What Makes a Videogame Art?

[Grike]

I know that this topic has been touched upon alot, but when I searched for this same thing, I found lots of "Which videogames are art" but no "What MAKES it art?"

Anywho, I'm writing a speech for my end-of-year English project about why videogames should be considered art. I'm well on my way through it, but I'm wondering, what do you think makes a videogame art?

EDIT: A better way of asking the question.

What makes you think that videogames are art?

 

[joshthor]

good story and depth, however, micheal bay makes movies and apparently they are art. so also: explosions.

 

[manythings]

Well a definition of art is a thing that serves no purpose other than its own existence so... yeah. (I consider a lot of the more amazing advances in science to be akin to art but they all serve very specific purposes.)

 

[IzisviAziria]

Much the same as what makes a movie art, or what makes a piece of music art. To me, it's when I find myself emotionally involved with the game. I'm following the movement of the protagonist, reacting to their decisions (whether positively or negatively) and arousing questions within myself based on what I'm experiencing within the game.

I wouldn't call Modern Warfare 2 art, necessarily, but I read an article somewhere regarding the particular section where you are an American, undercover with terrorists and you kill the innocents in the airport. I remember that moment in the game as being completely shocking, disgusting, and revealing. And there was the question: was this horrible act okay, if in the end it brought the terrorists to justice? It's a morally ambiguous question, and it's one that has no clear answer.

that's the only example I have off the top of my head, but there are more.

 

[Griphphin]

A big part of it is the immersion of the vicarious experience. Videogames are a different form of media from most things because you are the one in control; you are the main attraction. You've got to feel that emotional investment in my opinion.

 

[jamesworkshop]

lets ask Kojima

"The thing is, art is something that radiates the artist, the person who creates that piece of art. If 100 people walk by and a single person is captivated by whatever that piece radiates, it's art. But videogames aren't trying to capture one person. A videogame should make sure that all 100 people that play that game should enjoy the service provided by that videogame. It's something of a service. It's not art."

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

Art in recent times has become a horrifically hard thing to pin a definition to.

Some video games could be art because they are designed in a striking way to invoke emotions, even if the actual interaction is low. Something like Imortall [http://www.play181.com/games/9218/immortall.html]. The music is affected by what you do, which really completes the effect.

Other games could be art because they have compelling characters and stories that make you really involved with the game's world and the events within it.

Or they could be art because of the beauty in the design of the characters, areas and theme. If they managed to create an entire world that suited their theme and really felt how they wanted it to, that too is art.

Something like the Prince of Persia. No matter how you felt about this continuation of the series in terms of story, it would be hard to deny that they did a fantastic job on the graphics.

Edit: Not a bad 2000th post. The Hare has gone double gonzo!

 

[Grike]

Edit: Not a bad 2000th post. The Hare has gone double gonzo!

Happy to have had the thread that gave you your 2000th post

EDIT:

lets ask Kojima

"The thing is, art is something that radiates the artist, the person who creates that piece of art. If 100 people walk by and a single person is captivated by whatever that piece radiates, it's art. But videogames aren't trying to capture one person. A videogame should make sure that all 100 people that play that game should enjoy the service provided by that videogame. It's something of a service. It's not art."

This quote is awesome, may have to use it, hehe.

 

[Gabriel Xollan]

Well I believe that games are art seeing as it involves graphics that make pictures that entertain the viewers of such. I've never known a "Video" game that had no visuals at any given point. So maybe visuals aren't what art is really about. Sound, yes music. Well most games incorporate music at some given point and that has a reason for being. I then have to say even the most simple of video games is an art and I don't know how you can view it as being anything but.

And in retrospect you can think of the art of doing something. So like the art of running, the art of stealing, the art of performing. In the end just about everything is art. Then there are games that deal with the art of mental challenges that question the very purpose of your playing said game.

In story fashion like Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts, there is a tale that is being told and often times it is left to the players to decide how to interoperate it. My view of Final Fantasy VII can be very different from another players. It's like viewing a painting that moves...which is a lot like a movie when you think about it.

So then we have "Cut scenes" and in Metal Gear that means about 8 hours of the game itself haha! But I love the series still because that is an "Art" that Kojima does well.

In the end Video Games are a form of art that spans over several genres.