Are Videogames Art?

[Wan]

Much like before (when I was still a noob to the forums) a guy posted something which caused alot of debate. Something about good or something about that nature but thats not the point.

The point is, are videogames art?

Do they have art?

Can a videogame be art?

Is it culture?

If its not art then what is it?

According to This art definition almost anything a human does can be art.

Debate!

[Erroneous]

Pre-rendered games should be obvious art to anyone who opposes games as being art. But truth be told, my Major in college was Game Art Design, guess what my courses included? Fine arts, graphics arts, marketing, presentation, perspective, figure, etc... you'd find in most art colleges.

Therefore I think of games as a form art.

[marthwmaster]

I've always maintained this. If movies are art, than "movies you can play" should be as well. And Project .hack has produced some of the greatest art to come out of Japan in many years IMHO. Not just the games, but the whole franchise is full of artistic significance.
Videogames in general are art, so long as they stay true to the goal of expressing the thoughts and ideas of the design team. When a game is produced solely for the purpose of making money, and has no creative thought put behind it (a lot of anime and big budget film-based games fit this description), then it is not a work of art.

[laysh]

Of coarse its art. Like katamari. The creator dosn't even like video games. he was doing it just for an art project.

[S1lentOp]

Yes it is an art. It is a visual art, a musical art, and a story-telling art. Case and point: Okami and Metal Gear Solid

[Wan]

Yes it is an art. It is a visual art, a musical art, and a story-telling art. Case and point: Okami and Metal Gear Solid

Ah but even Hideo Kojima says Videogames arent art. Ill post where I heard this later. Saw it on an ign video.

[S1lentOp]

Ah but even Hideo Kojima says Videogames arent art. Ill post where I heard this later. Saw it on an ign video.

If he did, it would contradict everything he's said before and the entire reason he is still making video games.

[Cless]

I think video game is art. In the beginning imagination is used so I say it is.

[Dot-Hack-Rocks]

Ignus..of course video games are art.
It involves alot of techniques that
artists use for painting/sketches/etc.

[Dragoon2044]

Look at the Xenosaga trilogy and the entire series. From the storyline to the music. To the complexity of events to the massive amount of detail put into the story. You'd be a real fool to say videogames are less than art. Video games is an artisan craft. Not just anyone can do it. Thats why they call them artisans and engineers. Generally a lot of folks in the last 2 generations can't accept certain things about new age media.

[Akuta]

Looking at the poetic story and style in Shadow of the Colossus and the unique art style in Okami, i'd say they can very much be art. Not all games are leaning towards the art direction though.

[Ichida]

If it's done tastefully, then games can certainly qualify as art. Technically, anything creative undertaken by anyone can be considered creatively artistic.

[Umbra]

I think the creation of an attractive videogame can be considered artwork, but then again what is considered 'art' depends on personal opinion. I think games like Twilight Princess, .hack//GU, Okami, and all the other games that look attractive and involve original stories and characters should be considered an art.

Things like FIFA or GTA, definitely not.

[Tenma6]

whaddya think EA games stand for? Electronic Art
EA sucks, even though I bought they're Battlefield 2142 which totally kicks ass

[Wan]

Hideo Kojima interview with IGN He also had a playstation magazine issue stating his reasons.

Further more he isnt making games for the sake of it being a game.

[Kite_2000]

Well, to me, video games can be an art depending on what it's based on. In my case, I'd think of a 'video game art' to be something like a RPG. These tend to set more of a scene rather than something like...say, "We Love Katamari".

This is an art itself. Showing the world what other worlds you can see in your mind. Then, you can turn it into a story that people can play in. I find that interesting, but in a way, 'showing someone another world'...that is an art...
Well, corny and I know I make no sense...
But yeah, bear with me.

[S1lentOp]

Hideo Kojima interview with IGN He also had a playstation magazine issue stating his reasons.

Further more he isnt making games for the sake of it being a game.

Links and I know he isn't. That's precisely my point.

[pekerman]

they´re art: regarding graphics, music, videos, and story as well. Programming all these are considered an art.

[marthwmaster]

Hideo Kojima interview with IGN He also had a playstation magazine issue stating his reasons.

Further more he isnt making games for the sake of it being a game.

Links and I know he isn't. That's precisely my point.

The message you quoted contains a link.

[Akuri]

games can be considered art on a few things one being a good story line and two how well it took the designers to make it to there liking