How to 'educationalize' anything

I realize 'educationalize' isn't a word, but I think it should be.  See if we can rationalize why we need chocolate, we could rationalize why a Wii game is educational, but I think it is way more fun to just 'educationalize' everything.

Dude likes to play 'Lord of Ultima'  (so do I, feel free to check it out)  and Age of Empires III.

Which causes the two halves of myself to argue.

Type A me:  That game is too much screen time, he will rot his brain instead of working on his writing, which by the way is rather pathetic'

'Unschooling Libertarian me: 'Oh phooey, I played hours and hours of this kinda game as a kid.  I turned out fine, and besides it is prolly good for him, and it works his computer skills which he needs more than writing anyway"

Right, so I guess I need to educationalize LOU.  (Lord of Ultima)

While playing both games, Dude has to manage several cities.  Resources come in, he spends them to upgrade his town, or recruit warriors. Pretty basic strategy game goals. LOU is mainly a text and pretty stationary graphic game, while AOE has state of the art graphics, time and little soldiers or workers are constantly moving.

There is some battle with monsters or with a computer foe.

During all the play Dude has to actually handle basic concepts of reading, graphics alone are not enough.  Plus he has to constantly keep his workers working (though that idle worker button is genius!)  explore new area, and plan attacks.  All useful management skills.  there is some math while he has to determine, which upgrades he can afford and which are most important.  Not to mention he learns useful budgeting skills.  Since you can't do everything, and there is no buying on credit, he has to spend the money he has, and preferably on the 'necessities' first before the fluffy extras.  (for example it does you no good to have the top of the line armor, if you failed to research the soldier first.)

I suppose these don't make for a pretty resume, but I am certain Dude will be able to refine his skills at management, while having fun with the computer.

Or at the very least he will make a decent partner for an AOE lan party.  He already is a help not a detriment, one day I expect him to be better than I at the game.

Type A me: yeah well, it might be educational, OH we could plan a little lesson on how to manage things better, maybe a chart, and a power point presentation, or ......

Unschooling libertarian me:  "Shush, I need to ship some resources for my palace on LOU"