best example of a game that you could call "art"

[TheDoctor455]

Hmm... Definitely Shadow of the Colossus. Hey, any game that can depict the tragedy of that storyline even THROUGH language-barriers is a pretty fucking good game in my book. And the sheer uniqueness of the gameplay (I still haven't experienced anything quite like it yet), definitely puts this one at the top of my list of games to prove Ebert wrong about his "games can't be art" bullshit.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30.

Not only did it provide an amazingly realistic portrayal of WWII combat but it followed a real storyline. As in, it actually happened. The game is grim and grisly and taught me more about the WWII experience than a history class ever will.

The developers made sure everything was exactly how it was in the time the game is set in, as well. Everything from the landscape to the guns. This is one of the best, most artistic games I've ever purchased and I'll never regret the ten bucks I spent on it.

 

[TheRedMax]

I've not read the rest of this thread (sorry) but I don't know if anyones mentioned Machinarium yet? This wonderful Point'n'click game was an artistic wonderland, both visually and musically!

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

I may get some flack for saying this, but...World of Warcraft. The scenery is sometimes very impressive. The art director for WoW has a lot of talent.

 

[Ryan-Phoenixan]

I can think of a few right off the top of my head, some from that top ten list that was posted from Mr. Banned Guy: Beyond Good and Evil, Oddworld, Psychonauts, Rayman 2 (made by Ancel as well), Team Fortress 2 (I mean, the shading, the characters as a whole, the brushed-on looking textures), Half-Life 2 as a whole (it's more surreal than anything), and Painkiller (it's also one of those games that's kind of surreal).

 

[Therumancer]

I generally feel that art as a medium is something that has to be understood by it's viewer. Something that is entirely dependant on interpetation is not really "art" in my opinion but typically someone's attempt to be pretencious. In general "interpetive" anything gets very little respect from me.

I think all games are art, it just varies in quality like anything, and most of them are very shallow "pop art".

 

[Ryan-Phoenixan]

In reply to the above post:
Well, the general dictionary definition of "art," as said back in my High School Art History class is anything designed or pieced together by a person from imaginative means. Really, a sofa a guy decided to build just because he wanted something to sit on could be considered "art."

Though at the same time, I can't help but think of some games as merely being made only for money rather than having creativity in mind. Anything EA Sports generally outputs goes under this class for me.

 

[Acier]

I'm reluctant to call Bioshock "art" when it's a blatant copy.



note: I loved Bioshock, but I wouldn't go far as to say it's art on a deeper level on it's art design

 

[VanityGirl]

So far, Assassin's Creed II is a beautiful game, very worthy of being called art.

 

[ToxinArrow]

In what sense? Art style? Sound? Gameplay?

 

[Goomboss]

the abes oddessy games
castle crasher/alien hominid
and maybe even timesplitters 2

 

[Acier]

So far, Assassin's Creed II is a beautiful game, very worthy of being called art.

Seriously, games aren't art because of the graphics. What is with everybody and saying games are art because they are pretty?

Erm... sorry I chose your post to rant. It's just there's been a bunch of these.

Because people don't want to look deeper than the obvious?
(Once again not jabbing at the person quoted but just in general)

And while art design is very important I agree it's not the whole package. Which is why Bioshock to me, isn't very artsy at all. I mean if thats the only criteria than Team Fortress 2 would be high on everyone's list. Hell even Valve's Left 4 Dead has a ton of stylization and attention to visual detail (although not quite as obvious), yet I don't see tons of praise and accolade for that.

 

[Acier]

But how is that the obvious answer?

I mean, have you listened to the kind of music people consider "artsy"? It is effin heinous! Even in games, people generally agree that Noby Noby Boy is an "artsy" game, and it's deliberately ugly.

So why is the knee jerk reaction to go for "Bioshock because it's pretty" or "Okami because it looks like a painting"? It isn't consistent. "Okami, because it looks like a painting. And Noby Noby Boy, because it looks like what a two year old would draw if you only gave him pink, green and orange crayons."

Because the art paradigm in most people's mind is visual. So it's more easier to connect great art design with "artistic". And don't get me wrong Bioshock and Okami had great visual themes going on (entirely bioshock from now on, never played Okami so can't say much), but visuals aren't the only draw. The story makes people feel deep with its Randian and Orewellian ideals.

And while my words from my first post were a bit harsh, I stand by them. I just think how much it lifted from System Shock 2 cheapens the whole "arty" arguement. Yes, there are different themes and elements, but not enough to call call Bioshock original or groundbreaking. That and I think System Shock 2 was superior in a few ways to Bioshock.

However it is consistent, Noby Noby Boy has a distinct artistic style, so do Bioshock and Okami. And although I hadn't heard of Noby Noby Boy until I google image searched it just now, I think the fact that it is distinct in its visual style is what gets it that artsy title. Although it kinda seems to come from the tendency for people to try and look cool for liking cool things.

 

[jthm]

Okami, Shadow of the Colossus, Ico, Bioshock, Flower, Twilight Princess. These are the only games I can think of that I've ever had some kind of brief, emotional response.

 

[VanityGirl]

snip

snip.

**sigh**
I expected such. Look, I've taken years of art, but I'm also a history fanatic. Also, if you know anything about art, it can be interrupted in different ways.
What may be art to one, is trash to another and vise-versa.

I love Assassin's Creed II because I find it to be tastful and very true to the times. I love history, and this game (while having a few incorrect things) is actually on the money about certain things that happened during that time.

Why would I consider it an art form?

Have you seen the beautiful and perfected free running? Much better than Assassin's Creed 1.

Leonardo is depicted to epic perfection. He was an a man of many talents, and the game gives him credit for being than a painter, they actually understand that Leonardo was years ahead of his time.

So sorry for not being more clear, but Assassin's Creed is art. Beautiful and accurate arctitecture, creative and fun free running, an interesting story, and many new, inventive times of assassinations.

Yes, it is art.

 

[Acier]

Snippity

When I said paradigm I meant it in the nerdy psychological way. Meaning it is the first thing to pop into our mind and we more readily associate things with it. (Like a sparrow is closer to most people's paradigm of a bird than a penguin or flamingo, we all know these are birds, but our brains or more likely to line up a sparrow with the idea of bird than it would a pelican. Most people when they hear art, more quickly think of paintings or sculptures than literature or cinema).
I was just saying in terms of games people are quick to drop to their knees for Bioshock for visuals alone (since visual arts is closer to our paradigm rather than the abstract concept of game play), and in the case of Bioshock (like i said, no idea on Okami) since it's padded with a philosophical story and unique gameplay (both completely superficial) people go bananas for it. My opinion, is that people always want to make themselves look better, so they just like things that make them looks better. (The film Citizen Kane for example, I tend to be offset by people my age saying it's their favorite film. I'm not saying it's a bad film, I even think it deserves its ranking, but is it really the movie people pull out and watch with their friends on weekends frequently?)

I just think people like being elitist, and the art world is very easy to elitisize (?) yourself in,as it can be justified in sooooo many ways.

But that's just a guess

[small]Note:Although I should probably consider Bioshock had a much wider audience than SS2, but I guess in an "artistic" sense I find SS2 superior in gameplay, atmosphere, and story. BUt art design still goes to Bioshock, I'm a Roaring 20s and Steampunk fangirl.[/small]

**sigh**

Awww, don't be sad, my comment wasn't aimed at you or even Assassin's Creed. I was just piggy backing off him. If I was calling you out I would be much more blatant about it.

And yes Assassin's Creed 2 looks amazing.

 

[WafflesandBacon]

Okami no question i use to roam around and forget the story line