One of the main attractions of video gaming is an opportunity to escape from real-life situations.

That’s the view of Dr Gail Iles, Physics lecturer at RMIT University and new regular on 3AW Mornings.

On the back of PAX – a gaming culture convention taking place in Melbourne this week – Doctor Iles says the “best part” of gaming is the fact it doesn’t take place in the real world.

“The real world is full of illness, war, famine, drought and a lot of saddening things,” she told Neil Mitchell

“Where in a computer game, things are a lot simpler.”

She said this weekend’s PAX gaming convention taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was the only of its type to take place outside of the United States.

“For three days, all the nerds in Australia get together and play all manner of games,” she said.

“(Those at the convention) will play video games, arcade games and board games.”

Click PLAY to hear the full interview on 3AW Mornings