Are Games Art?

[Che]

According to Game Informer (which is a horrible magazine) (and why are magazines even in existense anymore, isnt' it an outdated idea? Hasn't anyone heard of the internet by now?), the president of Rockstar claims that "There's a total lack of understanding that games are an art form" and from the I am 8-bit founder Jon Gibson, "Personally, I'm convinced games are art. Objectively, I'm confused."

Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), has been quoted stating "I believe that games are not art, and will never be art."

So what are games?

The first definition of Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com 's "Art" is "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance."

So what is art? Are videogames part of that categorey? Why does one of the most respected video game fathers say that videogames aren't art? Is he just trying to be trendy?

[Pete]

I would say that certain games are considered art pieces. Due to the rum, the only one that comes to mind is Shadow of the Colossus. That game doesn't focus on story, it's just stunning visuals and beautiful music. A lot of other games are all about storyline or characters, but that game is simply trying to take down one stunning creature after the next. I would say it's an art piece for sure.

[SOLDIER #819]

Depending on the aspect of a given game you're talking about. Just like a movie, the concept art and its eventual rendering, music, acting (i.e. voice, motion capture), storytelling, etc. are all works of art, and if put them together you have something similar to a movie. I suppose the issue is whether or not gameplay and its interactivity are considered art. In traditional art you could normally observe art and never interact with it. This is something new, but...

The definition of art and what expression is change with time, like most other things. I believe that at one point in U.S. law software was considered just a mathematical formula. Now it can be protected under patent law as a novel idea. It's all very transitory. If a person can find enjoyment or beauty in the way in which one structured how you explore a virtual world, can someone really say it is not? It simply offers a new perspective on experience, like any other art form.

[Dodie16]

“Art is about creatively expressing thoughts or emotions that are hard or impossible to communicate through literal, verbal means. Can you use games to do that? Of course you can.”
-Tim Schafer

Games are art. Anything can be art if you say it is so, and I say that games are indeed art. Now whether or not the art is good (any art), that is up for debate.

It's a more interactive art form. They have visual appeal as well as auditory appeal. It's just that gaming is a relatively new concept, considering all the other forms of art out there, so a lot of people probably are a bit skeptical at the sound of games being dubbed as art. Those views will probably change in the next few years though.

I think that games are a pretty revolutionary form of art. They immerse the viewer/player into a world that isn't like the real one. That's sort of hard to do with a typical painting, and music on it's own can only take you so far.

A game such as LittleBigPlanet gives the player freedom to create whatever levels they desire, and Sims 3 lets you use elements of design to create the rooms, landscapes, and clothing that you can imagine. Those types of freedoms of creativity and expression are essential in what art is about, and those are just a couple of examples that I can think of that allow the player creative freedom.

[Leksandar]

I think Hideo Kojima just said that to come out as humble which is really fashionable over there I believe. Which is fine. I like him like that. We all like him like that. Yet I completely disagree with him. Quality, beauty and expression are all subjective terms which are all subjectively measured. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even a slice of bread has the potential to become art if placed or looked upon in a specific way. It could be saying something about the society surrounding it, or it could remind the onlooker of his or hers childhood for some or another reason.

Now I'm not really a fan of definitions, but if you were to define art you would have to say that everything is art because everything has the capacity to be art. Thus video games are art. At least that's what I'm thinking.

[Tiffany]

To me, art is all opinion. You can show a Picasso or a Rembrandt to someone and have one person be in awe of the masterpiece and have another person think its just random scribbles/images.

I personally think that games are a form of art. Some of the games have great graphics, and storylines and witty/funny comments that make it enjoyable. It might not be art in the traditional sense, but I can see how some people would think that it is.

[loaf]

A game is a video game.

Art is Art.

[Josh_R]

I feel that video games are definitely art. To me art is anything you can create, and make beautiful. Look at the graphics and they put into every video games these days. Art doesn't have to be a drawing, or a painting, it can be any visualization of the person who is doing it.

[Nunubx]

Art is just how you perceive it. Many people consider cars as art, others consider food as art, hell, some even consider movies as art. There is no real right or wrong way to what is or isn't art, it's how you, as a human being, consider what is and isn't art. I, personally, consider video games as art.

[Jin]

If you ask me games will never be art (which I am defining as something which expresses an emotion) until gamers start treating them like art. Certain games I would consider art, Shadow of the Colossus and Ico are obvious examples, but on the whole, people aren't looking for something that brings out emotions, they're looking for something fun. It doesn't matter how artistic a cut scene is in a game, if the gameplay isn't fun, it will not do well. Metal Gear Solid is a great example of this. The game's cut scenes are absolutely art, but they aren't actually part of the game because they aren't interactive. They're essentially combining two mediums together, one - cut scenes/movies - can be art, the other - the actual game portion - is not art.

A game can be considered art based on its entire package, but most of the artistic segments within are borrowed mediums that aren't the essence of the game itself - graphics, music, cut scenes, etc. Until gameplay itself is used to express emotions (which has been attempted in some games), gaming cannot be considered a form of art. Team Ico has dabbled with this and proven that it can be done, but gamers have to want it. Heavy Rain looks as if it could makes excellent strides in this department, but many are wary about something in which the gameplay may not be "fun".

