yes, video games are crested by the deep state (which we all know is a coallision between Illuminatu and the Lizard People) aimed to control and subjugate the massess, to make them docile and more acceptant to the rules and regulations they put upon us. I say - break free, stop playing games and being a sheeple!

(but seriously, I think you would like the philosophy of Theodor Adorno.)

Ah, you know polilticians. They say they will legalize the drugs, but then they patiently wait until they're up for reelection, then quickly legalize them 'in principle' as horribly expensive lifestyle products sold through certified pharmacies, in versions that have about twenty times less intoxication potential than is common, so the still illegal drug dealers will continue to be in possession of the only sensibly priced wares that carry enough punch for the addicts.

I don't know about drugs but free video games exist for quite a while. I mean, EGS alone gives away one-two games (sometimes quite good games) every week. And GOG gives away something almost at every sale. :P

Nothing is for free. In this case, you trade in your freedom from spam!

actually. not in this case. you can claim the free games on EGS without signing up for any spam

I'm not sure how grabbing games in giveaways on GOG or EGS (or Steam for that matter) increases amount of spam I receive. But then again, I never understood your conclusions.

Only if you chose to. By default the option is set to not share your data with the publisher.

I don't think games are used as social control so far but that doesn't mean that this couldn't change in the future.

WTF kai2, to me as a video gamer that Yuval Noah Harari video
-is not only in your opinion- (quoted)
"some terrible, arrogant value judgements on others"
but insulting and false as hell
Quoted:
"[i]What to do with this useless people...what to do with them
and how will they find some sense of meaning in life
when they are basically meaningless worthless[/i]"

Then:
-Video games as legal and ilegal drugs
-Riches exempt of death
-People always die for one reason and one reason only
-People today actually manage to live as isolated alienated individuals
-The most interesting place today in the world in religious terms is Silicon Valley

What all that have to do with your thread title and topic "Are video games a social control?"?

[Modded.]

Media is used to control people, yes, but it's not a singular conspiracy. Culture is a feedback loop and people take advantage of this, but it's thousands of competing interests trying to get your attention and with coalitions of these interests allying with each other to push further towards their goals. Those with more power are more able to effectively push their agenda, but its effectiveness is more stumbling over enough of the masses to sway their fickle opinions.

And yes, video games are a part of this. Governments stick their fingers in everything, corporations exert financial dependency, but the artist has the final say, compromised or not.

Videogames do divert huge amounts of time, emotion and energy towards pointless virtual endeavors (that some have the cynicism to call "achievements"). In that way, it acts as social control. Doesn't mean it's intended. A function doesn't have to be, and can be latent.

Maybe you should take that up with Harrari? I certainly don't agree with him... but he sadly has BIG fans.

Years back I was working in this field of study. Fun times.

I wonder how many much social energy has been diverted from the real world into Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto? I wonder how the 1960's in the US would have looked if they had GTA Online?

Intension is defined at the top, not the bottom. Game makers are not the top