Videogames as Art

[FURY_007]

I know I know I know, bad topic and the like, but I was talking about it with a friend of mine today and before I didn't really care one way or the other because I just wanted to play some goddamn videogames, but when we were talking bout it, I truly think they are, because isn't art what artists perceive around them?

I'll take sandbox games as the most obvious example, the GTA Series recreated Miami, 3 of the most well-known California cities, and especially NYC. They did so much research and recreated it to their perception, and creating a wonderful backdrop/atmosphere of NPC's and their cars to create mayhem, Then Red Dead Redemption created a very stereotypical Western scenario as a game, creating a very Frontier atmosphere, with cowboys and lawmen throughout the land. Again, awesome backdrop, the development team created how they percieved a Western settlement would be.

Also the Metal Slug series is IMO playable art, seeing how everything from the backdrop and terrain to the sprites and their animationsare hand-drawn

At anyrate, I know the stigma about this topic but I just thought I'd share my 2 cents, but back to playing Day of Defeat: Source, such a fun game, if you wanna join in come on in, the water's fine

P.S. Thoughts, Comments, Trolls,Ebert-bashing? lol

 

[Judgement101]

Oh god, you do not know what you have unleashed!

 

[KefkaCultist]

If Jackson Pollock splattering paint randomly onto a canvas in different ways is art then so is spending years creating vivid worlds and characters

 

[Savagezion]

Art is so undefinable no one can say if they are.

Now take my argument as the most valid and prevent this!

Oh god, you do not know what you have unleashed!

The Supreme Court can apparently.

 

[Savagezion]

Games are supposed to be fun, not art.

So art is suppose to be serious, not fun? fun = not art?

 

[T_ConX]

Video Game are not Art.

I don't want Video Games to be considered Art.

And you don't want Video Games to be considered Art.

Why?

Because if Video Games are Art, then Video Games get to exist in the same category as this:

 

[Burningsok]

Games are supposed to be fun, not art.

why do you perceive videogames as fun but not art. What is art to you, I wanna know.

 

[lozfoe444]

I think games can be entertaining and artistic, just like books, music, and movies.

 

[BrassButtons]

Art is so undefinable no one can say if they are.

This. Things are declared 'art' on a completely arbitrary basis depending on who is talking. Arguing over whether something should be considered art makes as much sense as arguing over whether chocolate should be considered superior to vanilla. It's subjective.

 

[Boneasse]

Well, in this case:

They most definetly are art. At least in my definition. Otherwise, they're just fun to play and, well, games. Not art, I'd say.

 

[Burningsok]

Games are supposed to be fun, not art.

why do you perceive videogames as fun but not art. What is art to you, I wanna know.

I don't care about art, or what is or isn't art. I play video games to have fun, that's all.

we all do man, but art is the only thing videogames have that keeps it protected by the First Amendment. You're basically bashing a media you love with your first statement. Look we play games to be entertained. Some look at art pieces like portraits in the same way... seriously. It's interesting to them and a bit entertaining as well. It's just a mental form of entertainment. Video games are the same way only it combines both mental and physical interactions in order to get the full experience.

 

[Savagezion]

IF video games are defined as "not art" by the Supreme Court, the amount of "mature rated" games will become more sparse. As well, it will be very hard to buy a hard copy of a game. Digital distribution may or may not be aloud as a back door which works kinda for PC gamers but you console gamers are going to be jumping through hoops to get a game.

Consoles are going to be only for games rated "T" and below. Because games are meant to be fun, like toys, not art. There will be no tolerance for edgy or conversial topics in them as they will be marketed mainly in the interest of minors.

 

[Drakmeire]

Bioshock, shadow of the colossus, Ico, and REZ... I think those four games speak for themselves

 

[Savagezion]

Video Game are not Art.

I don't want Video Games to be considered Art.

And you don't want Video Games to be considered Art.

Why?

Because if Video Games are Art, then Video Games get to exist in the same category as this:

But also in the same catagory as this:


Yeah, we haven't quite reach that level yet but I think with games like Flower, Shadow of the Collossus, and at the risk of boiling things even the Mass Effect series I would say we are on our way to getting there. There will always be artists out there who are "misunderstood" (Superman64 - read: suck) and "unappreciated in their time" (Psychonauts) but that is part of art that is a risk. Van Gogh died with little recognition yet today he is a household name as one of the greatest painters in the artistic field.

 

[ViaticalTarsier]

Really who cares if its art or not? I go to the store to buy a GAME to play not a piece of art. I get tired of the "Anything can be art" people.

Lets leave games as games and leave art in the museums and art galleries.

 

[OniSuika]

Well, someone much smarter than me recently explained to me that art is not any one object, or medium. It can be anything that has value within itself to you.

I think it's a flawless definition. Why else would everyone argue how a lot of things claimed as art aren't art? It isn't because they are, or because they aren't. It's simply because it was valued and appreciated by people other than the ones who disagree.

So to me, video games are art. They're something I appreciate, something I enjoy, something I value for being what they are, and something I want to see develop.

...That make sense?

 

[octafish]

Bioshock, shadow of the colossus, Ico, and REZ... I think those four games speak for themselves

Well not Bioshock, if that is art then it is the equivalent to a performance artist nailing his knob to a plank.

Anyway there is at least one game that is art and even Ebert would be able to play it and understand it, although he probably wouldn't like it. 1995's I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is art, nasty distubing art, the video equivalent to Goya's Saturn.

 

[Tanis]

Video games are not art.

They are a child's play thing.

 

[Burningsok]

Games are supposed to be fun, not art.

why do you perceive videogames as fun but not art. What is art to you, I wanna know.

I don't care about art, or what is or isn't art. I play video games to have fun, that's all.

we all do man, but art is the only thing videogames have that keeps it protected by the First Amendment. You're basically bashing a media you love with your first statement. Look we play games to be entertained. Some look at art pieces like portraits in the same way... seriously. It's interesting to them and a bit entertaining as well. It's just a mental form of entertainment. Video games are the same way only it combines both mental and physical interactions in order to get the full experience.

I understand, sorry if I sounded too harsh, but after the whole Metroid other M fiasco, I'm a little tired of people overthinking video games.

meh your fine. I think some people when they think of the word art, the first thing that comes to mind is a European asshole of an artist who claims his art is far superior to others, yet his' works of art are crap with no effort put into them. Yeah that's a bit of a stretch lol.

 

[SimuLord]

Grumble grumble, Roger Ebert is still right, rant about distinction between art and gameplay, call for simpler games, praise for games I like, lather, rinse, yada yada yada, 10 people disagreeing with me, 10 more thinking I'm the biggest asshole this forum's ever seen, 2 people defending me, a big pile of "quoted" PMs from the system, here we go again.

OK, that should condense things a bit.