I stay away from Art discussions for the very same reason as Religion discussions. In the end it always comes down to one person saying 'Yeah, well you can't prove it's not!' and refusing to budge.
Video Games can be art? PROVE IT!
- Thread starter zombiejoe
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Super Mario Brothers. It's very well known for being completely original and a new experience, that's what the best of art is in my super awesome opinion. Games don't need to have (art doesn't need to have) super 3D realistic graphics or even a story to be art, just something different.
Okami and Muramasa the Demon Blade. Both of them are very, very beautifully drawn games, and very fun to play as well.
Well art is completely subjective, but I get what you mean. Limbo is a good example of an (at least to a lot of people I'd say) aesthetically pleasing game.
What is art, really?Housebroken Lunatic said:
No seriously, anything can really be considered art.
But this guy has it.
The atmosphere, the characters, the surreal macabre, and the fact that every enemy in the game has a metaphorical meaning to the character.
Bioshock, just give me the first 20 minutes of that game to explain various symbols, allusions, and meaning behind the various aspects of it. In addition the story itself is amazing and the splicers give you real chills. This is me thinking of art in more of strictly surface and visual sense, i am crazy about books and this colors my take on what art is, not really the pictures but the stories and the experience that you get from something is what makes it art. I would then dive into a long explanation of why painting, music, movies and games can all be art, and what they all share in common. What makes art is the feelings it can invoke, and any medium that allows this is art, art also goes beyond a surface meaning and is open to active participation on the side of the audience to find meaning and symbolism, this is why we all experience good art differently. I would then finish my speech leaving him slightly dumbfounded and walk away.
I tell him art is subjective and if he believes that videogames cannot be art, then that's his opinion and he has every right to have it.
However, if I was to have a gun pointed to my head, I guess Braid or Killer 7 would be good examples. Those games still have me thinking about their story and style after so long.
However, if I was to have a gun pointed to my head, I guess Braid or Killer 7 would be good examples. Those games still have me thinking about their story and style after so long.
I'd explain to the guy that art, as a concept, is ultimately subjective and entirely open to interpretation (I don't see anything other than aimless splatters when I look at Jackson Pollock's supposedly great artistic works, for example). Given that, I'd explain, anything can be viewed as art.
From there, I'd proceed to explain that my definition of art involves pain. Then I'd kick him in the sleighbells and go hide up a tree or something.
From there, I'd proceed to explain that my definition of art involves pain. Then I'd kick him in the sleighbells and go hide up a tree or something.
I really liked the visual art style in Zelda: Wind Waker. A few minutes if playing that is sure to convince your coworker/classmate that video games can be art.
Also, if someone ran up to me at work and said "Hey nerd, I heard you like stupid video games. THEY CAN'T BE ART LOSER!", I'd probably ask him who he got his cocaine from, purchase a bulk amount of it, and sell it back to kids at school at 150% what I bought it for. That's just the kind of person I am.
Also, if someone ran up to me at work and said "Hey nerd, I heard you like stupid video games. THEY CAN'T BE ART LOSER!", I'd probably ask him who he got his cocaine from, purchase a bulk amount of it, and sell it back to kids at school at 150% what I bought it for. That's just the kind of person I am.
Actually I can prove games arte art without naming a specific game. By showing that every part of a game is art I can prove that the game as a whole must be art (since its an artistic arrangement of art). The scripting is artt since as any programmer can tell you there is a beauty and elegance in good code. Levels are art since the designer crafted them to express a beautiful scene and a puzzle. The Music is art since as we all know Music is already established as art. Even the interface when done properly has a sort of wonderful flow and elegance that can qualify as art. The interconnections and seamless working of the various pieces into a one unique whole is art. Games are an artistic expression of an idea. I don't give a flying fuck if you think its sucks as art or you think it doesn't count it fits the definition and that makes it art, its quality is not up for question. A child's macaroni sculpture may suck but its still art and its still loved by the right people and so to are games (although they beat any kids macaroni art).
As for the D-bag who called me out I'm pretty sure his mind is made up and he's not going to change so my response would be to say "lets me show you, here" and punch him directly in the face as hard as possible.
As for the D-bag who called me out I'm pretty sure his mind is made up and he's not going to change so my response would be to say "lets me show you, here" and punch him directly in the face as hard as possible.
The ironic thing about Bioshock is that if you've played video games all your life you may have a had a different response to that game. The whole time I was playing he kept asking me to do things and I didn't want to. I was thinking 'this is just a stupid video game convention expecting me to do what ever the game suggests'. I wanted more freedom (like at the start where I tried to swim away from the island and just hit an invisible wall). Then it got to the point of it all (the plot twist) and I realised why they had been doing it. But I had not been sucked in by the plot at all so it didn't work on that level for me (although it was an okay game to play).Macgyvercas said:
As for art would say Shadow of the Colossus. Because the game controls mimic the emotion they are trying to evoke, the pacing, but mainly the idea and execution - it works on a thematic level above most games, and it does it all in a way only the medium of video games could do. I still don't feel it's art but it's a step in the right direction and a glimpse of the potential of games if they were free from financial concerns.
Team Ico did the same thing with Ico - the thematic idea of connection comes through the way you must grip the controller to hold on to Yorda. But overall Shadow of Colossus was more consistent in making its point - Setting it in a spartan landscape so that you feel a need for connection. Forcing you to observe the Colossus so that you form some sort of bond with them. Giving the Colossi fur so they are easier to empathize with. Leaving the back story unexplained allowing the player to inhabit the character etc...
I hate to be generic and say BioShock or Okami, so...
The World Ends With You. I wish I could just completely erase my entire memory of the game, so that I could play it again and experience the whole thing all over again.
The World Ends With You. I wish I could just completely erase my entire memory of the game, so that I could play it again and experience the whole thing all over again.
[h4]LIMBO[/h4]
Silent Hill 2 is a good one, too, but this is where it's at if you like arty games.