In or near London next Thursday (25th) and looking for a slice of gaming discussion mixed with hands-on play? Then you'll probably be interested in the event ex-gamesblogger Aleks Krotoski is running at the Science Museum. Titled "What are games *really* teaching us?" the event includes a panel discussion that looks at the cultural ideologies of gaming – think capitalism, communism and feminism – as well as hands-on play with relevant games such as Harvest Moon, Job Island: Hard Working People and Civilisation. Or, as the blurb says:

Commercial computer games are built by designers whose personal philosophies and social backgrounds creep into their products. They're at times explicit (e.g., war games portrayal of enemy soldiers), and at other times implicit (.e.g., 'God Sims' reinforcing various political and financial ideologies). Why is Lara Croft attractive? What does the hippy ideology of Northern California have to do with virtual world Second Life? This lively discussion looks at what the underlying ideologies of games are teaching us when we play them.

The panel includes Pat Kane, author of Play Ethic and – for those 80s kids reading – a member of popsters Hue & Cry, and games researcher and consultant John Kirriemuir.

What Are Games Really Teaching Us? takes place at the Dana Centre at the Science Museum on Thursday 25 March between 7-9pm and is free to enter.

What do you think then? Do games designers really allow their "personal philosophies and social backgrounds" to influence the games they make? Personally I would argue that – for example - Blade Runner has been more of an influence on gaming than political ideology. But what do you think?