When the argument 'Videogames are Art' comes up...

[Heart of Darkness]

Minecraft. I then throw in the argument that judging games based on qualities done better in other media (cinematography, graphics, music, writing) is a stupid way to judge games as an art form and then quote from Chris Crawford's The Art of Interactive Design [http://www.amazon.com/Art-Interactive-Design-Euphonious-Illuminating/dp/1886411840/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291393103&sr=8-1] in stating that the only games that are art are the ones that actually take advantage of their unique interactive nature.

 

[crudus]

I tend to think Shadow of the Colossus, Mass Effect 2, KoToR 2, Metal Gear Solid 3. The list goes on but those are off the top of my head.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

Dark Chronicles/Dark Cloud 2. For for a game to be considered art by me it must have all of these things.
Good Story
Good Gameplay

Spoiler: Good looks

I find it extremely pretty especially for a PS2 game​

Spoiler: Awesome music

And may it not be the best in all aspects, its dammed awesome in all of them.

 

[Veylon]

My take on it is that to accept video games as art, they have to succeed artistically as video games. It's gameplay that has to count first and be the art. Otherwise, if we're praising the cutscenes or music or voiceacting, the game isn't being judged by it's core attribute, that which makes it a game.

Hopefully you aren't saying that we have to *only* look at gameplay when judging the artistic merit of a game. After all, people take the script and music into account when reviewing movies, and lyrics into account when reviewing songs.

No, that's true. But on the other hand... Imagine I made a movie by having a series of still images of famous paintings set to classical music. I suppose in some sense it's art because it's made of art, but the entire concept of 'movie' had been degraded to simply showcasing other forms of art. It's not art as a movie. It doesn't demonstrate that movies can be art, except in the most banal and superficial sense. I'm concerned that those who want games to be art tend to want to limit them in just this sense.

 

[chainer1216]

i personally view all games as art

I knooooow you didn't mean this one, but I played a demo for a 3-on-3 hockey game in which all sound fx in the menus are guys doing *pshit* *boing* and such sounds.

hey now, I'm not saying all art is good, I'm just saying that anything thats entertaining, makes you think, or makes you feel, is art.

i mean, look at modern art, its just junk thrown together and welded in place or paint thrown at a canvas, and people still consider that crap art.

 

[GreyFox389]

I just ask the person what isn't a work of art.

 

[Halo Fanboy]

Art of Fighting.

Most art game of all arts.

Has art in name.

 

[Bananahs]

Shadow of the Colossus.

Although I find the whole argument kind of... well... not an argument. Because art is whatever you want it to be, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thus I think that every game ever has the potential to be art.

 

[Hussmann54]

Wow... I honestly expected when I turned the handle on this jack and the box, that a troll would come out....

You guys are awesome. I had to give a throw down on another thread about why its stupid for people to defend video games as art as vigorously as they do (its not weither or not they actually are art, its that fact that some people are so lit up, they forget the value of "subjective" and instead just want everyone to think they are right.)

Shadow of the Colossus.

Although I find the whole argument kind of... well... not an argument. Because art is whatever you want it to be, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thus I think that every game ever has the potential to be art.

yes, you.. you get a cookie...

This thread on the other hand is simply opinion. no "IM RIGHT! U ALL DEZERVES TO DIE! UR ALL SO STUPIDZ!"

ok, rant done.

Portal (actually alot of valves stuff, it might not be to good on the eyes, but the physics there are a damn good piece of programing.

Assasins creed. lots of detail and scenery (somebody was paying attention that day at work)and all in a vast setting allows me to forget just how bad I am at that game and how the controls and I just dont click. so its kinda like the opposite of portal in that sense....(see.... juxtaposition.... most people dont get that sort of thing....)

Fallout is another one concerning depth, I really like just how long you can play that game before you ever truly "finish" it.

Im sure there are others, i just dont care to think that hard on a friday afternoon....

 

[Ampersand]

Every game is art, it doesn't matter if it's a good game or not.

 

[zfactor]

Portal, followed promptly by Mass Effect.

Same here, although I though ME2 was less "artsy" than ME1 (because the plot was mostly about your crew, while a lot of shit happened, not much influenced the galaxy, only the ending mission). Of course, that might have been the point, all the small things you did for your crew (big for them) will influence the galaxy in ME3 (hopefully...). So I recant my opening statement.

And all I have to say about Portal is my avatar.

 

[Fidelias]

Bioshock. Definitely Bioshock.

The Mass Effect series.

The Knights of the Old Republic Series.

I hear Shadow of the Colossus should be in there, still trying to get an emulator for it...

Halo as a series. My opinion anyways...

Golden Sun (YESSSS DARK DAWN!!!!!!!) (Sorry... nerdgasm.........)

SOME of the Final Fantasy games, namely Crisis Core.

Fallout 3 and New Vegas

Okay, that's it, I think...

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

None, really, but art itself is highly subjective. I enjoy games on an entertainment basis, rather than an artistic one. Same with movies.

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

So many. Art doesn't have to be graphical. How about literary artistic games -- the narrative being artistic or thematic?

Silent Hill, a master of psychological atmosphere and probing the dark underbelly of human thought.
Metal Gear, an epic series on war and its consequences as told by a series of expert soldiers (Protests about Raiden aside).
Xenosaga, especially the Rubedo/Albedo arc as a tragic tale of immortality and dealing with the death of loved ones.
Persona, a symbolic romp through confronting one's own dark thoughts.
System Shock, on hubris and atoning for your crimes, as well as a mastery of psychological immersion.
Portal, an exercise in unusual and immersive character interaction, and possibly the story of a villain's planned suicide (there's an article on this I like).

I'm sure there is more to this list, but these are the first few that ran through my head.

 

[Halo Fanboy]

I'm on my first playthrough of Final Fantasy VII now (I know, I know, I've tried many times, it's so good *happy tear*) and it's the first gaming I've done in a while, so this thread will also be a good resource to plumb so I can just stay in amazing games only.

Start with these art games:
http://insomnia.ac/reviews/videogame_art/

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

Someone mentioned Okami -- how could I forget. I like the unique graphic arts style games also. Valkyria Chronicles also had a very hand-drawn look.

 

[Spookimitsu]

Bushido Blade 2

SOTC - truly the great things about this game were the atmosphere, with the music, the invitation to explore, and the HORSE had the BEST AI. It was like a living creature. I miss Aggro

Murasama - the Demon's Blade; Gorgeous game defines "Lush" graphics, beautiful music, and it's pretty much a metroidvania about Ninja's & Swords. If they stopped pressing this one I wouldnt be surprised if it increased in value.

AC series (console releases)

hmmm.... (ponders)

 

[Flamezdudes]

BioShock first.

Red Dead Redemption and the Mass Effect games second.

 

[liveslowdiefast]

I always say mine craft.

 

[moretimethansense]

Okami, Okami a million times Okami

There are quite a few games I'd hold up as evidence to support the games are art arguement but Okami is in my mind just about the best overall example I can Give,
If only it wasn't so god damn easy.