The extraordinary popularity and global reach of video games makes them both influential and revealing in how they portray archetypes and culture. According to PwC, the industry is expected to be worth 321 billion dollars by 2026.
In the US, Pew Research Centre says 85 percent of teenagers play video games with around 40 percent playing every day.
This coming week it's Wellington Games Week and Victoria University is holding public lectures and launching a new Games Studies Lab.
There will also be a Game Jam for high school students, getting them into the future of making games.
Culture 101 speaks to three Victoria University researchers and lecturers who look at the intersection of video games, and culture - and how stereotypes of civilisations, genders and indigenous cultures are perceived and represented.
Hamish Cameron analyses how the ancient world is represented, Tuakana Metuarau explores indigenous cultures while Emily Morris explores gender roles and identity in both video and tabletop games.
