Video games are a great platform. I use to play video games as a kid in the 80's and loved my Nintendo and Sega. Thinking about those games, many games in back in the 80's had a message. Some were about violence and just plain good interface design. Some games really had good messages like environmental issues, civics of taking care of places and people, and some even just about the betterment of mankind.
Simulators are a great example of this type of civic engagement. We have today video games as virtual pets, building cities (SimCity), and virtual dating. I can see the benefits in especially young minds like teens. Many trying to find and mold their identities. Video games can be a shaping tool that teaches responsibility, reasoning, cooperation, and consequence. This could all be used for the betterment of a wider community.
On the other hand, some video games can really deter young minds see only adversarial viewpoints. I find religiously overtones video games to see people in a community as enemies. Example would be "convert to my religion or pay the consequence" type scenarios really do not promote tolerance, acceptance, or civic potential.
Still, we must take the good with the bad in all aspects of life. It is just my hope that game developers will use the platform that creates atmospheres of inclusion and act responsibly. All people need to accepted and valued for their backgrounds and experiences. My belief anyways :-)
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