A reader writes:
I'm sure I am only one of many fans who will point out that Star Trek has already covered this topic in some depth (as is so often the case). From the Wiki entry for the episode "A Taste Of Armageddon":
The crew of the Enterprise visits a planet whose people fight a computer simulated war with a neighboring enemy planet. The crew finds that although the war is fought via computer simulation, the citizens of each planet have to submit to real executions inside 'disintegration booths' based on the results of simulated attacks. The crew of the Enterprise is caught in the middle and are told to submit themselves voluntarily for execution after being 'killed' in an 'enemy attack'.
Whoever thinks science fiction has no social purpose needs to rethink their assumption.
The Dish 