Are video games art?

[Burning Desire~]

Yes.

the end~ :3

[kittiesaint]

I agree!!!

[senketsu]

Roger Ebert would have you believe otherwise, but I know there are a few video games that are just as deep and intriguing as some of the best films. You can't argue that Citizen Kane holds more artistic value than say Deus Ex or Silent Hill 2 because it's apples to oranges.

Every artistic medium has endured doubts about its legitimacy while they were still in their infancy. Lots of people back in the early 1900's said that films were just a novelty, and look what happened. Now video games are coming under the same scrutiny while at the same time the cost of making a AAA game has exceeded the costs of making a blockbuster movie. Needless to say, video games are not a passing fad and they're definitely more than just kids toys. Video games are here to stay.

Now we just need a new lexicon for this newborn art form. The concepts of "winning" and even the name "video game" itself are in need of a change. But what should we call them? Interactive experiences? Maybe, but that's quite a mouthful and sounds too general. We have to look at the medium as a whole. What are the major differences between say Galaga and Heavy Rain? The similarities? Anyone? Bueller?

[gacktluvr]

I don't really believe branding is the issue at the heart of the video game debate. The problems that video games face comes almost exclusively from the conservative parents of gamers. No matter how many games there are that offer interesting stories and real life morality, parents will always point to games such as Grand Theft Auto, and always for the same reason.

The issue is less of branding and more of a grouping issue. Most parents don't understand the difference between an FPS, RPG, J-RPG, puzzle game, sandbox game, etc. And of course, they seem to misunderstand the rating system. If they did, they would know that one game does not represent the medium as a whole.

Particularly in the case of role playing games, story takes front priority. My mother in particular loves to watch me play. She's actually started to play Persona 3 and got mad at me for finishing Catherine when she wasn't there to see it. She follows along with my Tales of games and .hack, and of course Persona 3 and 4. She doesn't play many games, but she watches me play them and pays attention to the stories.

When I was a child, and still even now, my grandparents believe that video games are a waste of time. No matter how many times my father has reassured them that we actually were learning. I used to play things like Tetris (which teaches spacial recognition), Yoshi's Cookie (which taught critical thinking), Carmen Sandiago (trivia), etc.

What we need is better parenting. Most issues with popular media could be fixed if parents paid more attention to what their children are doing.

[Burning Desire~]

I agree. I think it also has to do with people having very narrow definitions of what art is. The thing is, I love art, but art is not a sacred word. A B-movie is art. A child's crude drawing is art. Pornography is art. Just as much as a Beethoven Symphony, or any other great work of art. Art is just creative expression. To me, games fall under that. In fact, they're almost overflowing with art. Its an artform that is an amalgamation of other artforms. Illustration, Sculpture, Architecture, Literature, Graphic Design, Music, Story-telling, Programming, Cinematography, Acting. Sounds like alot of art for something that's supposedly not art. :3

[nakamurasayuri]

^This. I would write something more eloquent, but I think you guys hit the nails on the proverbial heads.

[gacktluvr]

...you used the word 'eloquent.' You get a karma point. *claps*