extra credits: my thoughts

[binvjoh]

Play Heavy Rain, then come back and say games aren't art.

heavy rain is not a game

Bullshit. I'm sorry, it was marketed as a game, reviewed as a game, had consequences for decisions made in the game, had potential ways to "lose", and rated as a game.

It's a game.

Thank you. I'm getting rather annoyed at how simple minded some peoples idea of what makes a game can be these days.

(I realize that he was being sarcastic, but I'm still glad it gave me the opportunity to express my opinion).

 

[Hatchet90]

I was once told that if one has to question whether or not something is art, then it definitely is. So you have, without knowing it classified gaming and muscle cars as an art form.

Seriously this thread is stupid, of course games can be an art form just like movies can be an art form. Some movies more than others, just like some games more than others. Classifying a hobby as an art form doesn't give any reason to think that its less fun. Believe it or not almost everything is art, so long as you have to question it.

 

[Brown_Coat117]

I would have to go with what Guillermo del Toro has said "If you don't like, or if you think you don't like videogames, I urge you to get Shadow of the Colossus, BioShock and try them for real. You will see that they are an art form and anyone saying differently is a little out of touch. They are a narrative art form."

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

Except for the fact that most games DO have a narrative, and are in the same class as any other media that is considered art. Pretty much makes your point entirely invalid, eh?

 

[thublihnk]

I'm tired and I'm about to go to sleep, so I'll probably argue any flak I get for this in the morning but seriously, you are the worst kind of gamer. There is perfectly fine 'sheer childish fun' to be had in any genre, so really, we don't need to be concerning ourselves with that. Games could easily be the strongest artistic storytelling form, the only reason they aren't is because the market won't react to intellectual titles such as those, and that is because of people like you.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I do like extra credits quite a bit. Hearing intelligent speaking on the topic of games is nice, however sometimes I feel like the the whole "art" thing is pushed a bit too much. I'm not sure that games should be considered another form of art; they are something else entirely. Games exist primarily for entertainment, now how that is done is up to the creator of the individual games but it can certainly be done in a non"artistic" way. Mass gunfights and explosions in a good game engine can be some of the most fun things in existence, but strong narrative and character development can also be very entertaining. Really I'm saying that games are a form of media, not an art. We don't need to justify our hobby by calling the medium an art, we just need to show people that we are confident that gaming is a worthwhile and perfectly valid hobby; all we need is a little social aptitude and confidence in the things we enjoy.

 

[boyvirgo666]

to the original poster you entirely miss the point. have fun with madden

 

[The Stonker]

i really enjoy extra credits, hes a cool guy who always tries to remain unbiased and i respect him. I agree with the controversy topic but i disagree with his underlying theme of 'games as an art'. games will never be an art because games unlike movies and songs are functional, similarly a wonderfully crafted V8 muscle car is not art sure its as beautiful as one of monets finest paintings and sounds as great as an orchestra but its functional so its not an art.

and i think its better off not being an art, in my opinion a game is designed to make you have fun, its not some poncy show peice with narrative and diverity. i think by classing games as art it would ruin the purpose of a game. The minute that V8 muscle car is classed as a peice of art it ruins its soul, its meant to be driven in the same respect that a game is meant to be played and enjoyed, if you start judging a game on narrative and diverity then youre losing track of what a game is: sheer childish fun.

Games are art.
Because if we think of it, then what is art? What makes art, "art"?
You could look on a statue and say, this is art, but then you look upon a video game where you can affect the flow, you can control it.
Then isn't that art? Since art is only creativity,beauty and passion locked in one.
Btw. You missed the whole point of the video, video games don't have to be simple childish fun, they can be so much more.
For instance, Mass effect 2 is a great example and I think that everyone on the escapists can say that video games changed their life for the better, we just need our Mona Lisa, that's all.

 

[Choppaduel]

games will never be an art because games unlike movies and songs are functional, similarly a wonderfully crafted V8 muscle car is not art sure its as beautiful as one of monets finest paintings and sounds as great as an orchestra but its functional so its not an art.

Buildings are functional. Would you also say theres no art in architecture?

 

[brunothepig]

The definition of art Extra Credits (and the law) use is "the product or process of deliberately arranging symbolic elements in a way that influences and affects the senses, emotions, and/or intellect."
Music fits that definition. Movies fit that definition. Books fit that definition. And I think games fit that definition. You seem to have a rather low opinion of art, as well as a limited view on what it is.
I know the definition of art is somewhat subjective, but since (as I said) that definition is what matters legally, and it's the one you claim to disagree with, I assume it's the one Extra Credits man uses.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Ah, art. See, the thing about art is that it's not anything. Art is expression. That's really the only concrete thing anyone can say about it. Past that, any definition of art is completely subjective. Personally, I consider art to be anything that attempts to convey an idea to an audience. Why? Because the act of conveying an idea is creation in it's purest form. And art, by my definition, is creation for it's own sake.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

When I was a wee child, my concept of art was drawings and nothing else.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAgJPoM19cM

This video sums up my oppinion.

 

[Thaius]

If you don't want to focus on the artistic merit of the medium, that's fine. But you are simply and absolutely wrong when you say they cannot be an art. It's simply not true. So enjoy them for the reasons you enjoy them, but acknowledge them for what they are and what they can be. To do otherwise is simply to hold them back.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Play Heavy Rain, then come back and say games aren't art.

Don't forget Shadow of the Colossus. Or Limbo.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Play Heavy Rain, then come back and say games aren't art.

heavy rain is not a game

That may very well be so, but Silent Hill 2 is.

I'm going to avoid the inevitable Shadow of The Colossus arguement, not because it can't be considerd as art, but because of your opinion that games can't be art because they must be fun. And Silent Hill 2 is not fun, it's engaging.

Games aren't just toys. Sure, they can be, but they can also be more.

Ultimately, it depends on what your definition of art is; if in your opinion it is "stuffy old paintings and statues", then games are not art. But if it's something that engages you on an emotional level, inspires you and changes your outlook on things, then comparing it to a V8 muscle car might not do it enough justice.

 

[boholikeu]

Play Heavy Rain, then come back and say games aren't art.

Agreed, if there could only be one game they could show at the supreme court case to show games are an art form this would be it.

If you took Heavy Rain before Supreme Court, they'd ignore the story and focus on how it objectifies women and allows gamers to get their character raped with a drill.

You can't argue with a person who has made up their mind. It is sad but true.

Actually the Supreme Court would probably focus on the artistic aspects. Their whole thing is that as long as it is somewhat artistic/educational, it can't be regulated.

I do like extra credits quite a bit. Hearing intelligent speaking on the topic of games is nice, however sometimes I feel like the the whole "art" thing is pushed a bit too much. I'm not sure that games should be considered another form of art; they are something else entirely. Games exist primarily for entertainment, now how that is done is up to the creator of the individual games but it can certainly be done in a non"artistic" way. Mass gunfights and explosions in a good game engine can be some of the most fun things in existence, but strong narrative and character development can also be very entertaining. Really I'm saying that games are a form of media, not an art. We don't need to justify our hobby by calling the medium an art, we just need to show people that we are confident that gaming is a worthwhile and perfectly valid hobby; all we need is a little social aptitude and confidence in the things we enjoy.

How can they be a form of media and not an art? I can't think of any form of media that doesn't also have some people creating art with it.