Poll: Do you think video games can be considered an art form?

[Chu Man Foo]

Not so much asking based on visuals, but as a medium of story telling. I've been thinking about this, and I kind of lean both ways. When you look at a company like Bioware and how they adapted the epic strcuture (epic as in genre, not big) of the Star Wars series into the Knights of the Old Republic series, this makes one think that it could be possible that video games could be an art form.

However, are they too interactive to be art? Sure, you have to actively read a novel and stuff, but does the interaction in video games take away from stepping back and truly critically thining about the thesis of the writer's message? This aspect may prohibit games from being at least high art. I think games could potentially be a form of art dealing with heavier issues of society. They are definitely another viable medium for telling stories. Anyways, what are your thoughts?

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[WrongSprite]

Yes, easily. It's just another way for people to express themselves.

This threads been done a million and one times by the way.

 

[Godhead]

I'd call it interactive art occasionally with hentai thrown in with Japan on the market. Yes I would call it art mainly because the good games outshine the bad. left 4 dead has amazing combat on both sides, Dragon Age: Origins (or a lot of games made by BioWare) have compelling stories witch make up for the sometimes sluggish combat system. And then there are games Like CoD Modern Warfare (first one was much better) that show humongous spectacles that captures shock and awe in many when the nukes have fun blowing up.

Plus those are some of the good games. All the bad games that had potential or none can be considered modern art. If throwing trash around everywhere makes you 1.8 billion $, then why can't Sonic Unleashed make double?

 

[WillSimplyBe]

Of course they can be considered an art form!

And interactivity doesn't make something NOT art. ^_^

And if you are just talking about the story-telling medium, i gotta say Mass Effect, it's super effective at that.

Also, Heavy Rain, that game really looks like an interesting way for a videogame to tell a story.

 

[ma55ter_fett]

Yea, but it varies from case to case.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Well from a purely narrative standpoint, many games are fairly derivative, and films seem to get that done much better, what with pacing, editing, controlled direction (and not to mention a generally higher calibre of writing.) However games are unique as a medium with such a large amount of interactivity, which can provide great art on it's own merit.
Ocarina of time, shadow of the colossus or half life are all games where pure immersion in their worlds are the main focus, and are each done specatuclarly.

 

[ShakerSilver]

I've seen games with astounding detail to gameplay, graphics, and story, and have seen games that can even bring tears to my eyes.

But then again, I've seen games like Gears of War and those new Disney singers "games".

Although I say it can be an art form, we have to consider that not all of it is high art. Here's a little comparison: LoZ Ocarina of Time would be the gaming equivalent to the Mona Lisa, and Sonic Unleashed would be like the finger painting of a five year old with no arms.

 

[Lullabye]

Spoiler: Art

art
1  /ɑrt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ahrt] Show IPA
Use art in a Sentence
See images of art
Search art on the Web
?noun
1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
2. the class of objects subject to aesthetic criteria; works of art collectively, as paintings, sculptures, or drawings: a museum of art; an art collection.
3. a field, genre, or category of art: Dance is an art.
4. the fine arts collectively, often excluding architecture: art and architecture.
5. any field using the skills or techniques of art: advertising art; industrial art.
6. (in printed matter) illustrative or decorative material: Is there any art with the copy for this story?
7. the principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking; the art of selling.
8. the craft or trade using these principles or methods.
9. skill in conducting any human activity: a master at the art of conversation.
10. a branch of learning or university study, esp. one of the fine arts or the humanities, as music, philosophy, or literature.
11. arts,
a. (used with a singular verb) the humanities: a college of arts and sciences.
b. (used with a plural verb) liberal arts.
12. skilled workmanship, execution, or agency, as distinguished from nature.
13. trickery; cunning: glib and devious art.
14. studied action; artificiality in behavior.
15. an artifice or artful device: the innumerable arts and wiles of politics.
16. Archaic. science, learning, or scholarship.

Yeah, I think games are art. Wanna fight the dictionary?

 

[The DSM]

Kind of.

But not in the artys trying to be deep way.

But the most artisitic game I have ever seen is Okami.

I love that game.

 

[veloper]

the word "art" doesnt mean much anymore.
Games are pure awesome. Let's just leave it at that.

 

[ciancon]

Shadow Of The Colossus.

 

[Tiny116]

Just look at the increase in graphics, that tell you all you need, besides:

If an artist can call this art because he says so then Games definatly have a home in art.

Info link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)

 

[War Penguin]

I have run into this situation many times and each time my opinion of "games as art" never change.
That is:
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHH... eh

Thankfully, I'll elaborate.

It really depends on your definition of art. Not the definition of art. Your's.
Personally, I think art has something to do with originality. Many games are becoming more and more original [small](though, I'm willing to admit that that is arguable)[/small]. Games like Ico, Killer 7, Shadow of the Colossus, even MGS, and more. However, games are also becoming very cliche [small](which is why the originality comment is arguable)[/small]. Still, good gameplay design might also be considered an art form.

So, my thoughts: Games aren't 100% art yet, but they're getting to be like that. It really depends who thinks of it as such.

 

[Limasol]

Much like films, some are art, some are entertainment, some straddle the line.

Most importantly we shouldn't be looking for this sort of gratification from outsiders.

 

[aarontg]

I can think of no other good example other than okami, it's bright, colorful, well drawn, and good as a game to boot.