I've never been big into video games. It's just not my preferred method of entertainment and, I must admit, in the past I have looked down on people who commit extensive amounts of time to them. So this piece on gaming presented video games in a new light for me. I had recognized some of their potential for creativity, stimulation of the imagination, problem-solving, etc. But the whole concept of expressing yourself (identity anyone?) was something I hadn't considered before. I guess that can be the most addicting part about gaming - self-expression, along with community and just good fun. Video games encompass so much. I liked the reference to McLuhan's idea of technology being an extension of the body. Beyond being an extension of our minds, video games become an extension of our social spheres and interactions. People have a desire to express themselves and to form relationships with other people. Video games allow them to do this while stimulating their imaginations and allowing them to solve problems; and with the ever-increasing personalization that these games are attaining, one can see just why they are the game of choice for the younger generations.