--Motivation--
Let's face it, life really isn't doing a good job at motivating adults, let alone us teens. Pets get a treat when they perform a trick, but we humans have to settle with the feeling of accomplishment. Seems unfair, doesn't it? Well, this is where video games come in and I can guarantee that I'm not the only teen that feels more motivated after playing a good game. Let's think of it from a psychological point of view - when your mind is stimulated by the prospect of getting a reward you perform in a more efficient manner. I think that video games make us a bit more optimistic because we start to see all the little rewards real life can offer. If you finish your work faster then you can take a relaxing bath. It doesn't seem like much of a reward, but it's better than what you receive in a game since those achievements are nothing more than virtual points.

I personally study much faster knowing that after I finish I have the time to play a good video game. And I don't get any bad grades or anything, everything just takes a little focus. Other people study because they want to become game designers and, though not all, some actually succeed. Isn't it a wonderful feeling that something so silly like playing a video game can change your goals in life and shape your career?

Motivation can also mean a little moral pick-me-up for some gamers. And I can speak from my own experience here - whenever I feel really down I just pop in a good video game and try to focus on something else. Let me tell you that Stronghold Crusader (an RTS game) had made me completely forget about my troubles at one point since I ended up playing for nearly two hours. And this happened after repeatedly failing to cheer myself up for weeks. Another fan commented on how Devil May Cry helped her get her mind off suicide. Many male teens speak about how girls would stop being depressed if they played a video game. And I wholeheartedly agree with them. So if you ever feel down, just play something, Sims, Doom, flash games, it doesn't matter. Believe me, you'll see the difference.

--Creativity--
No matter what anyone says I'm sure that we all agree on one point, that video games are slowly turning into art. Creating a game is like writing a book, you need a script, an original idea and thousands of hours of building and tweaking, trying to bring your idea to life. Some people get inspired by a picture, others by listening to music. And the very-popular fanart is obviously inspired by video games and has piqued the interest of artist all over the world.