Games are art. Present your case!

[Blindswordmaster]

I believe that video games are art and are equal to other modern mediums(like movies). Games are a legitimate medium and aren't just toys for kids and frat guys. Allow me to present the following hypothetical situation: You are called as a witness to argue on behalf of video games. What games would you use to argue your case and why?

Important note: If everyone picks Half-Life 2, I will be pissed and you all will FEEL MY WRATH!!

 

[slowpoke999]

Half-Life 2 no-one else may choose it

 

[Angry Caterpillar]

Shadow of the Colossus, Bioshock, Mass Effect.

My artistic game trifecta.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Jak II, because it is the greatest game to ever be created and will make you laugh, cry, and laugh once again.

 

[Blindswordmaster]

Shadow of the Colossus, Bioshock, Mass Effect.

Your case is strong. But please, explain why. You can't just drop names here.

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

I present to you Exhibit A: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

 

[darth jacen]

Kotor, show me a kids toy that will cause you to become so connected to characters and have a near heart attack from the shock of the twist which still ranks in my top "out of left field" twists in any medium.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

Half Life 1.

[small]wipes smug look off his face[/small]

Okami. I think it's obvious why.

Also Eternal Darkness because that game is just an all encompassing mind frak that has a lot to do with it's imagery.

 

[Sacman]

Deus Ex... you know why...

 

[Optimystic]

Kotor, Jade Empire, BG, and Mass Effect was already mentioned. The art of storytelling, so sparsely found in cinema-land, seems to have simply relocated to Bioware's offices.

 

[Bat Vader]

I will have to use Okami as an example. The art style in it was both unique and beautiful. The way it was presented as using an ink and wash type of graphic style and the cel-shading just added onto it.

The game-play using the celestial brush technique was a great style for adding to the unique art style. My opinions only carry my case so far though. To truly experience the game Okami one must play it.

 

[EnzoHonda]

Final Fantasy #. They create visuals to thrill the eye (like a painting or film), music that makes the soul sing (like... well, music), and characters you care about in a story that captures your imagination (like films, novels, etc).

The problem with calling them art is that they take all forms of art into one mediums. It makes it difficult to determine that they are art because they comprise all forms of art.

 

[PTSpyder]

Specific games are not a useful example in this case. The question is if games are an artistic outlet for the user, not if their visuals are impressive. The case is easy enough, games make you think, they require you to learn and grow within a specific limits. In any other time period besides ours, these would have been the requirements for something to be considered an art form.

*add* It also forces you to develop skills, both gameplay skills and problem solving.

 

[Brad Shepard]

Okami would be the best example, followed by Mass effect sence writing is an art all of its own, SOTC is a good choice too.

 

[Hat of Controversy]

Of course games are art! Do you have any idea how much time and skill goes into making designing and creating concept art and story boards to make these things? A lot of art goes into making these things, whether we realize it or not.

I think Windwaker and Okami are great examples of what kinds of artsy fartsy awesomeness games are capable of.

 

[fletch_talon]

They portray figures, landscapes and ideas in a visual form, often with a focus on artistic values and aesthetics.
They often feature musical aspects with the aim of invoking emotion or atmosphere.
They generally tell a story in such a way as to invoke sympathy or animosity towards characters along with prompting other reactions such as emotional response.

Seems artsy to me.

 

[Slayer_2]

Mirror's Edge. Half-Life 2 was just an average shooter, IMO. I couldn't even be bothered to finish it.

 

[Angry Caterpillar]

Shadow of the Colossus, Bioshock, Mass Effect.

Your case is strong. But please, explain why. You can't just drop names here.

Sorry, I'll elaborate.

Shadow of the Colossus has that rare ability where if you took a screenshot at almost any time it could come out looking like a beautiful work of art that could rival most paintings that I know of.

Bioshock has an amazingly strong setting, and the immersion factor is huge. Also, watching that game can be almost as fun as playing it, so even if it wasn't a game and instead just a movie it would be a great thing to watch.

Mass Effect's story is amazing, with a well fleshed-out world with many memorable characters. I still remember that guy who wanted his wife's remains at the Citadel; and, if a game can make you remember obscure back characters like that, it deserves to be ranked among the other art forms.

Happy now?

 

[Srkkl]

I had this argument with my teacher when I compared video games with Shakespere. Games, though they started out being toys, they have evolved into a form of art like most all entertainment before it. She then said that she feels Shakespere was more sophisticated. I said, the plays he wrote were, for the time, written for the the entertainment of the common man, just like games. She was speechless like she should be. But on the other case majority of the game community are little kids and stupid people, but games like Mass Effect and games that require thinking that those people are avoiding are starting to give games a good name.