (such as turning the average, modern gamer into a spoiled, entitled brat). However, there are plenty of people who found hope in life because they had the escape of games to enjoy. I know that I'd be a drastically different man if I didn't have games; most likely, I'd be completely hopeless, constantly angry, etc.

Somewhat like this thread ... but at least I used humor.

Or did you want me to say?
Yes, video games are going to be the downfall of civilization ... they are deadly.

Does that make any more sense?

The games people play. LOL

EDIT
In reality, how can anyone really answer your thread question. There are just so many ways to look at things and so many unknowns.

I guess we could look at whether games actually really benefit the individual in a detectable way.
But then what about, staying inside and getting less fresh air and daylight, and being sedentary (less exercise) a lot.
None of those are really positive, neither from what I have read is the impact of the screen on your eyes and brain.
Then there is the social aspect ... sure you get a bit with multiplayer ... but what do you get from that really ... depends on the game I suppose.
What about PC Widows and loss of family interaction.
Then perhaps worst of all, killing with drones ... that's a lovely game or skill picked up from playing games, used in real wars.

It might sound like I am being really negative about games with all that, but they are just food for thought, and I am sure there are positive benefits, and more for some than others. They are perhaps harder to put into words or quantify though, etc.

One obvious positive I guess, is learning things. Another is brain exercise and maybe increasing logic skills.
You could claim dexterity skills, but unless you have a handicap or impediment that requires technology skills, that is just self fulfilling for games. Or maybe it helps with being a Doctor or Pilot or Astronaut or Architect etc.

P.S. My apologies for my seeming sarcastic grumpy old man response ... I'm like that sometimes. LOL :P

But i'm a good civilian sir, i pay my state protection fee, i pay my healthcare protection fee, i even let my city councelor sleep with my wife and you know what? if i keep going on like this i already have the reasurance that my kids can later grow up to be someone like GeraltOfRivia_PL