Imagination

• Reading stimulates the imagination, since the reader must picture the events of the book in his head. With video games, the visuals are pre-determined and don't engage the imagination.
  
  

Engagement

• Both reading and video games can engage the intellect, the former by asking the reader to absorb the written words, the latter by engaging problem-solving abilities and visual recognition.
  
  

Interaction

• Video games are interactive, allowing you to participate in the game and alter its parameters. Reading is more passive and you cannot alter the story.
  
  

Multiple Players

• Reading is usually a solo activity (though one can certainly read aloud to others). Video games can accommodate multiple players at once---even if those players are far away from each other.
  
  

Attention Span

• Reading helps improve attention spans, requiring the discipline to sit quietly. While video games engage a player's concentration and memory skills, they tend to disrupt the attention span more quickly.