For gaming to become art, gamers have to treat it as such and the concept of "fun" needs to be discarded as a necessary ingredient of gaming.

[DragonHeart]

I disagree, Jin. Art can be art and still be entertaining. They aren't mutually exclusive concepts. But then, I suppose that depends entirely on an individual's definition of what is and isn't art.

Personally, I see art as any sort of creative expression. Whether I'd appreciate any given form of it as artistic or not is something else entirely. Video games seem more like an ultimate form of art, if anything. A good game combines the three most basic forms of creative expression: art, music, and storytelling. To be able to use all three in concert with the gameplay as the catalyst creating a reaction for the person playing the game is an art in itself, in my opinion.

Of course, not all games are art and which ones qualify again depends on the individual. For me, a game becomes art when all three of those elements come together and I get that feeling, almost like a chill where the game stops being a game and just simply is and I could be in that world or maybe not, I can't tell because I'm not even thinking anymore, I'm just, well, part of it. I'm probably not describing it very well (some writer, huh?) but that's more or less how I feel. It's that one moment of pure magic where the game transcends itself and I can see beyond the edge of the screen. Granted, it doesn't happen often but when it does...that is what I call art.

Of course, I'm also a romantic (shh, don't tell anyone), so make of it what you will.

~DragonHeart~

[Unknown Entity]

I found an article about this a while ago on MSN. I don't rate the articles found on there, but it just reminded me, that's all.

Being someone who is interested in the development of video games, I do believe games can be art. I've worked in 3DMax, and a lot of imagination goes into creating an object in there. I made a dolphin out of a box (second image might not have been a box, but it's the earliest screen picture I have at the moment).

Not only imagination is required, but if you're to make a full feature game, tons more work goes into it's development. Am I the only person who enjoys looking through the concept art of video games, and watching the making of videos?

The game is the final product of all the creativity. A lot of imagination went into every aspect of a good game. My favourite example of a work of art in the gaming world is Shadow of the Colossus or ICO. I think it's absolutely beautifully made.

Shadow of the Colossus.
shadow of the colossus concept art - Google Images

Not all games are art. I wouldn't call GTA art, nor would I say Metal Gear Solid was (seeing as Mr Kojima was mentioned above). Metal Gear Solid may be a very emotional series, but I just wouldn't. I'm surprised that Kojima doesn't think of it as a work of art, it being his own masterpiece and all, but he is modest.

[Aerif]

In my opinion, art is the visual display of creativity.

Of course when I say this I mean that the visual can be either real or artificial, meaning that any sort of picture is not necessary if the medium is descriptive enough (for example, music and literature).

But the definition of art to me can be a little sketchy (Oops... pun...). Video games can be considered art but only to a certain degree, for example games that are just pumped out carbon copies can't be considered art due to a lack of any actual creativity (eg. the Street Fighter series). Although sometimes this doesn't necessarily impact the quality of the game or it's sales (sadly the reverse is often the truth. Look at Halo).

But I might say all this because I want to be considered an artist

[Jin]

Art can be art and still be entertaining. They aren't mutually exclusive concepts

No they are not, but in my opinion, for something to be art, it has be able to do more than entertain you. The problem is that if a game is not entertaining, people don't want it - it's considered bad. If only one feeling can be expressed within gameplay - fun - its existence as art is questionable.

Think of a comedian. Do we consider comedians artists? They express themselves, but only to one end. IMO, a medium cannot be considered artistic until its able to do more than entertain you. I don't consider comedies to be art, even though I consider film making an artistic medium; I don't consider Stephen Colbert's book to be art, even though I consider literature to be an artistic medium. So no, art and entertainment are not mutually exclusive as art can be entertaining or contain entertainment, but entertainment alone is not art; it has to be deeper.

And again, I'm going to point out that I'm referring to gameplay itself. Specific games are definitely art, but it's usually due to artistic music or cut scenes, things that are not exclusive to gaming. What I'm looking for to be artistic is gaming itself - the gameplay. Shadow of the Colossus accomplished this: I felt a surge of emotion that was more than simple pleasure every time I stabbed into a colossus' weak point. Ico accomplished this as well by creating an emotional attachment between myself and Yorda, investing me in her protection. But these games are rare and exceptions to the general rule that fun is all that matters (and it is notable that these games still were fun and as such didn't depart drastically from the status quo). Heavy Rain looks to be an evolution in the artistic direction, but some are already questioning whether it's a game. That right there says something.

In my opinion, art is the visual display of creativity.

You don't consider music art?

[Unknown Entity]

Heavy Rain looks to be an evolution in the artistic direction, but some are already questioning whether it's a game. That right there says something.

It says a lot. It's a step in a completely new generation of gaming. I played enough of it to know that physically I was playing a game, but mentally I was part of it as an officer/detective looking for clues. It's like... having one of those dreams that you can control, but every now and then it can send you into panic when you feel you can lose control at any moment.

