Videogames.
Videogames in short are an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen. That is a simple definition, it doesn’t pry too much into what games are, and gives you a basic understanding of what games actually are. Or does it?
That can be said for games that stared on the old consoles and arcade machines that with games like Pac-man, space invaders and pretty much anything in the 80’s. that was when videogames were new and the technology had only begun to flourish, where gaining the next high score on a machines leader board was the only important thing to accomplish.
But this definition, although it is appropriate for describing very basic games, it is completely out of date but modern standards.
Videogames in short are an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen. That is a simple definition, it doesn’t pry too much into what games are, and gives you a basic understanding of what games actually are. Or does it?
That can be said for games that stared on the old consoles and arcade machines that with games like Pac-man, space invaders and pretty much anything in the 80’s. that was when videogames were new and the technology had only begun to flourish, where gaining the next high score on a machines leader board was the only important thing to accomplish.
But this definition, although it is appropriate for describing very basic games, it is completely out of date but modern standards.
Games now have evolved from a simple arcade style and have become much more
Most, if not all games now
comprise of tons of content; full and elaborate soundtracks,
an in-depth story with character that are created to relate and overcome the scenarios in place, graphical style and visuals, and even in some cases full cinematic direction and cut scenes.
But this begs the question, “How are videogames an art form?”
an in-depth story with character that are created to relate and overcome the scenarios in place, graphical style and visuals, and even in some cases full cinematic direction and cut scenes.
But this begs the question, “How are videogames an art form?”
To understand that we need
to understand what art is.
Art is a thought, an idea, an action, feeling, topic or fact, which somebody has found a way to convey through any traditional means such as film, novels, visual, music or acting. But many don’t consider games to be an appropriate means of conveying it, which is strange considering that it can encompass one, if not all. But then there are those that do consider them art, and all that they encompass.
This has sparked a fierce debate
on whether games can be considered an art or not.
Well, what can be
considered art work?
to understand this, we need to take a look at various art movements.
Although more traditional forms of art movement (E.G. Pointillism, Futurism or
Cubism)
the art itself is done in a particular style, it has its own feel and aspects about it.
The same can be said for novels, where things are more dictated by genre than art movement. From themes of horror and tragedy, to light hearted adventure.
the art itself is done in a particular style, it has its own feel and aspects about it.
The same can be said for novels, where things are more dictated by genre than art movement. From themes of horror and tragedy, to light hearted adventure.
But art is much more than that;
it essentially transcends a pinpoint-able definition, as it is defined by the viewer/portrayer.
Different types of art have alternating definitions and so every person in turn
has their own developed definition.
In short art is many things, but most importantly for art to be effective, it has to envelop you, draw you in, Immersion if you will.
In short art is many things, but most importantly for art to be effective, it has to envelop you, draw you in, Immersion if you will.
This, in many respects is
where Video games can do this better than any other medium of art.
The simple act of taking the reins, or being a character in a world causes a much larger feeling of viewer connectivity, within a game environment you can do many things that in real life would be hard if not impossible.
From fighting in war, to simply jumping from platform to platform, a game can draw you into an alien world where impossibilities become substandard.
The simple act of taking the reins, or being a character in a world causes a much larger feeling of viewer connectivity, within a game environment you can do many things that in real life would be hard if not impossible.
From fighting in war, to simply jumping from platform to platform, a game can draw you into an alien world where impossibilities become substandard.
“if video games are to be taken seriously as art, then it has
to start tackling big philosophical questions,”[1]
Games can not only create
complete worlds of wonderment and excitement, but many of them can build upon political, social, economic or
cultural philosophies and countless moral dilemmas, many games have jumped up
to do this with titles such as:
“Deus Ex: Human Revolution”:
Is a game which raises massive philosophical questions of something that will most
likely befall us in the next 20-30 years, the rise of human augmentation. Leaving
the player the difficult decision of having to decide their opinion of it after
thrusting them into the riot torn world of two opposing stances.
seen here in these two videos from the original marketing campaign, one from either point of
seen here in these two videos from the original marketing campaign, one from either point of
“Bio-shock”: though I’m unfamiliar with it completely, the game has deep messages on capitalism and communism, with the city of rapture, a city that was built to evade both methods of society in place of another ideal of a utopian society.
