There's no denying that video games keep us from getting outside more often, but the days of believing that video games prevent people from broadening their horizons are long gone.
If you could be anything in the world, what would it be? As kids some of us dream of playing football, baseball or basketball professional or flying a plane one day.
Corporate sponsorship has meant that logos turn up anywhere that they might strengthen a brand and video games are no exception.
Completing a video game from start to finish used to really mean something. In fact, in some games it was impossible.
These days, with motion capture, 3D graphics amd sandbox gaming styles, games are more realistic than ever. Slow reaction times and limited graphics are a thing of the past.
Early cell phones came with pre-loaded games, of which the most familiar is probably "Snake". The game, which simply featured a "snake" which you had to direct around a maze.
The rise of sport simulations on video game consoles started a few decades ago when it was incredibly hard to make players and conditions anywhere close to lifelike.
Games have changed significantly over the years from the days of PacMan when they were very simple and repetitive to the present day where we have Gears of War and various other incredibly deep and textured video games.
Those who keep an ear to the ground when it comes to video games will hear frequent talk of a style of game known as a "sandbox game". But what is that exactly?
The technical term is "cross-platform", and it applies both to games which have made the leap from one console to another as well as just about any form of media which has been adapted from one medium to another.
Timmy is on a mission to collect all the coins he can. But watch out for the traps!
