PSU Editorial: Why Videogames are Art
- Posted April 18th, 2008 at 14:49 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 5,354 views
- 19 Comments
What is art? It’s a fairly straightforward question, yet it encompasses a limitless amount of correct answers. Art is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as the conscious use of skill and creative imagination, especially in the production of aesthetic objects. What happens, then, when the physical aspect is removed?
The other day, I asked my friend’s father, one of the most level-headed people I know, if he considered film to be a form of art. I was hit with a rapid response confirming that yes, film is indeed an art form. I proceeded to ask him the same question regarding videogames. I was greeted with a jovial laugh, followed by a peculiar stare once he realized that I was entirely serious. He then pointed out that a videogame can’t be compared to the likes of a beautiful sonata or a heart-wrenching movie. I asked, “Why not?” He adopted an irresolute manner and pronounced that they "just aren’t in the same league."
He was right. Videogames are not in the same league as music or film. Quite frankly, that wouldn’t be possible, as those two are in completely different categories to begin with. This fact doesn’t imply that one isn’t an art form. One came to be after the other was already established, thus there are disparities between the two. Another medium has now established itself within our society and grows tremendously in popularity with each passing day. We must once again modernize our views, as videogames are a new, interactive art form.
To help truly classify art, we must first look at its evolving and often conflicting classifications. We begin in a 1920s tavern. The aroma of alcohol in the air is pungent. A man sits on the stage emitting some swinging sounds from his sax. The high-brow critic in the crowd cringes as he listens to what he believes to be nothing but improvised cacophony. Disgusted that people even considered this clamor a low form of music, the critic departs. The performance has the place packed, but the man manages to push his way through the group to an exit. Outside, the man feels the heat of the hot summer night and, against his better judgment, decides to catch one of the newest “talkies,” if only for the air-conditioning. He arrives at the crammed theater and manages to find a seat somewhere towards the back. The film begins and the sound reverberates throughout the room. The fact that movies could now emit audio still amazed the critic, but he and his associates still cited technical boundaries as the reason that, despite their growing popularity, movies would never rival theater as a real art form.
If this man could visit our era as we just visited his, he’d be astounded to find jazz almost universally considered one of the great American art forms, and movie directors hailed as visionary artists. As you can now see, our perception of art advances as our society and world progress.
Recent technological advances now enable the creation and use of interactive media, otherwise known as videogames, which a whopping 72% of U.S. citizens play, according to a recent study. Even more than other media, games are rapidly evolving. Mohr’s Law states that approximately every 18 months, computational power doubles. With more power comes less restrictions, and with fewer restrictions comes freedom. Simply put, technological developments within games help better convey their artistic elements. Outside of visual fidelity, improved power allows for more sophisticated artificial intelligence; characters now have the capacity to behave in a realistic manner to the situations that they’re placed in.
This increased intelligence complements the next advancement that is currently revolutionizing the gaming world–motion capture. Motion capture, often dubbed mo-cap, is the capture of real human movement. This technology has only been translated to videogames within the last year or so, but you’ve seen it implemented in such movies as ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘King Kong’. Andy Serkis was grand as the massive ape in Kong, and nearly won an Oscar for his performance as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Do you know what his latest project was? Not a movie, but a game: Heavenly Sword. Serkis was cast as King Bohan in the epic project, which critics touted as “a fun and beautiful game that ... (continued on next page)
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Comments
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Staticneuron |
Staticneuron- 3:14pm BST - April 18th, 2008
- 2
I agree with you. I personally find most games to be art. Even I rented the game Viking, which has gatten mediocre scores and I was blown away by the worlds interaction.... not with you the main character per say but within itself. That element alone helps to get lost in this fantasy world.
Games just like movies represent art becuase of the range of emotions that they can evoke. But games take it a step farther because of the interaction. Because you get to roam around an environment. With a movie you are always stuck to a point of view (the directors) the story and world is only as vibrant and alive as they make it seem. While really good games place you in a world that not only looks and sounds fully realized but also has its own rules and history. Rules you can test and history that you can write.
There is one thing that is true, movies and films are not in the same league. Games have surpassed movies as a complete package.
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InfernoReaper |
GrimDarkling- 3:23pm BST - April 18th, 2008
- 3
Photo editing is considered art and also interactive. So why not games? When the gamer generation steps into power and all the old blood dies out, we will start seeing a shift in perspectives.
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6toes
- 3:29pm BST - April 18th, 2008
- 4
I agree, If movies can be considered art then why not games? I think games connect with their audience on an even deeper level that movies at times because of the connection the player forms with the main character and their interactions with other characters. And when games offer players a choice, i.e. Mass Effect, I think the game connects on an even deeper level. Making a player make a difficult decision can evoke emotion from a player that a pre-scripted often times cannot.
I also would have to say that games can be related somewhat to books in their relation to art. I say this because of the time a person dedicates to a book or game is typically far longer than a movie. This makes the players connection with the cast and world that the media takes place in even stronger. Take for instance Final Fantasy 7 or any other Final Fantasy since then. Games in which you devote many hours of play makes the player actually care about the characters and what happens to them. Unlike a movie where a character you've only had an hour and 10 minutes to connect with is killed off, yes it may be sad but you don't feel that sense of loss like when a character you've had a long time to connect with is lost.
Just my opinion of course lol.
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AclayPS3
- 9:51pm BST - April 18th, 2008
- 8
In my opinion, video games can be considered Art, but just a small percentage of them can be categorized as Art. Games such as Metal Gear Solid 4, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Final Fantasy series are works of art. I could go as far as to say that Metal Gear Solid 4 is literally a movie and a game all in one because the Metal Gear Solid series is one of the most cinematic game franchises EVER. I read an article in Playstation The Official Magazine and it said that it has been estimated that the cutscenes in MGS4 are going to be around 4 hours in length.
Most average everyday people fail to realize that millions of dollars go into producing video games of this generation of gaming and that a lot of video games have Movie Production quality music and voice acting.
Video games that are considered Art to me are those video games that have that riveting story that just keeps you capativated in the game and just wont let you go, and games that actually have memorable or legendary game characters.
Yes, I do agree that Video games can be considered Art, but only a select number of video games even deserve to fall within that category.
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caveman7
- 11:13pm BST - April 18th, 2008
- 9
Games can absolutely be a piece of art. That's not to say that all games are, but some games can just blow your mind with their creative genious or their cinematic quality story line or their complex character development. I think some of the most beautiful scenery i've seen has been inside of a game, and some of the musical scores of games will pull me into the game so far that i don't want to leave.
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davem90
- 3:34am BST - April 19th, 2008
- 10
art is a matter of opinon, once a single person has the opinion that anything is art, no one can remove that opinion, and said subject is now art. The issue we now have is either people being aware of this opinon in others, or simply the arrogant rejection of others thought and feeling.
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Eric2929 |
Eric2929- 12:37pm BST - April 19th, 2008
- 12
Oh EFFORTLESS7
I can always count on your helpful feedback ;)
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MetalKingSlime
- 1:34pm BST - April 19th, 2008
- 13
sure they maybe art, but they're also a big waste of time and money imo.
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yoboyrob9041226 |
BIGROB904- 8:49pm BST - April 19th, 2008
- 14
to me videgames are the best artform ever created
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