All right, I'll be honest - I think more people should think that. Call me an old fart. We hope young Ivan doesn't take to them, but we don't want to glamorize the things through taboo." I don't think you need to be too worried Doug - but you also need to be able to distinguish between genres of computer/video games - they are not all alike - in fact I would say that it is the most varied art form yet devised. I have been a computer games designer for 24 years, and I am still surprised at what other designers come up with. Personally, I have always specialised in designing strategy games - these are games which require thinking power only, not dexterity with a mouse or joypad. Anybody who wants to exercise their brain cells couldn't do better than play a good strategy game, particularly against human opponents rather than an AI. I would recommend, for example, Civilisation IV or Sim City 4 on the PC (both highly educational, too). Despite my profession, I still play boardgames, and despite the advent of computer games, board games are experiencing something of a renaissance due to the success of the German family oriented strategy games. Julian Gollop.