It also raises similar questions about human augmentation, but more leaning towards it badly, though it does give the player a chance to experience the abilities, giving them positive portrayal of being able to fire blast mutants in the face.
The “Fallout” franchise: although they don’t have a deeper meaning such as the last two examples, the Fallout franchise portrays the world after an apocalyptic nuclear war, showing the human race’s upward struggle of survival.
Though, if one were to delve into the games extensive data-logs/lore, it has a strong message of anti-war.
There are many other games that convey messages. Such as the “Metal Gear Solid” franchise, or the devilishly subtle “Braid”
building from that, the introduction of a moral choice system in games make the characters actions effect the surroundings which draw the player in more, and even make them consider consequences of their actions, leading them away from their twisted in game killing rampages.
But that’s not all a game could do. For instance, the game mass effect is essentially a science fiction narrative in the form of a game, with superb storytelling and writing (though the same cannot be said for later instalments in the series), the strangely stylish “Okami”, a game that uses a much more detailed but beautifully eerie stylistic art approach.
These are all incredibly prime examples of games that games can and do portray issues and topical debates and can leave the player with the decision. The others are ones that have a very well developed aspect about them that allows them to flourish and stand out as games.
But, with every argument,
there are two opposing sides,
In this case it is the
opposing argument that videogames are not art. An idea that is commonly associated
with the idea of older audiences that have never played a game, aside from a brief
fling with Pac-man in the 80’s
but it turns out this is often not the case, to cherry-pick an example
but it turns out this is often not the case, to cherry-pick an example
“The worlds created by electronic
games are more like playgrounds where experience is created by the interaction
between a player and a programme. The player cannot claim to impose a personal
vision of life on the game, while the creator of the game has ceded that
responsibility. No one "owns" the game, so there is no artist, and
therefore no work of art.” [2]
a quote from Jonathan jones, (art critic/journalist for the guardian)
he states that the world is just a playground, which in many levels is true, then he goes on to suggest that the game has no official artist it is not a work of art.
But that is a very narrow look on what the definition of art really is.
He also states that:
“Exhibiting Pac-Man and Tetris alongside Picasso and Van Gogh will mean game over for any real understanding of art” [3]
a quote from Jonathan jones, (art critic/journalist for the guardian)
he states that the world is just a playground, which in many levels is true, then he goes on to suggest that the game has no official artist it is not a work of art.
But that is a very narrow look on what the definition of art really is.
He also states that:
“Exhibiting Pac-Man and Tetris alongside Picasso and Van Gogh will mean game over for any real understanding of art” [3]
Though this
may be true in some aspects, however, it’s more based on opinion than fact.
Games like “Tetris” and “Pac-man” are major cultural icons of a simpler time when videogames were less developed, these games were developed by large companies as a cash in on the latest craze of videogames popularised by Pong, the first home videogame.
so essentially, in those days they were more or less marketing and business.
but what people fail to understand with that argument, is the fact that although they were basic, they had unwittingly inspired the birth of the videogames industry where artists, writers, composers, animators and programmers are able to express their creativity through a new canvas.
Games like “Tetris” and “Pac-man” are major cultural icons of a simpler time when videogames were less developed, these games were developed by large companies as a cash in on the latest craze of videogames popularised by Pong, the first home videogame.
so essentially, in those days they were more or less marketing and business.
but what people fail to understand with that argument, is the fact that although they were basic, they had unwittingly inspired the birth of the videogames industry where artists, writers, composers, animators and programmers are able to express their creativity through a new canvas.
However, are
videogames great art? Mostly, no. Their subject matter is simplistic, and their
themes basic in the extreme. But you do see some games reaching out for more. “Bioshock”,
“Dear Esther”, “Bientot l'ete”.
But it is a budding art form, one that has a lot of growing up to do before it can be considered great art
But it is a budding art form, one that has a lot of growing up to do before it can be considered great art
So that is how
videogames are an art form, and although naysayers criticize saying that
videogames are not an art, they overlook the fact that Film was considered
nothing more than a Toy by professional art critics early on because it was
moving.
Bibliography:
Examples of
Deus Ex’s two opposing stances on human augmentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54B5fm5dQ9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcsd6mJ3R08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54B5fm5dQ9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcsd6mJ3R08
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