Arty Games

[Mooshman]

When arty games spring to mind I instantly picture Bioshock.

I'm not going to mention what people have said about Rapture bleeding atmosphere... From the steps of the Big daddy echoing through the ruins of a once vibrant city or "La Mer" playing as you kick your way through yet another ravaged area of the game.

No, when it comes to Art in games, just one scene springs to mind.

~ If you haven't completed Bioshock as of yet, would you kindly not read the spoilers below ~

In fort frolic, Sander Cohen (or Sander 'fucking' Cohen to the ladies) snaps once you place the 3rd picture on his masterpiece. A fight ensues, the usual "kill-all-the-enemies-to-continue" room...

-then "Waltz of the flowers starts to play"

I first thought the use of the song was gimmicky and quite cliche, (acrobatic enemies + classical music = done to death in every medium) but something dawned on me:

Due to the speedy nature (and ballet-like dodging) of the splicers, the player has to quickly weave to dodge their attacks, and frantically spin to keep sight of the foes....

I was dancing to the music, in order to survive... just like all the other faceless enemies in that room, I was dancing to Sanders tune.

I know its rather subjective, and not everyone who played that scene got the same message or experience as me, but isn't that what art is?

I've stared at paintings and movies that have given me a message that other people haven't gained, but to be in the driving seat and be immersed in the game and actually in control when this realisation hit me it was so powerful. Movies can whisper, but games have the potential to scream.

Other games have had that effect on me, but since they've been brought up over 90 times it seems superfluous to mention them at this stage.

TL;DR - OMFG!!!! RAPTURE IS LIEK S00 AMAZIN!

 

[Angrywyvern]

I've read all sorts of press concerning the "games are art" argument as of late, but I haven't heard anyone say anything about The Path. I find this strange, because The Path seemed to be one of the most artsy games I've ever heard of, just because it didn't focus on really anything but getting the artistic message across, and providing an atmosphere that really stimulated the senses.

 

[FROGGEman2]

When I was doing this to my friend, I showed them Flower (which they loved and played till the end) and then Portal (which they loved and played till the end). Right now I'm trying to get them through Half-Life 2.

 

[Z-Ri]

There is a gamecube game called Whirl Tour; I found a copy of it in a bargin bin at Menards for something like three bucks. It is the best (first) skateboarding/scooter game I have ever played, and I would recommend it to a new comer in a heartbeat.

The game is easy enough to learn, and puts some reel imagination into the skating envoirments and objectives. I don't know how far it goes in the "Games as art" debate, but its a great little gem for those looking for an access point into the skatboarding genre, or even games as a whole.

 

[silversun101]

Has Shadow of the Colossus been said? Shadow of the Colossus has probably been said. In fact, I KNOW someone out there has already said, "Shadow of the Colossus".

I'm saying it anyways.

From it's beautiful, minimalist take on the classic "Save the Princess" story trope to the jaw-dropping gorgeous and often epic set pieces and scenery, SotC can at the same time fill the player with feelings of both grand heroism and sad serenity. But what makes SotC a true success is how it manages to convey a grand and emotionally charged story with little to no dialogue, while turning the audience's expectations of what a hero is on its head. Never before have I looked upon the face of a giant boss monster and felt regret about what had to come next.

Plenty of games task you with killing your adversaries. Far too few ask you to contemplate their deaths.

P.S. And I am going to play The Last Guardian until my eyes bleed.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

The Path is very moving and disturbing at times.
I'd like to submit The Graveyard as a "game" that is "Art".
Although there isn't much game to it.

 

[SheerShere]

If I ever had to convince someone that games are art I would instantly whip out Machinarium.

http://machinarium.net/demo/

Click the link, play the demo and tell me it isn't art. And buy the full version, the creators deserve it.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

What? No Morrowind. Well, Morrowind was more artistic in its fantastic sense of architecture...*drools at Telvanni towers*

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Arty Games

Five games to use in your next discussion about whether or not games are art.

Read Full Article

I'm just curious as to why Ico and Shadow of Colossus were left out. As if any games could qualify as art I definitely think these two games would be up for it. Obivously you can't say or account for every game as being art but I think these two qualify. Although I can see why Bioshock was left out.

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

I'm playing through "The Longest Journey" now. It's worth it for the story and characters, despite the fact that I really really really really really hate "old-school" point-and-click adventures. A lot of it comes down to trying object A on object B and hoping that you're right, and as usual there's only one solution to every puzzle. I mean, using a gold ring on a pair of electrical cables? Using an inflated rubber ducky on a clamp? Who the hell DOES that?

That said... in terms of character, atmosphere, just about everything other than gameplay, it is a fantastic achievement. So yeah, I'd agree with that one. The others I haven't played.

