Video Games as Art?

[Lallapalalable]

Ive observed that there's a heated debate over whether or not video games should be considered a form of art.



I say they are. Why? Because I become immersed in the world that the developers spent years creating in detail, I feel the emotion that the storyline invokes (who didnt cry when Sephiroth killed Aerith?), and I sometimes walk away with a new perspective on life. They can tell a story, present beutifully rendered worlds, involve deep characters, provide incredible soundracks, or all of the above. Hell, the way I see it, they can be a culmination of all that art is. It all depends on who's behind the keyboard.

And the best part? You get to put in the effort in uncovering the full message, making the end result all the more enjoyable.

With that said, here are a few games that gave me the conviction that the genre should be considered art:

Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Katamari Damacy (PS2)
Grim Fandango (N64)
Final Fantasy (various media)
The Legend of Zelda (various Nintendo consoles)
Homeworld (PC)

How about you?

 

[Doc.]

this Idea first came to my mind when I played Bioshock, Indeed it hardly is anything but art, and one made with taste I might add. I can't say however that video games as a whole can be classified as art, but some games surely can.

 

[Lallapalalable]

Well, the issue is that some argue that anything that can be called a video game cant be a form of art. Thats like saying movies are not a form of art (also debated in some cirlcles, but not so much anymore) because "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" is out there somehwere, or that sculpting isnt because they make porn star action figures, or music because Justin Bieber is still employed.

 

[televator]

I say games CAN be art. I don't think they are inherently art. However, that also applies to film, and even modern freehand drawing/painting. I think some of the Metroid games are on par with the Alien films.While the extent of the "artistic value" of the Alien films can be debated, I don't think it can be denied that they are very well made in all technical aspects. By that yard stick, Metroid games can be an equal contender.

When it comes to absolutely visceral art, however, I think some games have just started to venture there very recently. Shadow of the Colossus is the often mentioned "poster boy" of such works, and for good reason. SotC moved me just as films like "A Very Long Engagement" or "Eternal Sunshine", and to SotC's credit the comparison isn't so straight forward because it brings in a very dark and relatively unexplored element about the possible pitfalls of unconditional love. Along that same vein is another game called Braid. Often thought of as a Mario game with a time manipulation gimmick thrown in, the game is actually brilliantly surreal....like being able to walk within and explore a Monet painting in motion.

 

[DepricatedZero]

This is something I had a discussion about a while back.

I'd say that the things that make a game artistic aren't the artwork or the world building necessarily. It's more than that.

Games that are art should have an impact on the way you look at something. With that definition there are a few that stand head and shoulders above the rest.

One that's already been mentioned is Bioshock. Now, this wasn't anything new as FPS games go. The system was fun and well thought out, but that really only serves as the lens through which we view the real art of the game. The graphics, the artwork, the story, in all aspects, is based on the works, aesthetic, characters, and ideas of Ayn Rand. The statues and buildings of Rapture in many cases reference cover art or concepts in her books. Even the founder of Rapture, Andrew Ryan, is an anagram of Ayn Rand. This game was perfectly done, imo, because it had 3 major impacts.

• The first was that it introduced her ideals in the backdrop of the game - those who don't know her, don't even know who she is or what she's about, have started on the same path of thought.
• The second is that it exemplified her ideals, it showed them in all their glory and all their corruption, it took a more realistic view at the concepts she idealized.
• It made some of the Randbots stop and think, and realize that not all is perfect in their dogma. It showed what could come of such an 'ideal' world.(Well, minus the adam.)

Other examples are games that make you change the way you think about gaming. There are a couple of those I've run in to. One that comes to mind is a game called Continuity. It's a simple platformer/puzzle game with a great twist: you rearrange the level as you play, as part of play. Imagine playing on a tile puzzle, it's kind of like that. Link below - my apologies to those easily addicted.
http://www.kongregate.com/games/glimajr/continuity

Another great example would be world building. Some games are there to tell a story(Final Fantasy), push hardware(Crysis), or just give you a system to have fun in(just about any First Person Shooter). I wouldn't say that these are particularly artistic games, though each may have its moments. Then there are games that aren't just about the characters or the plot, but that are about the world itself. A great example of this is Damnation. Damnation was a very underrated game, and for the most part the story wasn't that great. However, the actual world of the game is amazing. It's a non-Victorian-themed Steampunk Western, and the actual world building that went in to it is phenomenal. The game was designed to reimagine the genre of Steampunk and showcase it, rather than to have a compelling plot, which is unfortunate for the sales of the game, as it was a relatively straightforward mashup of Bloodrayne and Prince of Persia in terms of gameplay.

One more that comes to mind is, and was mentioned earlier, Metroid. Metroid defined the non-linear platforming genre, so much that the style of game is called "a Metroidvanya" game because of the influence of Metroid(and Castlevanya). What screams to my mind though is Super Metroid. This was a game where I have, now, managed to beat the 4 primary bosses(Kraid, Phantoon, Draygon, and Ridley) in every order combination that involves Kraid dying before Ridley. (yes, I can get to Draygon and kill him first without the gravity suit! and without cheating and falling through doors) The way the world is completely open and accessible to a good enough player is incredibly well done, artistically even.

I can go on and on, so I'll stop here.

edit: I can't skip out on Far Cry 2. While the world was built amazingly well, with weather and making full use of hardware, what really got me for Far Cry 2 was the story. The storyline and characters were all written by Rich Dansky, and the game has a distinct "Dansky feel." I can't think there's too much more I can say about it, the fact that it makes me think of a specific writer who worked on it should be telling on its own, I think.

 

[Zerosix]

This really depends of your definition of 'art'.

Using a broad definition, anything can be considered art. So yes, video games are a form of art. Whether they appeal to their audience is another thing.

http://www.langlandsandbell.com/obl03.html

Several years ago the 'artists' Langland & Bell submited their The House of Osama bin Laden (2003) interactive animation / video game into the annual Turner Pize competition. This was a breath of fresh air compared to the spliced up animals in formaldehyde, unmade beds and other tripe that is usually submitted.

If this can be cosidered a piece of 'art' then any video game can also be classified as one.


Personally when I refer to art. I am refering to either Paintings, illustations (2D based mark making), sculpture, architecture and to a lesser extent, some of the more bizarre impractical creations of the fashion world.

I put video gamesm movies, music, dance, etc in a seperate catergory.

 

[Daealis]

In short: Yes. To lengthen it a bit: Yyyyeeeeees. :lol:

I consider dancing, music, movies, paintings, sculptures and buildings as art. The only part of games that isn't art in my definition is the interactive parts. But like the latest Metal Gear Solid, the game is practically just an interactive movie. In the beginning there are parts where you literally just tap the control and the character goes on a five minute pre-recorded act. WoW has some amazing designs and beautiful scenery, as well as excellent music in it. Minecraft can create infinite worlds that can vary from the mundane little island to mind-blowing surreality.