I would argue something quite a bit different ...
How does a child (in particular a boy) envision masculinity? Often it is in the "John Wayne" Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, Army-soldiers, and Space-Marines archetype where it is good vs. evil in an ultra violent showdown. As much as some people will argue that escapist entertainment is (some how) a deep artistic expression, it is quite often just a socially acceptable way for an adult to explore their fantasies like a child does in pure imaginative play.
It should not be that surprising then that adult men enjoy returning to their childhood fantasies when playing videogames and fixate on First Person Shooters (and other games related to their childhood fantasies), or that teenage girls and adult women often enjoy games that are more similar to childhood activities they took part in (consider that The Sims and Animal Crossing are very similar to the type of play girls engage in with their doll-houses).
