I don't think "power fantasy" is central at all to the appeal of videogames. Rather, the things that can really easily be modeled by computers happen to be... c

I don't think "power fantasy" is central at all to the appeal of videogames. Rather, the things that can really easily be modeled by computers happen to be... casting rays from point a to point b, changing an objects position based on its heading and speed, bouncing two things off of each other, or, to put it simply keeping track of a bunch of values that interact in a linear fashion... There just isn't a whole lot more you can do well other than having the stuff on screen either bump into each other, shoot each other, or punch each other, or move and jump around (preferably all at the same time if you want something fun). I don't really find anything empowering about the whole process, it is just interesting to see stuff happen on screen and solve little puzzles and there isn't really any other type of game available. If we had a tea party simulator where you poured tea for virtual friends and had riveting virtual conversations I'm sure that would be insanely popular (I'd play it just after I finish this game about ordering lots of dudes to run around a map and shoot each other). It's just that we don't have it because your virtual friend needs to be something like a strong AI to carry out a riveting conversation.