Video games and learning!

I had never really given much thought to video games as being a good learning experience. We constantly hear negative comments and have negative feelings about kids playing video games. But I must admit a was a little shocked and impressed when I took the time to see that kids are willing to challenge themselves with these kinds of games. This was the thing that stood out the most to me and really caught my attention of everything that we talked about in class. When most kids get frustrated in school they get angry and are quick to give up. But when kids are having a hard time passing a level in a game they just keep trying until they get it. The realization is that kids do want to be challenged. The question is why they are so willing to challenge themselves on their own but not so much in school. I keep thinking that maybe it is because it is socially accepted to play video games, but a kid who likes school is labeled a "geek". Any thoughts?