Funny i'm also 26. You acknowledge that games can tell a great story yet you still insist on downplaying their value compared to movies ..... Doesn't the fact that how TLOU was crafted (told a great story in game form) prove that the medium has its own identity/value. "Yes games can tell a story" and can offer a unique experience then "no they are not to be taken seriously" is ...... Just odd. Are you high ?? (No offense) There's absolutely no difference between video games, movies and books other than how they deliver their experience. All are forms of entertainment, all are serious and all have artists that know how to use the medium to deliver a great experience. And yeah all can fail in delivering their goal (story wise). Btw enjoying a game mainly for its gameplay is something we all experienced, but saying that this is what gaming has always been about is straight up ignorant/BS even in the old days (don't get on the defensive about your view/cut the rubbish/back to reality).