Video Games: A Form of Art

Once i heard the topic of video games as art last class, i just had to post about it. These may seem like ideas being thrown out there, but these are some aspects that i see that sets in the idea that video games are a form of art.

So, are video games a form of art? Or are they just nothing but child's play? Let's consider some aspects here.

What's considered art? Forms of art that can be described (off the top of my head) are painting/drawing, writing, music, movies, books, poetry, theater and dancing.

The definition of art is the following: 

The main reason why video games are kind of controversy in the subject of art is due to the fact that some people consider gaming as "childish". Something to pass the time and to not be taken seriously. 

But what goes into actually making a game? Well a lot of things actually. Not only is there programming and creating puzzles to be solved, but there is a creation of atmosphere. 

It's flipping PRETTY

Look at this and tell me that it's not art.

SO PRETTY !!!!! Okay now with that out of the way, let us continue...

Concept art that helps inspire story

The same thing is done with animated movies; writing the story and painting up some concept art. Concept art is created and is given to the level designers & animators in order to bring the right feeling to the levels, characters and story. Like beautiful paintings hanging on the wall, the concept art alone is interesting to view. Talented artists from everywhere drawing from the story and environment descriptions given to them.

Good examples of concept art inspiring aspects of the story would be The Last of Us. A game that was trying its best not to be another zombie apocalypse. Instead, the game drew inspiration from a section of the BBC's Planet Earth series. In that segment, we learn about the cordyceps fungus which is a fungus that takes host in an insect (such as an aunt) and controls the host like a zombie. Due to this being a game about fungus taking over a person's ability to function, the creators wanted to separate their design from other zombie/post apocalypse. 

After compiling designs inspired by fungus and skin infections, the idea of the clicker was born. This concept not only added onto the feel of the game but also some gameplay aspects as well. I will provide a link to a video on the deveopment of this game right here for some of you to check out if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWmcRq66m3c

As we can see, art goes into the process of making games in order to inspire things to further develop the game. 

Interacting with Art: Video games do it best

Do you ever watch a movie and disagree with the choices of the characters? Or you see a character do something that causes an event and then you kind of wonder what would happen if the character didn't do that said thing? Would the event still occur?

Video games are unique in that regard. Similar to a Choose Your Own Adventure book, video games allow the player to make choices as to how to play the game. Whether it'd be customizing a character's clothing options or choosing how a group of characters will survive until dawn fighting off a bunch of windegos. No other medium is choice and participation a large part of the experience.

A great company known for making games is a little known point and click game creator that goes by the name of TellTale. You might have heard of them through the success of the Walking Dead games and the Wolf Among Us. These are characters and worlds in which the player is playing a major role or part of a bigger story. Stories that would make entertaining movies or books, but are expanded upon with the addition of player choice. A form of art that is expanded upon how the individual player experiences the story. Going back to character customization, games most notable for how the player chooses to shape and create the world around them include titles such as The Sims and Animal Crossing. These games are more of a "slice of life" option in the gaming market and are focused a realistic escapism. This allowing the player to make different kinds of life choices and living out other experiences that the player would not normally; an example being a child raised in a dry or tropical environment (where it is always summertime warm weather) to experience snow during the holidays. 

Video Games: Officially recognized as a form of design

About two years ago, i remembered hearing the The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) had added a select few video games to their Applied Design Exhibit. Alongside with Robots creating chairs and a map that shows the wind currents, video games are featured as interactive designs. From this a lot of controversy has risen up on this topic of whether or not video games are considered as art. Curator Paola Antonelli refers to games as "the purest form of interaction" in her presentation

"Paola Antonelli: Why I brought Pac-Man to MoMA" which shows Paola herself explaining that very thing. this i shall leave a link to her full discussion if you are interested:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzGjO5aHShQ

Are Video Games considered as Art?

Though not to most art critics, i say that it is a form of art. It is a form of expression that not only is unique in presentation, but let's the viewer interact with the story and world in which the creator has presented to them. Games that let the player choose, create and experience what the game developers and creator intended on being something that the player would come to enjoy. A form of interactive escapism that can look beautiful and bring up certain emotions like any good story should. It may look like child's play, but video games are no doubt a new form of expression AKA a new form of ART.