Games As Art

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A lot of gamers are angry with Roger Ebert's theory that videogames are only art, but I'm sure he only said that because his definition of "art" is different from that of others (Art is universal, after all.) Which games or game series do you consider as "art" because of what they do?
Here are my picks:

ICO
Shadow of the Colossus
Killer 7
Okami
BioShock
Half-Life (series)
The Legend of Zelda (series)
Super Metroid
Metroid Prime
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy X

QFT. The classic example.

For complete "huh?" factor, I submit:
Ikaruga
Panzer Dragoon Saga (this one takes some justification, but I can rationalize it)

In terms of overall aesthetics and wow factor, I have to pick Final Fantasy XII and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Those games are high art in their own right.

Visually: American McGee's Alice

In terms of writing, storytelling: Planescape: Torment

In general: The Oddworld series, Grim Fandango.

I regard my modding as an artistic endeavour in a sense.
Some approaches to go about playing a game can have art in them too just as some might consider life itself a work of art.

95% of rpg's (not mmo's though) out there can qualify as art. They have all those wonderful things like plot and narrative that are present in drama (which is in itself an art form), although they usually allow for some player interaction that can alter events in the game. But in a sense, those drama elements are still there...

Any game which was made with some creativity is a work of art. Games are an art form. Just like drawing, sculpture, music, writing, films, whatever.

Each art form has a specific way of being experienced... You "look at" paintings... you "listen to" music... you "read" books... you "play" games. Many games are also a combination of other art forms, the same way most films are (visual and audio.)

"Art" is such a subjective term - and I don't really care at all what Roger Ebert thinks of it. But my personal view is that games are capable of being the highest of art forms - since they can combine all the other art forms and have the additional element of being interactive. In games you can have story-telling / creative writing, visual art, music, sculpture, cinematography, architecture, socio-political critique, acting (role-play), spiritual elements... pretty much anything you can imagine. Film has all of these elements but games go one step further and let you interact with it.

I think most games are some kind of art - even if it is just the art of great gameplay. I would argue even a really simple old arcade game like Tempest (one of my personal favorites) is art. Of course some seem more artistic than others but that is a matter of personal preference. RPGs definitely have some of the greatest depth artistically of any genre. I would even say MMOs do to - because of the interesting social / political and role-play dynamics that can come about.

This thread reminds me I really need to check out Shadow of the Colossus and Planescape someday.

Gaming is indeed an art form, but I find it hard to classify most games as "art," because so many games are so commercial. Modern games in particular are achingly lacking in the creativity department, in my view--with some exceptions like "Little Big Planet" or "Spore." Yes, every game that has advanced 3D graphics has constant artwork on display, but by and large it's just so commercialized and so homogenous that it's hard to call it true art. So many games these days are just clones of each other.

QFT.

Understand that thread was intended for video games, but subforum is "games & video games" & thread title says "games as art"-so I'm taking it as including games not of the video sort.

I draw/create/design mazes by hand, and they are both "works of art" (pretty to look at, as mere decorative doodles) & also-depending on whether one's "into" them-fun to "do" (solve/complete).

I think Metal Gear Solid games could be considered as art.

Agreed. Those I see as far more than commercial products, due to their fascinating storylines.

Another one I'd forgotten was Deus Ex.

I pretty much agree with you on some of them.

Mine:

Okami
Shadow of the Colossus
Kingdom Hearts series
Ico
Baten Kaitos series
Star Ocean series
Folklore
Tales series
Lost Odyssey
Halo series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Last edited by Local_Outcast on 15 May 2008, 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

One word... Okami

There's a free game available for download on the Net. It's called Passage.

I dare you to say that games can't be art after playing this game.

Oops! I forgot one: Super Smash Bros. Brawl *drools*.