Conclusion
And truly, that is how all of these threads come together. Because even if you do not set out to do so, when you create, you are telling a story: it may be as simple as wanting a temporary escape, or releasing some stress after a long day, but it is a story nonetheless. And it is art.
If that's the case then, as we have previously discussed, video games also fall under the purview of art, both from the creative process of its development and the technical execution of it from idea to finished product. And in fact, just playing video games often serves as therapy for many people, due to the active participation players have with the game, either in immersing themselves in a crafted narrative, or making their own story out of the tools the game provides. Shouldn't it also come to stand that making video games can be a form of therapy and expression?
Video games are just another medium, just like painting and knitting and sculpting, that artists can use to express themselves. Just because video games are new or originally crafted for purely entertainment purposes, shouldn't exclude them from being considered a form of therapy for the creators and the players. The more we can make the medium of video games accessible, the more people will be able to use it to create: perhaps for their own goals of introspection and self-understanding, or perhaps to bond with others, or maybe just to experiment, relax, and have fun.
So pick up a pencil, download a free game engine, and start making something.
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