Are video games considered art?

I'm doing some research for an essay I'm writing exploring the above topic so I'd like some opinions. :) Personally, I'm a big gaming geek and I think that they are, but I can't stretch "yes" into a 10 page essay. Soo..... thoughts? Opinions? I'd love to hear from gamers and non-gamers alike. And of course, why/why not instead of just a "yes" or "no" always helps. :)

Thanks for reading this and have a great weekend! :)Are video games considered art?
I think games should be considered art (I don't think they commonly are). I have a BA in Studio Art, and the basic definition for art boils down to, "an idea expressed in form." Even the worst video game is attempting to convey SOMETHING. Some sort of narrative. Maybe it's "get the frog across the road" or "the world needs saving and for some reason you're the only person who can do it." Admittably, there are varying degrees of video games. Some are downright embarrassing (hack n' slash style, movie video games, etc.). Others are so sweeping and dramatic that you genuinely FEEL for the characters (Prince of Persia, Shadow of the Colossus).



I think this discussion won't ever be nailed down. You probably won't ever find a "work of art" that everyone will consier good. There's going to be art that you like that others won't and art that others like that you detest. Does that make a painting not art? No, because someone took the time to visually express themselves in a wholly unique way. Video games are very much the same way.



I personally hated God of War. I played it because people told me how great it was. I played it but thought it played like pretty much every hack n' slash game. I kill everything, there's an easy puzzle, I kill more things, I fight a boss, and the level's over. While I didn't like playing it, I can respect it for introducing so many themes from Greek mythology. People loved it because of the things I didn't like about it. I personally tend to believe that most of the people who play it haven't heard of half the mythical beasts being slaughtered, but maybe I'm just being cynical.



On the other hand, I LOVED Shadow of the Colossus. It was essentially 16 boss fights, almost zero dialogue, and a lot of traveling. The designers took so much care in crafting the play environment though. The landscape was so empty that you felt connected with the protagonist, and the loneliness was almost palpable. The Colossi were immense ferocious giants that had to be conquered. However they were so majestic and innocent in their actions, I felt bad after each one I conquered, like I had just destroyed a beautiful creation. I think many people shyed away from this title though. It lacked the fast pace that most games seem to implement.



Simply put, yes games are art. It's a completely subjective subject though (kind of like art), so I might be wrong (depends who you ask).



I'd be interested in seeing your paper too. Sounds like a fun topic.Are video games considered art?
Its a tricky question. Just some thoughts...I think they can be art but they are not always art, just like any other medium. A new breed of art. They are sometimes collaborative art projects (color, modeling, sound, background painting, character development, etc) while sometimes they are a single artist's concept, design, and production (even if others work on it). I am a painter and I play video games. Sometimes, while I am playing ;) I think games are the ultimate art form because they are 4 dimensional- depth, width, height and time and they are relevant to my generation; people raised and inundated with television and film media. In games, environments unlike any we know on earth are created and we interact with that environment and learn its rules and codes. We as players become apart of it.



A lot of artists use gaming as their medium.

http://www.tmpspace.com

http://www.sixspace.com/gallery/french20鈥?/a>

And some artists are making paintings and sculptures about it. That does not prove that games are art but it may help support your thesis one way or another. Games are relatively new (in relation to art history anyway). Many people can not fathom them being taken seriously. I'd love to read your paper when its done and see what you come up with! Good Luck.Are video games considered art?
maybe....if you create the games than its your work just like graphic design...but if you just play them than its not art