Smithsonian's Art of Video Games Selections Announced

[LightOfDarkness]

Windows, Action: Portal?
Portal is an action game?

 

[2xDouble]

Dang! The Zelda series represented 5 times (Original, Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess)! Not bad, Nintendo... I think.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

Attack Of The Mutant Camels is in there! Classic.

 

[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.

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.

Let me tell you, you are missing out. This was a platformer involving traveling to the mental plane. To put it short, each and every mind you visit was a level all of it's own, the details inside describing the character it belongs to. You got a conspiracy situation in one mind, you're Godzilla to a race of fish people in another, one is a well-kept and organized puzzle, one is an all night dance party, one is the jaded fantasies of a failed actress.

These levels weren't just there to look good, they were the visual representations of each character's feelings, their joys and their woes and their histories. In a couple of minds you find memories of tragedies that their respective characters have hidden away in their minds, never to be seen again unless you look scrutinizingly on them.

I could go on forever about how Psychonauts does the art thing so well, but it really is a game you have to try out to see its glory.

 

[Fitzcaraldo]

WTF? Why is Minecraft listed as a combat/strategy game? Don't get me wrong, I definitely think it should be in there somewhere, but it would be hard to think of a worse category for it IMO.

 

[Realitycrash]

Fallout better be in it, or else..-Shakes fist-

Fallout 1 won against Grim Fandango.

Its a good day.

Edit: correction, the PDF list is hard to read. Crappy Adobe.

Grim Fangango was a rather sweet game, though. Sad it had to go.

 

[anotherdamnwatanabe]

To call this The ART of Video Games is misleading. Smithsonian documents history and cultural significance, not artistic quality. Brutal Legend was very fun because I am a metal head but that game didn't have the same KAPOW Psychonauts did.

Heavy Rain on the other hand was like a very boring adventure game. It was like the Sims with adventure elements. That is only art to a boring person.

 

[MegaPoster]

Glad to see that Zack and Wiki got in.

 

[Poopster]

omg einhander is on the list! i'm so happy

 

[Skyy High]

Halo 2 beat Psychonauts? WTF? This was supposed to be an "Art of Video Games" selection, not a "All-time favorite games" poll.....

 

[Lordpils]

Sony Playstation 2

Action winner - Shadow of the Colossus
Adventure winner - Okami

Total win right there.

I actually jumped out of my seat and cheered when I saw that.
Edit: This exhibit isn't perfect, but it's pretty damn good.

 

[IvoryTowerGamer]

Part of the problem was the weird way they divided genres and eras. It left some really good games vying for a single spot whereas more lackluster games got chosen in less competitive categories.

Still, most games that deserved to get in did, which I suppose is good enough.

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

I'm just happy to see that video games are getting enough respect to even have a exhibit like this.

Also happy to see that Final Fantasy Tactics made it.

 

[random_bars]

Well, if the exhibit is meant to showcase 'striking visual effects, the creative use of new technologies and the most influential artists and designers' then Brutal Legend seems a good choice, since it has that in spades. Striking visuals? Check, every second of the game. Creative use of new technologies? Well, they practically created a new genre and perfected it within one game, so check. Influential artists and designers? Tim Schafer, case closed, check.

I agree it's ridiculous that Halo 2 was chosen over Psychonauts but that doesn't mean Brutal's inclusion is any less valid, especially given the criteria.

 

[hazard99]

For xbox 360 /Strategy LotR BfME II won? The game looks and plays awfully on the 360. Darwinia should have won, but even Halo Wars would have been a better choice than LotR.

 

[CMelissinos]

To call this The ART of Video Games is misleading. Smithsonian documents history and cultural significance, not artistic quality. Brutal Legend was very fun because I am a metal head but that game didn't have the same KAPOW Psychonauts did.

Heavy Rain on the other hand was like a very boring adventure game. It was like the Sims with adventure elements. That is only art to a boring person.

Except that this exhibition will be in the Smithsonian American ART Museum....

 

[Jumplion]

Some good choices here. I am so glad that Shadow of the Collosus got recognition, it truly deserves to be honored by the Smithsonian.