darkSpyro

This should probably go under video gaming, but I thought it would get more attention here.

So, I have to write a persuasive essay on a debatable topic for English class, so I decided to pick something I'm somewhat familiar with, and that's the idea of video games as a form of art. I'd like to hear you guy's thoughts on the matter. Can video games be considered a form of art?

It's absolutely art.

As someone who's starting as a developer and is majoring in visual arts already, definately in my opinion. You can put your opinions into it and try to teach lessons, advance into uncharted territory by most other devs,or simply tell a darn good story, with pictures,words,or simply your gameplay. It takes both mental and physical effort, there's some motive or theme in it, and usually takes from your experiences and beliefs - or as a group effort, takes many of those into something that expresses feelings or ideas. There are probably more definitions for art but don't expect me to remember much from aesthetics studies from art history god those are boring.

Where is Hideo Kojima when you need him?

Anyways, I think that video games are art because of the stories and the themes they can handle. Unlike a movie, where you can sit and watch the protagonist, in a video game you're in control of what you can do.

Does that make sense?..

Video games are only really art if their creator intends for them to be art.

Some games are excellent to play but are still obviously not meant to be art, are not art, and that's OK. A good example is Super Mario 3D World. Fantastic game, but it's clearly made for simple fun and nothing else and I don't consider it art, nor do I think the creators wanted me too (especially reading the Iwata Asks for the game). As opposed to something like Super Mario Galaxy, which obviously had a lot of ambition, had a lot of feeling, heart, and soul, and overall wanted to immerse you.

...You know I think "immersion" is the key word here. If a game is trying to pull me into it's world and intends to do that, and it reasonably succeeds, then yeah, it's art. But some games just don't do that, and don't care to. Again, using Super Mario 3D World as an example, it's one of those "so incredibly self-aware that it's a game" games. Not in the joking sense like Deadpool or something (which is art, as it is satire and parody and very clever at it). But in the most literal sense of the word. There are so many things in the game that break your immersion, like being able to switch characters on a whim or have another player join you by floating in on a bubble, and the fact you can touch and blow things on the GamePad as if the whole game is just a playset on your desk. The game has some pretty graphics but the worlds definitely have a homogenised, controlled look to them, like everything is designed specifically to be a platforming challenge.

It's the same with a lot of things. Not every movie is a piece of art. Not every anime is a piece of art. Not every cartoon is a piece of art. Not every musical composition is a piece of art. Many things are simply built for just function, monetary gain, or fun, and not for artistic expression.

And while some people may argue that "it's unfair to single out certain games as not being art, every game is art", I'm going to have to say that is a fundamentally flawed argument. If all games are "art", then none of them are. If we don't define a line here, than the term "art" is meaningless and redundant. And I feel that saying that "all games are art" also implies we should hold all games to the same esteem or judge them on the same playing field, but you simply CAN'T do that.

Yeah,but if we say that, sonicbrawler,we'll have to apply that to movies and visual arts and everything else as well, and we know the ****storm that brews whenever you try to draw the line in those. Some people also have no intention of having something enlightening or even entertaining(good or bad way) in those.

Pretty much what sonicbrawler said, it can be art. People consider movies to be art, but I wouldn't call an Adam Sandler movie art.

Everything can be art. Even the act of making a bench can be seen as an art by some.

It's a matter of if the art is good or not.

I'm pretty sure video games do count as a visual art if nothing else

Quote: Metallo

I'm pretty sure video games do count as a visual art if nothing else

What about text adventure games?

If anyone has seen Nostalgia Critic's video on video games as an art form, that whole video pretty much sums up my thoughts on it.

If you don't think video games can be a medium of art, you will soon enough because thanks to advancements in technology, it is more than capable of it. like sonicbrawler said, some games are really simplistic like Mario where there isn't much immersion past "this is a fun game." but then you play games like Metal Gear Solid, Bioshock, The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and Shadow of the Colossus, and they provoke emotion that sometimes movies and other forms of entertainment aren't capable of.

Games like the ones mentioned are more than capable of making its players go through a wide range of emotions, from the joy of MGS's humor to the grim and depressing intro to The Last of Us. And the reason it can be considered an art form by these standards is because unlike other forms of entertainment, we are directly in control of our characters. Therefore the emotions that play out in a video game are more influential since that feeling of being in control of the character falls on us. We can't be in control of characters in a movie or tv show or whatnot because it's already there. but since video games have the element of choice, it leaves a bigger impression of emotions on players.

Quote: Bifrost

Yeah,but if we say that, sonicbrawler,we'll have to apply that to movies and visual arts and everything else as well, and we know the ****storm that brews whenever you try to draw the line in those. Some people also have no intention of having something enlightening or even entertaining(good or bad way) in those.

I mean I don't really care if people get angry at me for saying it.

Not everything can be art, in any medium. To say everything can be art, devalues the concept of art to the point where it literally, has no meaning whatsoever.

There is a reason why an arts museum won't feature just any old thing.

I'm not saying you specifically, I mean the art community's easiest method of creating a flame war is asking if X is truly art in a medium that's considered art. I believe everything can be art if the medium is appropriate, but there's really ****ty art and lazy art and simplistic art all in the middle.

Art museums feature what they want, though, they won't accept whatever I paint on a canvas either just because I asked them to, but to me it's art.

Video games are art in the way films are. They can be stylized and nuanced.

Art is art. Now, whether or not it's good is left up to interpretation.

Also for the record, I don't feel provoking emotions makes something art. Anything will provoke emotions in the average human.

It's art if it provokes feelings (and those feelings are caused directly by the game).

Quote: Skyhunter

This should probably go under video gaming, but I thought it would get more attention here.

So, I have to write a persuasive essay on a debatable topic for English class, so I decided to pick something I'm somewhat familiar with, and that's the idea of video games as a form of art. I'd like to hear you guy's thoughts on the matter. Can video games be considered a form of art?

Well like animation and movies. They're not easy to make and come in a variety of styles to tell you a story. Personally I think Video games can be considered a type of art form like with movies. They're made to be played and appreciated if it told a very good and interesting story with good game play and controls.

Take a few games like, Ori and the Blind forest and Okami.





They both have an interesting art style instead of the ol' anime and realistic style that I see in most games. And their stories are quite interesting and their gameplay for the platforming/adventure medium isn't bad (well unless you get the Wii copy of Okami). Honestly when I think of art from video games, these 2 games are the first to pop up in my head.

You could argue that Okami is sort of like an anime like game because of where it takes place, but the creators did a more folklore Japanese ink look (they were also planning to make the game more of a realistic style too, but didn't), which gave it a unique style. Heck the story is based off of Japanese folklore too. So they basically know what they were doing, because they did their lore homework.

And in Ori and the Blind forest, they went for a more lineless yet pretty look on their 2D characters. And had to make their own interesting lore.

Another game that pops up as a considerably art like feel would be SkullGirls. Especially since the characters of the game seem to reference different genres of movies/cartoons and were hand drawn instead of using flash animation. With those said this fighting game feels like a good celebration of art. And it's lore isn't just references, there's actually lore of the characters and their world. Which is unbelievably nice.


I'm certain there's more examples that other users have, like Bayonetta (I should probably get that game myself), but I'm only using the knowledge for the first few games that come to mind.

Quote: StriderSwag

It's absolutely art.

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