Steven Johnson, the author of “Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter” writes an open letter in the LA Times to Senator Hillary Clinton who is suggesting $90 million investigation into the effects of video games on children in the wake of hack to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that unlocks a sexually explicit mini-game.

While Rockstar Games, the company that produces GTA, was stupid to include the mini-game (even if locked) within the final version, most people are overlooking the fact that anyone playing the game has to download an outside program to unlock the mini-game (not something one could accidentally stumble upon).

In his letter, Johnson focuses on the benefits of today’s complex video games:

The great secret of today’s video games that has been lost in the moral panic over “Grand Theft Auto” is how difficult the games have become. That difficulty is not merely a question of hand-eye coordination; most of today’s games force kids to learn complex rule systems, master challenging new interfaces, follow dozens of shifting variables in real time and prioritize between multiple objectives.

In short, precisely the sorts of skills that they’re going to need in the digital workplace of tomorrow.

Johnson also cites several studies that show violent actions among adolescents has gone down since 1975.

Having read his book, I don’t agree with all of Johnson’s conclusions, but he makes some good points on the topic of video games. Not all games are bad, especially in comparison to the other activities that they often replace.

Basically, parents need to monitor what their children play and ensure that they only sit in front of a screen in moderation. Video games can’t hold a candle to a good game of kick the can.

Bonus: Steven Johnson has a great blog too