What a shocking revelation! The ESA has finally uncovered that playing video games doesn’t just pass the time, it actually ‘enhances our lives in ways that inspire us and bring us closer together.’ I guess we’re all just too dumb to realize that all along, right? And who knew that 61% of Americans are ‘playing’ these games, not ‘addicted’ or ‘wasting their lives’? What a refreshing twist! Oh, and don’t forget, the ‘mental and social benefits’ of video games are now recognized by all, not just those ‘who play.’ I can just imagine the ‘positive sentiment’ at the local arcade, can’t you? It’s like the whole country has decided to be a part of one big, happy video game club, isn’t it? And now, with the 30th anniversary of the ESA, we have an entire ‘living data’ platform to prove it all. Video games: the modern miracle cure for loneliness and ennui, according to the Entertainment Software Association’s latest ‘Essential Facts.’