Videogames as art?

This came up in a different thread, and I thought it would make an interesting topic. I'm talking about games that go beyond the creative norm. Not every videogame is art. The shitty Army Men games that 3DO churns out every month are not art. The stupid yearly Madden update EA churns out is not art. Mass-market, mass produced games are not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about games where the developers make every aspect come together with so much creativity and care they they become something more than your run-of-the-mill videogames and attain something higher. Where they're not concerned about selling 5 million copies but about taking a chance, expressing something and making something new and different.

The first game that comes to mind is Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. This game is awe-inspiring to me. Everything about it- the beautiful music, the setting, the gothic atmosphere, the story, the level design, and especially the character art all combine to create one of the finest games ever produced. So much are seemed to go into everything. I actually tried to get a letter-writing/email campaign against Konami when I learned that they were changing the amazing Japanese cover art (painted by goddess Ayami Kojima) for the American version. Their reason? Alucard looked too "feminine". Okay, so he didn't fit into the standard "Duke Nukem" mold of the typical action hero, big deal! Instead we get a cheesy castle with air-brushed lightning. Oooh, biiig improvement. Ayami's art for the game is so beautiful, as those of us that own the mini-art book that was released with the game can attest to. And the score is fantastic- I own the soundtrack CD, it's one of my most prized posessions. Overall, this game is a piece of art, no doubt.

Of course, in a different thread, StriderKyo stated that the Silent Hill series could also be considered art, and I'd have to agree with him. The realistic design of the town, the freaky, unconventional soundtrack, the unusual, surreal stories, the interesting history of the town, the bizarre monsters and the way the designers play upon your most primal of fears (fear of the unknown, the anticiaption of death) all combine to make a beautifully crafted piece of art. Any game that can manipulate you like SH can is impressive.

Anyway, there's others, and I'll post some more later. Anyone...? :)

I consider Rez art, I mean, its so much more than a game to me, its a full body experience when you have a good sound system accompanying you.

Any game that innovates, inspires or entertains is considered art if you ask me.

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Originally posted by NGEFreek
I consider Rez art, I mean, its so much more than a game to me, its a full body experience when you have a good sound system accompanying you.

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ooooo, you are talking it up sooo good. I just got a new sound system and a PS2 and I want to pick it up sooo bad. By the way, is REZ written in 5.1?

Rez, as previously stated, of course. I havn't played it..yet, but many would also say NiGHTS. I consider Skies of Arcadia to be art; when I think of the game it appears to me as a touching anime story. The JSR series is also art, and I'm not just talking about the design of the graphics. I'm talking about the whole picture, everything comes together perfectly and harmoniously.

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Originally posted by amerlop


ooooo, you are talking it up sooo good. I just got a new sound system and a PS2 and I want to pick it up sooo bad. By the way, is REZ written in 5.1?

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I'm really not sure, but somehow my friend has his DC hooked up and its in 5.1 somehow, someway thats beyond my comprehension ^_^ As for the PS2 one, I have no clue.

Any visual idea put to a medium is art, as is any audio idea. By my standards, that makes video games as much art as anything else.

This ones a bit complicated for me. There are two wholey diffrent "classes" of art when it comes to videogames, for me. The first is one thats based on an immersion level. A game that totally engrosse you in its story, art direction, just the world that has been created. When you really feel for the characters, when your heart beats a little faster at the thought of facing one of the main bad guys early on, because you care about the characters and personas that the game designers have created. As Luke said, Skies of Arcadia is a great example. The gameplay itself is debatable. I personally felt it didn't detract from the overall experience(except for South Ocean, Fucking Gravers!!), but others felt that it was enough to not play the game very much beyond its initial introduction. The characters, story, and world as a whole came across so wonderfully that I was completely taken in. On top of that, it conveyed a message, an ideal. Which to me is an important, but not neccessary, part of art. The idea of hope was so well conveyed, that the game inspired me in real life. The way Vyse simply never gave up, his ultimate tenacity was amazing, his undieing faith in himself and his friends. The designers created a world, story, and characters to enhance and compliment that. I cried at the completion of that game, and even after completing it three times, I still crie when I finish it. Something about simply reaches out and grabs me.

Moving on to the other form of game art. Gameplay. I consider the gameplay itself to be art, but only when someone is playing. I think the creation of the gameplay is sort of an art, but it doesnt really become an art to me untill someone is actualy experiencing/interacting with that gameplay. PLaying a game like Crazy Taxi, or Rocket Knight adventures might not seem like art, but to me it is. The controls convey exactly whats going on with the infomation being displayed on the screen, and you become whatever it is that is there. Be it a oppossum, or taxi, or plumber. When the controls, and gameplay are closely link and in synch with one another it creates an experience that I cant really explain. It doesnt convey an idea. It has some strange motional connection with me. Perhaps its the escapism. Maybe being the Vasteel ship spinning through a bullet shower, and weaving an attack against the enemies all around me gives me a break from this world. I swear though, pulling off a combo in street fighter, or sliding through 20 cars like fingers through water in Crazy Taxi without touching a single one feels supernatural, and somehow enlightening. Maybe Im simply a stange one for "experiencing" these emotions and feelings. I wish I could explain it better... perhaps with more thought and discussion it will become clearer and easier for me to convey.

There is the rare game that combines a visual, aural, and tactile response art form in a single game. Two titles immediatly come to mind. REZ and Jet Set/Grind Radio. Anyway, I'll stop cause I really should get back to work, but thats how _I_ feel on the subject atleast.

Z-roe

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Originally posted by AFX
Any visual idea put to a medium is art, as is any audio idea. By my standards, that makes video games as much art as anything else.

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Yes, but true art transends form. By your definition Army Men: Green Rouge would be a work of art. By that definition any retard could be an artist, but I'm talking about actually trying to create something special or unique as opposed to just updating the stats of a football game for its yearly installment or churning out a quickie movie-based game or something.

Final fantasy tactics , for the same reasons as SOTN . Excellent music , engrossing gameplay , memorable characters.......