Sorry for bringing it up, PJ! I've only played the first MGS and two SC games so I'm really in no position to talk. Moving on...
Fauve, it's like asking if I should give up books and film for "real life" experiences as well. Video games are quickly evolving as a medium, and have long ago surpassed the point of being just toys or diversions. Check this out:
The Harvard Crimson :: News :: A Major In Mario Kart
"Decker’s concentration in “ludology”—the study of video games from both a technological and humanities perspective—encompasses several academic areas. He plans to take classes in psychology, economics, computer science, and media studies, cross-enrolling at MIT for the media studies courses."
"Mark C. Szigety, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard Business School, is teaching a section of the Economics 970 sophomore tutorial titled “Child’s Play No Longer: The Grown-Up Economics of Video Games.” "
" the University of California-Santa Cruz took the academic study of video games one step further by making it an official major in 2006. "
"Decker recently founded the Harvard Interactive Media Group with the assistance of Alice J. Robison, a visiting scholar at MIT. Decker said that the organization seeks to be a recreational and academic presence on campus for students interested in interactive media. "