The DeanBeat: Stanley Pierre-Louis explains why games are respected

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The recent Games for Change festival in New York presented refreshing looks at the positive impact of games, especially during the pandemic.

I first attended the event in person last week in Times Square, and sat down for a fireside chat with the ever-cheerful Entertainment CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis Software Association.

He's cheerful partly because the numbers go his way. A total of 66% of Americans, or 215.5 million people, play video games, and attitudes toward gaming have become more positive during the pandemic, according to the 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game study ESA Industry. The survey found that 97% of all Americans (excluding some news commentators) now see the benefits of video games. The report says people believe video games have provided mental health benefits during the pandemic.

The report states that 89% of gamers say video games relieve stress, while 88% say video games help improve cognitive abilities. It also says that 88% of gamers agree that video games bring different kinds of people together, while 83% say games introduce people to new friends and relationships, a five percentage point increase from 2021. Event

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It's a very different picture from my childhood. The games were corny. And now they're cool, even if your parents play them. As Games for Change speakers have pointed out, games have branched out to have a wider social impact, tackling a wide range of topics from climate change to nuclear war. They are considered beneficial for skill development, mental health and community development. About 88% of gamers agree that video games bring different kinds of people together.

We touched on this newfound respect for the game in our fireside chat, and I asked Pierre-Louis a few questions about next year's E3 2023 event, which is set to take place in person under the new direction of Reed Pop. He told me no secrets. He also reversed roles and asked me a question.

Here is an edited transcript of our fireside chat.