Comments on: Video Games as High Art http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/ An Indie Game Developer's somewhat interesting thoughts Mon, 21 May 2012 10:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Barry http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-50778 Barry Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:06:03 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-50778 First, people need to ask themselves, "What is art?". To me, a beautiful picture, an amazing soundtrack, great character depth, an understanding of where the cast is (in terms of morals, beliefs, and understanding), CGI. However, the most important aspect is the story. Without it, most games wouldn't even have playability. No matter the depth of the story, without it, you have nothing. I find more art in a game than I do in a movie. most movies only play 1-2 hours. In this time span, you find that the story is often rushed. This causes horrible character development. At least the typical Final Fantasy, you can get 20-40 hours of game play, in which the story is as good as the person who developed it. To say that Video Games are not art, is like saying movies and music aren't either. People can keep telling themselves that it isn't, but art is truly seen by the beholder who sees it. What is art to one person, may just be a pile of crap to another. First, people need to ask themselves, “What is art?”. To me, a beautiful picture, an amazing soundtrack, great character depth, an understanding of where the cast is (in terms of morals, beliefs, and understanding), CGI. However, the most important aspect is the story. Without it, most games wouldn’t even have playability. No matter the depth of the story, without it, you have nothing. I find more art in a game than I do in a movie. most movies only play 1-2 hours. In this time span, you find that the story is often rushed. This causes horrible character development. At least the typical Final Fantasy, you can get 20-40 hours of game play, in which the story is as good as the person who developed it.

To say that Video Games are not art, is like saying movies and music aren’t either. People can keep telling themselves that it isn’t, but art is truly seen by the beholder who sees it. What is art to one person, may just be a pile of crap to another.

]]> By: RohoMech http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46346 RohoMech Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:28:41 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46346 Hmm, yea, I guess that's true. So we indies have another set of gatekeepers to take on then!?! Hmm, yea, I guess that’s true.
So we indies have another set of gatekeepers to take on then!?!

]]> By: Impossible http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46297 Impossible Fri, 03 Aug 2007 02:14:38 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46297 Yes, a lot of artists don't define the meaning of their work or get other meanings projected onto their work. Which is why I said "ideally." Yes, a lot of artists don’t define the meaning of their work or get other meanings projected onto their work. Which is why I said “ideally.”

]]> By: RohoMech http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46295 RohoMech Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:50:02 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46295 Impossible, imo it tends to be less about the artist defining the underlying meaning of his/her piece. If only Robert Frost was here, he'd set you straight. Impossible, imo it tends to be less about the artist defining the underlying meaning of his/her piece. If only Robert Frost was here, he’d set you straight.

]]> By: Impossible http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46294 Impossible Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:11:55 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46294 RohoMech is just trolling. Ideally the artist (not critics or historians) would decide the underlying meaning of the game, but in some ways RohoMech is right. Games will become art once the people (i.e. academics and "high culture" gatekeepers) decide they are art. RohoMech is just trolling. Ideally the artist (not critics or historians) would decide the underlying meaning of the game, but in some ways RohoMech is right. Games will become art once the people (i.e. academics and “high culture” gatekeepers) decide they are art.

]]> By: RohoMech http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46275 RohoMech Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:02:24 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46275 I'm arguing that games today have enough substance that they can be discussed this way. Poor Jonathan Mak has to self-promote his game and explain his vision repeatably to everyone who interviews him. Dead Rising is a fantastic statement about survival, the Metal Gear games are beautiful anti-war expressions, etc... And I'm talking more than story, as in your example with Illusion of Gaia. Film / Literature discourse discusses the film / literary techniques used by the author. Yes, Citizen Kane's story was told in an innovative way, but its the film techniques (deep focus, the makeup, framing, etc). Shakespeare recycled stories, but its how the stories are written which make them great, the alliteration, rhyming schemes, the iambic pentameter!!! Thats not to say people can't and shouldn't ask for more. And its kind of odd, people don't see a crappy movie and complain about the the Mis-En-Scene blowing, or the framing sucking, or the editing being mistimed...or the crappy use of wipes. Its story and acting that they'll pay attention to, which I guess translate to story & graphics for video games... I’m arguing that games today have enough substance that they can be discussed this way. Poor Jonathan Mak has to self-promote his game and explain his vision repeatably to everyone who interviews him. Dead Rising is a fantastic statement about survival, the Metal Gear games are beautiful anti-war expressions, etc…

And I’m talking more than story, as in your example with Illusion of Gaia. Film / Literature discourse discusses the film / literary techniques used by the author. Yes, Citizen Kane’s story was told in an innovative way, but its the film techniques (deep focus, the makeup, framing, etc). Shakespeare recycled stories, but its how the stories are written which make them great, the alliteration, rhyming schemes, the iambic pentameter!!!

Thats not to say people can’t and shouldn’t ask for more. And its kind of odd, people don’t see a crappy movie and complain about the the Mis-En-Scene blowing, or the framing sucking, or the editing being mistimed…or the crappy use of wipes. Its story and acting that they’ll pay attention to, which I guess translate to story & graphics for video games…

]]> By: GBGames http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46271 GBGames Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:13:42 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46271 It's ok to disagree with me. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one thinking about the topic, and I can't possibly be right all the time. B-) I keep hearing good things about Edge. I'll have to track down that issue and read that article. As for the level of discourse about games, wouldn't it be easier to talk about them if they had something to offer as a subject? The Illusion of Gaia stands out in my mind specifically because of the story and morals. Otherwise, who would remember it? It’s ok to disagree with me. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one thinking about the topic, and I can’t possibly be right all the time. B-)

I keep hearing good things about Edge. I’ll have to track down that issue and read that article.

As for the level of discourse about games, wouldn’t it be easier to talk about them if they had something to offer as a subject? The Illusion of Gaia stands out in my mind specifically because of the story and morals. Otherwise, who would remember it?

]]> By: RohoMech http://gbgames.com/blog/2007/08/video-games-as-high-art/comment-page-1/#comment-46262 RohoMech Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:36:52 +0000 http://gbgames.com/blog/?p=664#comment-46262 Sigh, I totally disagree with you, for many reason, but I'd like to first point out that it should be the Lumière brother's and their "short film" of a locomotive arriving that really show people what those fancy moving pictures could do. To me, honestly, its less about what games people make, but the level of discourse about them. I'd read an *amazing* article about Mario Sunshine (http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2007/02/edge_173.php) and in my opinion, we need MORE discussion like this. I doubt blogs and user comments are a substitute for a serious discussion, but at the very least they fill this void. So I should also thank you GB for doing your part. Sigh, I totally disagree with you, for many reason, but I’d like to first point out that it should be the Lumière brother’s and their “short film” of a locomotive arriving that really show people what those fancy moving pictures could do.

To me, honestly, its less about what games people make, but the level of discourse about them. I’d read an *amazing* article about Mario Sunshine (http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2007/02/edge_173.php) and in my opinion, we need MORE discussion like this.

I doubt blogs and user comments are a substitute for a serious discussion, but at the very least they fill this void. So I should also thank you GB for doing your part.

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