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Some online games are intent on covering topics that are usually covered in the newspapers or educational TV shows. At the sixth annual Games for Change conference, the games' developers gathered to discuss how to best use their products to bring about better understanding of issues, ranging from human rights to the environment, global conflict, and the current recession.

"This year we're seeing real changes. We're seeing new evidence, research from some of the top scholars, finally people are getting it," says President Suzanne Seggerman of Games for Change. "They're seeing that games can do a lot more, they can inspire, engage, educate and inform."

One of the big issues in the sixth conference is the same one from the first - how to strike that magical balance between fun and educational.

Alan Gershenfeld, a former executive at video game developing giant Activision, says some of the best lessons may come from mainstream titles that have hit that sweet spot unintentionally.

"It's more like chocolate and peanut butter versus chocolate and broccoli," says Gershenfeld. "So the kids just feel like they're playing a great game, whether it's a social networking game, a mobile game, an Xbox game, a downloaded game. It just feels like a great game but there's really embedded learning or empowerment or civic engagement or awareness built into the game."

"There's a lot of anecdotal evidence and hopefully there will be more empirical evidence that kids who play Guitar Hero actually go out and buy guitars and play guitars in the real world," continues Gershenfeld. "Well, that's a game affecting what I believe is a positive behavior change - kids getting immersed in music."

While there is an effort to get big-time developers to include better morals into their blockbusters, some say that does not need to be the ultimate goal.

"Games are like film or music or other forms of popular media. There's room for a lot," says independent game designer Eric Zimmerman. "There's room for high-budget action films filled with special effects, but there's also room for the game equivalent of 'An Inconvenient Truth' or a historical drama."

To check out some of the dozens of free Games for Change yourself, visit GamesForChange.org/play.