Video Games: Art or not?

[LiteTheIronMan]

Of course they are.

The process of making a video game takes as long as it does a movie, maybe even longer. The artistic display of the game lies 50% of the time within its graphics, and 25% gameplay, 25% story.

The visual effects of the game, while differing from game to game, console to console, basically shows the player what's going on, in a beautiful show of firey explosions, deep blue oceans, icy glaciers, tropical forests, larger than life cities.

The gameplay shows how much effort was put into the art of gaming. Are the controls clunky and hard to conform to? Does your character move the right way you want it to? In Metroid Prime Trilogy, Samus smoothly points in the direction the Wii Remote points, and moves quickly when I tilt the Control Stick. The gameplay feels more immersive than, say, a lightgun game, where all I can do is point at a screen and tap a button. I have no freedom of control and I can't experience the game. All this contributes to the art of the game.

The story most definitely qualifies gaming as an art, especially if one considers books, movies, comics, and plays art. The story of a video game can either be simple and to the point, or long winded and complicated, with twists and turns. The elements of the story makes art art, and it should be rightly so with video games.

[RehdBlob]

At first, they were novelties.
The SNES-era video games pulled them through to art forms, IMO.

[Mr. Sub]

Dec 7, 2009 19:41:48 GMT -6 PopTart said:

Dec 7, 2009 10:12:20 GMT -6 Mr. Sub said:

Yes! yesyesyes. Exactly! If the game, graphics-wise, isn't very realistic then you have to use your imagination, which is what modern art is all about. It's your unique perception of the piece or art. Be that a static painting/ sculpture, a video game or whatever!

Generally, with more realistic games, it's all given to you on a plate, so you don't have to use your imagination at all. Thats why older games tend to be more fun, too.

I agree with this. But note that realism is a form of art too. In a sense, maybe less imagination is being used, but the process of creation when making a realistic image is just as artful. A very large amount of work goes into creating realistic images and physical movements in a realistic game. Such time and effort put into making such a game and such refinement make these games fall well under the classification of art.

Yes, you're right, realism is a form of art, and a great one too. But I did say that using your imagination is what modern art is all about.

Stuff like this....

[Brongaa]

@poptart:...

That's stupid. That's not an art, it's an in the moment thing. You don't draw the game out; you just play.

I want a good answer to my question.

[Admin]

Dec 8, 2009 17:51:54 GMT -6 Brongaa said:

@poptart:...

That's stupid. That's not an art, it's an in the moment thing. You don't draw the game out; you just play.

A videogame, generally, is to put you into a whole different world. Have you SEEN Okami? The world is beautiful. The music is great.

Play Braid and you will soon see that Videogame can be fun and be art.

[LiteTheIronMan]

LG, you raise a good point. Here's my spiel on that.

Sports games are just as much of an art as any other game, the premise is different. It's the "art" of the sport, or the competition, or whatever that gives them the way in.

Straight up fighters like Smash Bros. are also definitely an art. It's the beauty of brawling it out and living out some of your wildest gaming dreams, like finally pitting Mario against Sonic, dueling with Roy and Marth, striking down Bowser as the helpless princess Peach.

I know it's not a good explanation, but it's the first thing that comes to mind.

[kacelano]

Dec 8, 2009 13:32:40 GMT -6 Mr. Sub said:

Dec 7, 2009 19:41:48 GMT -6 PopTart said:

I agree with this. But note that realism is a form of art too. In a sense, maybe less imagination is being used, but the process of creation when making a realistic image is just as artful. A very large amount of work goes into creating realistic images and physical movements in a realistic game. Such time and effort put into making such a game and such refinement make these games fall well under the classification of art.

Yes, you're right, realism is a form of art, and a great one too. But I did say that using your imagination is what modern art is all about.

Stuff like this....

MY WALL IS ART (IT'S THE MIDDLE ONE)

But seriously, my wall bursts forth with a cornucopia of emotions only paralleled to the human touch.

[PopTart]

Dec 8, 2009 17:51:54 GMT -6 Brongaa said:

@poptart:...

That's stupid. That's not an art, it's an in the moment thing. You don't draw the game out; you just play.

I want a good answer to my question.

Ouch...

Note I said I was attempting to answer

[JohnFreeman]

Games are art and guess who agrees?

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

kotaku.com/5419173/the-art-of-video-games-comes-to-the-smithsonian-in-2012

[El Regulus]

Ehhh... art is in the eye of the beholder?

Even if the whole game is not considered art, there are "artistic" aspects, as others have pointed out. Whether it's the world you're exploring, the engaging story, or the music you can't help but immerse yourself in, there's always something to appreciate and respect.

Of course, I'm only thinking in terms of RPGs and adventure-type games, so my view might not be an accurate one. ^^;;

[Brongaa]

Dec 8, 2009 18:58:09 GMT -6 PopTart said:

Dec 8, 2009 17:51:54 GMT -6 Brongaa said:

@poptart:...

That's stupid. That's not an art, it's an in the moment thing. You don't draw the game out; you just play.

I want a good answer to my question.

Ouch...

Note I said I was attempting to answer

Sorry, dude, I didn't mean it personally, and I especially wasn't trying to offend you.

But using the arguments that everyone's putting out here, casually walking can be considered an art. Breathing can be considered an art. Hell, sleeping can be considered an art.

So if everything is an art, what's the point specifically calling one thing an "art"? Why argue about such a universal concept?

That's what I'm trying to say here.

But my view of art is quite similar to that of El Regrs; in an RPG or Adventure game, you immerse yourself in the game; for fighting games, I'm probably chirping my friends while we're brawling or playing a sports game.

@lite:...

Your first paragraph just doesn't make sense. Where's the art in the sport, aside from doing some sick ass dunk or pulling some dangles? Maybe individual plays like that can be considered"art", but what about everything else? The ACTUAL competition? So I'm playing my friend in NBA 2K10, and he's bringing up the ball; artistic? Um, not really.

[PhantomTaco]

Dec 9, 2009 10:09:37 GMT -6 Brongaa said:

So if everything is an art, what's the point specifically calling one thing an "art"? Why argue about such a universal concept?

This is where opinion comes in. Some people will think that paintings are art, and other people will think that sleeping is art. It's just a matter of opinion. There's no real answer to this entire conversation, as everybody thinks differently.