That game is a piece of art, but not entirely in the visual sense (even though I think the graphics so far are extraordinary). Like you mentioned with Shadow of the Colossus and Ico getting to you on an emotional level, this game will do much more than that - you will be part of the story.

Continuing on from my last post, I think anything can be art if enough heart goes into it. Whether it be cooking or arranging food on a plate, composing a symphony, painting a portrait, or designing a video game... it can be art in some peoples eyes.

[FamousMortimer]

It depends on the type of game. If Mr. Kojima doesn't think Metal Gear Solid is a work of art, he is crazy. Likewise with good RPG's. They are every bit as deep and multi-dimensional as any opera or classic film.

But then you have dumb (yet fun) games like The Pro Skater Series or ATV Racing Games. All racing games for that matter (Except Gran Turismo which is a masterpiece) are shallow and void of artistic sense.

[Furore]

One word. Okami.

Play it and tell me you aren't playing art.

[Rydia Lover]

one game i am thinking of that could definatly be classified as art is the new prince of persia game, its like your playing an invteractive water color painting. its beautiful

[Jin]

But again, the last 3 posts' examples of games that should be classified as art are so because of their visuals, music or story, not because of anything to do with their gameplay. If Okami, Prince of Persia and Metal Gear Solid were not "fun", no one would play them.

[Rydia Lover]

But again, the last 3 posts' examples of games that should be classified as art are so because of their visuals, music or story, not because of anything to do with their gameplay. If Okami, Prince of Persia and Metal Gear Solid were not "fun", no one would play them.

i enjoyed playing all 3 of those games to the fullest.

[Rocky]

Video games = art.



Mario approves this message.

[Jin]

i enjoyed playing all 3 of those games to the fullest.

That's exactly my point. The interactive element (that which makes the gaming medium unique) is currently constrained by the necessity of being fun or enjoyable. With few exceptions (Ico, Shadow of the Colossus), gameplay itself has yet to be used as a medium to express emotions other than that. As it stands, all emotions that are expressed in games come from either the visuals, the narrative or the music. When the gameplay itself is capable of making people feel something other than enjoyment (or perhaps the interaction between the gameplay and the visuals/music/narrative), gaming can, imo, be considered a form of art.

[EvT1991]

video games are TOTALLY an art form... back in the day, what did they use for images? sprite ART. now, what are used in video games today? 3d ART. I rest my case.

[FamousMortimer]

But again, the last 3 posts' examples of games that should be classified as art are so because of their visuals, music or story, not because of anything to do with their gameplay. If Okami, Prince of Persia and Metal Gear Solid were not "fun", no one would play them.

Phantom of the Opera isnt fun, but people still seem to call it "art".

[Jin]

Phantom of the Opera isnt fun, but people still seem to call it "art".

You do realize that's exactly my point, right? I'm hardly saying that something has to be fun to be art.

[J3N0V4]

no games are not art, they are beyond art.

art is made by 1-100 people expressing themselves in an attempt to be original but following a pattern set out by pioneers

games are made by an uncountable amount of people pouring their heart and soul into pure goodness.

any objections(Phoenix wright jokes aside please)

[EvT1991]

no games are not art, they are beyond art.

art is made by 1-100 people expressing themselves in an attempt to be original but following a pattern set out by pioneers

games are made by an uncountable amount of people pouring their heart and soul into pure goodness.

any objections(Phoenix wright jokes aside please)

click me

LOL sorry, i HAD to do it.. but still, even BEYOND art, is it not art?

see, beyond art is impossible... what a video game is, is a combination of stills, animations, (both of which are TOTALLY forms of art) and TONS of coding... (imagine having to code one of those things solo, by the time you were done with a LITTLE tiny chunk of the game, you would feel like your arms were about to fall off

(btw, i pretty much ripped a game right down to the VERY basics for quick posting... )

enjoy the debate

[GypsyElder]

Art to me are products of human creativity.


I would say a definite yes But, I do think there are still some exceptions.

[EvT1991]

Art to me are products of human creativity.


I would say a definite yes But, I do think there are still some exceptions.

exceptions as in what?

cause i agree with you about that, some games ARE NOT art, like the text only... well, no, even thats art... just a WAY different form of art...

come to think of it, every little thing in life is art. nature, food, words, pictures, movies, games, (do you really want me to continue this monotonous list?)

[GypsyElder]

exceptions as in what?

cause i agree with you about that, some games ARE NOT art, like the text only... well, no, even thats art... just a WAY different form of art...

whaaa?

come to think of it, every little thing in life is art. nature, food, words, pictures, movies, games, (do you really want me to continue this monotonous list?)

We're talking about games.

Even shooting games can be considered art but not in the same way FFIX would. If you consider hitting a ball back and forth with a peg art then I suppose. But I think it's different when it comes to games. certain things can be art only to an extent. Put those two objects on canvas or a plane the you might have art. From character building, world building, story line, and overall theme's and morals makes games art.



EDIT: And don't say just because there's pwetty colors that makes it art. only to a degree. Take the colors away and then not as much.