Video Game As Art Class: What Would You Like to See/Talk About?

[Jekken6]

Here's what games i think you should do:
Fallout series
Morrowind
Bioshock
Assassins Creed
GTA 4
Resdient Evil 4
Dead Space
Mirrors Edge
The Witcher

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Alright, so this is somewhat of a cop out on my part. Brain's a bit fried and I'm somewhat at an impasse for ideas. Friends and I are teaching a class about Video Games this semester at Cal, mainly drawing parallels between VG and other forms of art, how it imitates traditional media and also how it breaks the mold. It's an attempt to get gamers and non-gamers to think about video games as more than just pixels on a screen, introduce some new perspectives, and even if they don't agree with us, hell, at least it'll be a chance to verbalize their criticism and defend it.

But with just us amateur gamers making up the lesson plans, it does feel like we're possibly neglecting a good chunk of ideas. So here's the question I'm proposing to you guys. If you had to run a class on Video Games as Art, or were attending such a class - which games would you like to talk about, any producers or developers that you feel must be mentioned in this context? Or hell, any topic of discussion that should be addressed? Figured this would be the right forum for asking such things. Incidentally, here's a link to the current course syllabus and some of the things we've come up with. http://www.decal.org/1054

Frankly your syllabus looks pretty complete, I think what you havn't explored though is comparing storytelling in games v. story telling in movies or literature. In videogames the viewer is both constantly in the moment and in control of the actions of the protagonist.

Games like Mass Effect should be brought up for their cinematic quality coupled with player freedom, as well as sandbox games that still manage to deliver a stunning narrative like Grand Theft Auto 4. Effectivly games either create a compelling story by strict linearity (ala Final Fantasy anything) or with complete freedom in a thoroughly constructed world.

I'm assuming by 'art', you're talking design and visuals.. So I have no idea why people are talking about Call of Duty..

Taking a look at your course outline there, I'd recommend one game per class. For examples:

Class 5: Mass Effect
Class 6: Shadow of the Colossus
Class 10: Silent Hill series
Class 14: Alone in the Dark 5

Just a few thoughts, I'd have to go through some time and a lot of games to fill the course. But good luck!

If this is the case, let me also add Okami to his list. The art direction of this game is all important.

 

[Sturmfalke]

Heh, I feel a little guilty about this, but when I posted this, I saw it as a last resort and didn't expect such a warm reception and helpful responses. Just saw it and so I will read through it tonight and incorporate them into our lesson plans where possible. Thanks to everyone for their insight and please do keep them coming. Once I get a good night sleep, I might even tackle the endeavor of responding to them.

Also, went to a bay area developer's conference last week, met some really nice dev folks. We have industry speakers for the class now! Plus the course blog is somewhat underway, and we'll be updating that as the first section gets closer. protactic.blogspot.com

Edit:

For those who were wondering what I meant by art and artistic - we are comparing video games to graphical art, literature, film, and music; which elements align/fit with these more traditional mediums, and which defy and redefine them. Of course, we're encouraging the students to take it in whichever way they want for discussion both in class and on the course blog. Like I said before, it doesn't matter whether or not the students agree with us, or even end up thinking of video games as an art form, but rather that they experience the process of dissecting, analyzing, and critiquing video games, and add apply this new element of comprehension to the future games they play. Now for sleep...

 

[Supraliminal]

Call me a fanperson.

FF6's final boss fight is art.

I don't know why I said that. It really isn't.

Edit:
Wait, wait.
Video Game As Art Class. Great Idea.