Games are the same thing as movies, tv, reading (usually fiction), and
getting drunk/high. All are some kind of escape from reality.
Personally I choose gaming and reading, plus playing games with friends
is infinitely more enjoyable then watching tv/movies with them. I wont
comment on getting drunk/high cause in my opinion its one of the most
stupid things a human can do.
Hell even most hobbies are just escapes from reality, for exampe, I do some blacksmithing here and there, I did it today, why? Because I felt like it!! This skill wont really benefit me, sure its a cool conversation piece (imo) and its a little workout, but one could argue that because this wont really benefit me and its just something I do with my free time, its an escape from reality.
Escaping reality is not a bad thing, unless taken to an extreme point, such as partying so hard you dont remember what you did, or playing a game so much you suffer in your job/school/social ties. Everyone escapes from reality via some method, its not a bad thing.
Thats my argument.
Also reality sucks and is overrated....just saying.
To quote Mythbusters, Book: Explosive Decompression Verse: Rear Axle "I reject your reality, and subsitute my own."
(I didnt actually know the episode, I looked it up on wikiquote:))