 

[theSovietConnection]

I'd say GTA 4, while not arty in the traditional sense, (IE:you must wear a beret whilst discussing it's merits) was one of the most emotionally evocative games I've ever played. I'd also second Seamus's pick of Jade Empire, and I'd make an argument for STALKER: SOC. While it doesn't have any great characters or bright colors, it's got the hands down most pervasively creepy and desperate atmosphere of any game. Ever. Even more than Silent Hill 2 IMHO.

E

Good for mentioning S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Easily among my favorite series on the PC. I also agree with what you have to say about GTA4.

If I were to try introducing games as art to someone, I only have two games I would show them; Bioshock and Little Wheel

http://www.kongregate.com/games/fastgames/little-wheel

 

[theklng]

Arty Games

Five games to use in your next discussion about whether or not games are art.

Read Full Article

the entire point of this article is moot. you could have shown any examples, and they would still have been classified as art. art is and will be subjective. different things will always mean differently towards individual people.

this is my biggest gripe with anyone such as that guy who is causing all the commotion (i forget his name): it's subjective, so why make a statement on it at all? it's redundancy, really.

i forgot to mention: anyone who wants to be a critic for a living should have it imprinted in their minds that they are formulating subjectivity. i'm not sure whether american standards dictate that a label should be put on every piece of equipment stating, "experience may vary", or not.

 

[Taneer]

Damn, I was thinking Portal AND Silent Hill 2 the whole time. Nice moves, this one won me over.

 

[Shankity Stick]

Personalty i think Metroid Prime could also be considered an Artistic game.
Between the Environments, Creatures, and the Soundtrack...
It was an amazing experience, and still is. (This is a quote. I tryed to crop is and messed it up)
Some thing I don't think people get is art in a video game and art in, say, a painting are two very different things. Paintings have to look good and have good asthetics, where as a video game can look like pixelized tire and still be art. Most (if not all) browser baced experimental games like today I die can be considered art because they make you feel something profound, and that is my defenition of art.

 

[Zyphonee]

Every game nowadays can be considered art. Each poligon, texture and character model on most mainstream games nowadays are put together with a lot of effort to visually provoking, and that's just graphic art, but there's still the writing, which is used to "set the mood" with a lot of games, the music and, well, everything.

 

[Copter400]

Haven't played it before, but the 'Dear Esther' mod for Half-Life 2 is meant to just be you walking around, reading letters from someone. Intellectual horror, you know? Something that's 90% reading will be great for breaking someone in.

 

[boholikeu]

While the titles mentioned in the article are definitely good games, I don't think very many people would call them "high art" (which is what the original debate was about anyway). After all, even Ebert himself admitted that very few movies would fulfill his definition of art.

With that in mind, I'd probably recommend Shadow of the Colossus, The Path, Passage, and maybe even Katamari Damacy and Flower. Those titles are all fairly easy to control, and they definitely have the "high art" aura about them. Not to mention that some of those games pretty much fly in the face of the whole "art can't have points, objectives, etc" argument.

 

[Mordwyl]

The Touhou series tends to be famous not just for its large and diverse character cast but the colourful display of projectiles thrown at you. Unfortunately it's only in Japanese and not a mainstream commercial game series but it holds itself up.

 

[GhostLad]

In trying to judge what bits makes a game "art" as opposed to simply a good game, I began thinking about what normally seperates the art movies from the mainstream explodaramas.

You need a distinctive and consistent visual style.
Just like a good movie, the game should have characters with depth and good portrayal of personality (usually boils down to the quality of writing and voice acting).
It should engender an emotional response in the player. They should care about the people, and what to see more of the world.
The story can be linaer, but should not be predicatble.

Based on that, I'd say the Legacy of Kain series, starting with (and especially thinking of) the Soul Reaver line might be a good fit (the original game might have set the backstory, but wasn't that brilliant on its own). It has a solid anti-protagonist, good voice work, a wellcrafted and beautiful world, and a plot that sucks you in and make you want to know more about your fate and the fate of the world. Raziel goes from an angry and bitter seeker of vengeance, to a desperate man fighting to escape his fate. Every turn he takes seems doomed to put him further into trouble.

It's also fairly linear and storydriven, meaning a new player will not lose track of the big picture by endless sideqeusts. It is also not Nintendo Hard.

 

[Anibalbox]

ICO. Beautiful game. Simple controls. Love story. Mistery. Has it all. This is the winner, by far.

Vagrant Story (PS). Beautiful setting. Great Story.

I disagree on Jade Empire. The combat was... too annoying, i guess, and that caused me to play it for less than 2 hours.

Then I would go for games with a great story: Xenosaga Ep. 1 (did not get to play the other 3 episodes), The Witcher. Of course as you say, the combat would be too complicated for a newbie.