Smithsonian's Art of Video Games Selections Announced

[ronald1840]

YES!!
Bioshock, Shadow of the Colossus, and Okami are now artistically, culturally and aesthetically significant art works. This is great.

 

[T-Bone24]

OKAMI IS IN IT! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Ahem. I love Okami, so happy it's in a museum now. That feels weird to say.

 

[Formica Archonis]

Pitfall beat out Adventure and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial in the "Adventure" category on the Atari VCS, Zaxxon beat Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom and Carnival in the ColecoVision "Target" category, and Sid Meier's Pirates! triumphed over Little Computer People and M.U.L.E. in "Combat/Strategy" on the Commodore 64. You remember those, right?

Yes, I do. Now all you kids get off my lawn! *Waves cane.*



Jumpman beat Impossible Mission? For real? Better game with better graphics. Seriously, there's a reason a dozen games the sprites [http://www.abc64.de/awards/ripoff/ripoff1st1024.html] of the hero from Impossible Mission. Oh, well, I guess it's all Epyx, so can't complain too loud....



And why was Archon listed as an NES game? It started* on the C64 and it was more of a combat/strategy game than Little Computer People (for all you kids: 8 bit The Sims).

EDIT: *Okay, no it didn't. But the C64 port predates the NES port. And it's still more of a combat/strategy game than LCP!

 

[Semudara]

No Psychonauts makes me a sad panda. So does Ocarina of Time beating Majora's Mask.

But still, nice list.

It bothers me that Majora's Mask and Paper Mario were pitted against Ocarina of Time in the first place. Ocarina certainly should have the win, but the other two would also be stellar inclusions for different reasons. Ah well, I guess sacrifices have to be made...

 

[The Shade of Time]

I love The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, I'm happy to see that, Ocarina of time and Portal go down in history, though I would have prefered it if Tales of Symphonia won.

 

[StriderShinryu]

My only real major complaint about the list is Deus Ex losing to Doom 2. Ugh.

Too much Zelda and Mario

Gotta agree with this. Overall the list of winners is a pretty good one, but there are far too many Zelda and Mario games included, particularly given that this is supposed to be an exhibition of games as art and I don't see either Mario or Zelda as overly artistic beyond their iconic visual design. In fact, the Zelda game I'm sure most would consider to be the most artistic (Majora's Mask) was I think the only Zelda title to not win it's category.

 

[Sixcess]

Action: Deus Ex lost to DOOM II? Don't get me wrong, DOOM II was cool. But Deus Ex was the best FPS ever made.

Deus Ex would have been a better fit in the Adventure category since it's much more of an RPG with an FPS perspective than a straight up action game. Besides, nothing should beat DOOM as far as action is concerned. In terms of influence, few games really followed in DE's footsteps (more's the pity) whereas DOOM is the game that put FPSs on the map and every game in the genre owes something to it.

As to the other picks, as I said in the other thread on this topic, I'm sad that there's no acknowledgement of Tomb Raider in the PS1 category. Feels like the early games in the series don't get the credit they deserve these days on account of the series having lost its way in more recent years.

 

[The Hot Sauce Thief]

IF KoToR isn't in there, I will be very mad. 'nuff said

 

[Beryl77]

This list is better than I expected but is it only me or are there a lot of Zelda games?

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

They should have had a privite selection.

I most are good, but many were selected just for popularity.

For example, OoT was AMAZING, but as far as emotional depth, atmosphere, and other "art" stuff, Majora's Mask was far better.

 

[KeyMaster45]

You guys are upset but they ran an article here a few months ago about the voting being open to the public. I know I signed up and voted for what I thought should win, some of my picks got in and some didn't. Overall I think the public did a pretty good job picking some of the better representatives of our trade.

I'm also pretty sure that Brutal Legends and Psychonauts were in different categories, so one getting in doesn't mean it caused the other to lose. Frankly I think it does deserve to be in there; it had stunning visuals and one bitchin' soundtrack. I wish Psychonauts had made it in as well if only on the Velvetopia level alone. Both games are equally as worthy to be in the exhibit it's unfortunate that one of them didn't make it.

-EDIT-
Okay yeah, just saw that Psychonauts lost to Halo 2. Someone needs to be beaten; repeatedly.

 

[Nazulu]

WTF! Where the hell is Metroid Prime! Echoes is a sad sequel in comparison.

Meh. At least Ocarina of Time is up there instead of Majora's Mask, design and music was shit loads better, which also means better atmosphere.

 

[starwarsgeek]

As to the other picks, as I said in the other thread on this topic, I'm sad that there's no acknowledgement of Tomb Raider in the PS1 category. Feels like the early games in the series don't get the credit they deserve these days on account of the series having lost its way in more recent years.

Tomb Raider was the winning game in the Saturn's action category

Overall, it's a pretty fantastic list. It doesn't have all the greats, of course, but that's what future exhibits are for

Edit: But no representation for handheld gaming? That's a little disappointing...

 

[Yureina]

Fallout is on the list, both the first and third games. It is good enough for me. :3

 

[Mezzo.]

Psychonauts not being a winner fills me with disgust. That was a video game that very, very easily argues for the whole spiel in the first place. And they gave that to Halo 2? Ridiculous.

 

[spartan231490]

Yeah, Brutal Legend over Psychonauts. That really is a sharp kick in the groin.

Brutal legend over a flash game is a sharp kick in the nuts.

 

[spartan231490]

Psychonauts not being a winner fills me with disgust. That was a video game that very, very easily argues for the whole spiel in the first place. And they gave that to Halo 2? Ridiculous.

I agree with Halo 2, to an extent. I haven't played Psychonauts, so I can't comment on it's deservedness, but halo 2 can easily be considered a commentary on the "dire cost of civilization when diplomacy fails. We're learning political science here."
Ok, I can see Halo 2 being argued as deserving, but in all likelihood there are games out there that deserve recognition above that. Missile defense has a very strong case made for it, in my opinion, just in the Extra Credits episode about narrative mechanics in games. I mostly posted just to post that quote, because it's from my favorite movie of all time, and because in that light it might lend just enough credibility to the decision to let non-halo fanboys get some peace at night.

 

[jumjalalabash]

You guys really need to read the list of nominees before you start complaining. Half the games people whine about were nominated.