Video games are made by lots of different folk, so it would be rather extreme if they are all conspiring together to control humanity ... or that portion of it that are gamers.

Personally I think the history of gaming in general tells us all, digital gaming just being an extension of that.

In short, entertainment and escape.

That said, some developers like to inflict us with various things ... moral of the story etc.

And of course, it could depend on where you live and level of state based control, where there may be an agenda.

Im assuming this is the video "how drugs and video games have been instrumental in controlling the population." Correct me if Im wrong but isnt his issue that we have overpopulation of people he deems "useless" and the best way to deal with them is to keep them satisfied with drugs and computer games?

Its no different from watching reality tv, streaming movies, watching youtube, etc. These are all forms of entertainment meant to keep people entertained in their daily lives and have fun and relieve stress from work. Sure, it causes us to take time away from working and "being productive" but people need a break.

Harari brings up the fact that in Japan, there are people living constantly indoors and people marrying digital avatars as examples of "the future decline of humanity" but these misunderstandings of different social issues not tied to drugs or video games imo.

Regarding marrying digital avatars, there are only 4,000 people in Japan have married digital companions which is a tiny proportion of the population. More than expected but its not like Japan is exploding with people going to marry a digital avatar. Regarding people indoors and living "online," Im assuming he is talking about hikikomori which are people that have closed themselves from the outside world due to societal issues ranging from depression or bullying. Given the fact that we can now work from home and alot of work is digital, being a hikikomori doesnt necessarily deem these people as "useless" imo.

Video games are a form of "social control" just like watching movies or sports is a form of social control.

I did not read through the entire thread, but I'd say that video games are a healthy pastime that prevents crime from happening more often than not.

My grandfather served on the local police force in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. He always said a bored man is a criminal man.

While people used to keep themselves busy because we had less free time during that period, we now have so much free time that most people need something, anything, to keep busy. I'm no exception.

If I didn't play video games I'd probably have a musical career instead of going halfway into it over the years and only ever releasing sub par content. I'd probably also weigh 100 lbs less than I do, though in US terms I'm relatively healthy.

We as humans need something to occupy us. You'll find historically that areas with less prosperity and past times to occupy people tend to have more alcohol/drug use, and much higher crime.

Source: Grandpa, may he rest in peace.

As with all media, you have both the products made by a propaganda machine, and you have art. For the sake of forum rules, I can't go too far into detail but if you notice how media products have become stale, with no heart, almost like they were made by machines, you're seeing that attempt to turn media into a weapon of control via information and pacification. However, unlike the visual media industry (which, at least in the west, has become almost exclusively mechanic), video games still have plenty of true, heartful art. Games definitely are on their way toward that propagandization but not quite.

So yes and no. Yes, they're trying to keep people pacified through games but that doesn't mean all games are doing that. This subject actually ties really well into the subject of the Dead Internet Theory. I highly suggest you research it or watch All Time's playlist explaining the subject. It'll blow you away and probably change your perspective on the internet. Furthermore, it also might help you to realize just what's going on these days. It truly is a red pill moment, I've had friends and acquaintances tell me it absolutely shattered their illusions of what the modern internet actually is and it made them think long and hard about whether there may or may not be a nefarious agenda at work by megacorps like Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc.

But I digress. As with all art forms, when the majority becomes soulless or mechanical, you just have to look elsewhere. For visual media, eastern shows seem to mostly still have the heart that comes with art. For music, try other genres; for example, if you like rock or metal and get sick of cookie-cutter bands in both genres, try something different such as post-rock or progressive metal. For books... well, you just have to look. And with games, your best bet is to dive into indie games. None of these are a perfect solution but if you don't want to go insane OR bow to the machine, you just have to make it work somehow.

Well, ancient Rome wasn't wrong in appeasing the masses with "bread and games." Still works today in a fashion.

It works for every form of entertainment. The difference is, that it's not controlled by the governments. There are private parties that offer entertainment.
People not caring about anything might be a result of the whole thing, but I don't think it's the intention. That would require a worlwide collaboration unseen in history.

You could level roughly the same criticism towards many sports or other passions that people find worth pursuing.

People read books. No different in terms of gaming. Apart from technology that is.

Ironically, the two times I was compelled to actually think about this topic with an uncomfortable feeling were caused by videogames themselves, mainly the NPC in Shadowrun: Dragonfall who is addicted to participating in virtual entertainment to the point that they have no life of their own, and the notion that all the misery of less fortunate people in Remember Me is fueled by the ignorance of the better-off populace living a hedonist / consumerist / media-centric lifestyle, not even acknowledging their existence.

I don't think that's uncommon. Like there are books and movies, there are also many games that make you think, either by the setting or the story they tell.
But just as it is in the other life people watch game shows and reality TV, people rather play some bullsh** Multiplayer Shooter or looting game with the main goal being getting better gear, instead of playing something with some actual content.

I like that quote: "They should make a TV show about my life. I would watch that".

Interesting point about the upper crust having a sense of apathy in Remember Me. A central point in HP Lovecraft lore is that the cosmic horror exists because the old ones don't even consider humans a big enough deal to care about.

I wonder if the parallel is intended.

People do that ?