I realize that this thread is about half a year old now, but I just found it and so I wanted to comment on it.
First of all let me say Congratulations Terminal Est on
Play (which I too enjoy reading often) publishing your letter. That's amazing. You must of been very excited.
You raise some very good points. I too believe that video games as an artistic medium have much more to offer than just a way of brainlessly wasting time. Yes they are a form of escapism, but so are movies, television programs, and even books. Case in point: I like video games, particularly RPGs, because they are a unique way of participating in a form of story-telling that is very divergent from the format of film or literature or theatre. I'd be the first to admit that some video games are more sophisticated than others, but I think this is beside the point. The simple issue here I think is that video games have evolved into much more than just a simple "waste of time" and have been moulded into todays culture as an entertaining and contemporary artform, and I think you made that message very clear in your letter Termie, Bravo!
On a more personal note, I have to be honest that I have always enjoyed reading Roger Ebert's reviews, he is actually a very intelligent and insightful journalist (usually, lol). Although I might not agree with his particular views on video games I would certainly not be as quick to label him as an "asshole" (as one poster in this thread has mentioned). It's actually kinda funny, I think I remember Roger Ebert making this comment; few might be surprised when I tell you that I think he said it during his review of the film based on the video game
Doom. Now I have never seen this movie, but from what I remember hearing from my "video game junkie" friends who did see it... this film was probably bad enough to make anyone run for the hills and avoid video games for the rest of their lives.
Oh look at me, now I'm being the judgmental one, tsk tsk.