As a veteran computer gamer I can offer Vladimir Putin some advice about how to handle the crisis in the Crimea, including the one precaution he should have taken – he should have saved his game before doing anything.

I start wars quite a lot; acquire vast new territories and massacre populations in the computer games Civilisation IV, Europa Universalis IV, Hearts of Iron III, Darkest Hour, Victoria II and the Total War series, although I have yet to get to the most recent TW game Rome II.