It all
started with a radar. A “Cathode ray tube Amusement Device” – as it was called
by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann who patented it on 25 January 1947. It was a
simple analog device that allowed to control a single dot displayed on the
screen that simulated an attack on a target
with a missile. That was the beginning of something the society would later
know as video games.
It took
over 30 years to even consider video games as a
form of art. The first steps were taken in exhibitions such as Museum of the
Moving Image – and only because of the curator and his intent to display them
there.
After
another decade, more titles popped up in different exhibitions. The games were
talked about more, not just as pure entertainment but also in the light of its artistic value. As the
years went by, the technology became more powerful. Better computers and better
software mixed with more knowledge gave people the ability to create more
complex and interesting games. They often carried fantastic stories, beautiful
music and amazing graphics. Games were able to make people laugh or cry, they
gave a reason to contemplate, they were often infused with culture or history.
And even if they were capable of carrying as much content as paintings or
poetry, not everyone agreed that they deserved the right to be called “art”.
In 2010,
the film critic Roger Ebert decided to share his point of view, declaring that
games are not and won’t ever be art - even in the far future. As he claims: “No
one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of
comparison with the great poets, filmmakers, novelists”. Ebert also mentions
that unlike art, you can win a game – the game has rules, points, objectives
and an outcome – so in the end, even if the game has a wonderful story or
visuals, but contains a set of rules – it ceases to be a game and becomes a
representation of a story, a novel, a dance or a film. Ebert also has his
supporters – the Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones suggests that behind a game
there is no artistic expression, since player can interact with it. Therefore,
it means the creator was unable to create an authorial vision.
But it’s
not only doom and gloom for the people who protect games as a form of art – not
all of the critics are against the games. They pinpoint
that games combine art and science – intertwining
music, story, illustration and sculpture in the form of 3D modeling altogether.
They allow the viewer to observe the work of the author, but they also let them find a personal connection and
experience. The list of the titles that are considered to be works of art by art
critics and video game reviewers contains over 70 titles so far and the list is
growing. And considering games are compared to
the “classic” art like paintings, music or poetry, I believe it’s a good start.
1. Do you play
video games?
2. How do you
personally define art?
3. Do you
think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
1. Currently I do not play computer games, because I do not have time for it. In the past I played very often and my favorite game was GTA and The Sims.
ReplyDelete2. For me art is the expression of the soul and personality of the artist. His emotions and feelings expressed through painting, composing, dancing, etc. His way of perceiving reality. It is something very individualized. Art is a kind of subjective creativity.
3. I think that computer games are not the art. They are created for entertainment and for making money.
Which one GTA did you play? Do you think that games cannot display the emotions if they are created by more than one person - if so, how do you feel about movies that are considered art?
DeleteI can recommend you a few titles that were created with more than just a thought of being only an entertainement - for example The Cat Lady mentions really difficult topics like depression, suicide and dealing with cancer. Another one is Never Alone - a game created with help of Alaska native storytellers that describes the lore of Inupiat people through the adventure of the little girl and her fox. The game is also rich in the native art :)
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteNo, but I've played games when I was young.
2. How do you personally define art?
It's hard question. Maybe it is something amazing, created by talented person, really unique and rare? Absolutely it must have "this thing" :)
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
I think that it can be placed under that category. But it must fulfill above conditions etc. For example - maybe original Flappy Bird? It's simple, but I think that for milions of people it has "this thing".
Haha, I remember playing Flappy Bird few years ago - and I can't deny that this video game made me feel something that I've never felt before. These emotions were oscillating more around pure rage though, because the whole concept of movement was annoyingly simple and unpredictable :)
DeleteNo, I do not play video games. I do not like spent time in a such way. I am energetic person. Playing video games is too much static for me. I do not also play, beceause of my work. I avoid computer screen after I finish my daily duties.
ReplyDeleteFor me, art is a creating something new what is undiscovered, something curious. It is a hard question, really.
Why not, I think it is some kind of art. The way you move, the way you plan various stratiegies is really interesting. On the other hand, I think playing computer games is much more like sport than art. To prove my opinion, feel free to read this article: http://choices.scholastic.com/story/debate-gaming-sport
Thanks for the article! I can see why people have different opinions when it comes to calling games sport - I think it has a lot to do with a specific genre of the game as well - while Counter Strike or League of Legends might actually require a team and some strategies, it might be hard to consider playing Crash Bandicoot a "sport"- unless it's maybe beating a game in the shortest time possible?
DeletePersonally I think that something can be both art and sport - after all dancing or figure skating are considered to be sport, but it doesn't stop the dancer or the figure skater from creating a masterpiece :)
1.Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteI don’t play video games. I wish to play but I don’t have spare time for it.
2.How do you personally define art?
According to me art is made by people who have talent and proper skills.
3.Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
I’m not sure. I can imagine that I like graphic in some video game but I couldn’t say it’s an art.
So does that mean that people who make games are not talented not properly skilled? :)
DeleteWhat else do you think people should find in games that would make them call art?
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't play video games, but I I play platform games. I don't have time to play in console games, so I prefer play games, while traveling to work.
2. How do you personally define art?
Yes, of course. Everything, what is connecting with design is a form of art. Many of concept art illustrator create beautiful world with amazing characters. Good example of great design video art is polish game, created by CD RED PROJECT "The Witcher"
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
give the scenography in the films
Since prizes are given for the best scenography in films, why do not give the for the best scenography or character in video games? The market of video games are still developing. More and more games are being produced, and therefore should be rewarded.
1. I don’t play video games, I used to play when I was younger
ReplyDelete2. For me it’s something amazing created by talented person
3. I think they may be the kind of art
What aspects of the game would you focus on when it comes to calling them art? Do you pay attention just to the visuals, music or maybe a story? Or maybe just the whole process of creating them?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't. I used to play when I was a child.
2. How do you personally define art?
The results of someone's work that has a message. It could be a computer graphics, sculpture or even photo.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
When you spread out original common definition of art and look at the art from wider perspective I think some of the games of current market could be a art. I am not just thinking about the pictures in the game but also I am considering algorithms and mathematics which is hidden from gamers eyes and produce beautiful very natural view that reflecting surrounding reality.
I'm glad that you noticed tons of amount of work that people put into making everything run properly - preparing story, assets and visuals is one thing, but making them work together is another. For me coding the game is kinda like craftsmanship - it's not necessarily the final product itself, but a part that's needed to complete the artistic vision.
DeleteYes, I sometimes play video games. I love any simulators and sports games with move sensors (xbox kinect).
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion games is a part of current pop culture. Many of games have ideal graphics scenography and realistic characters. I think that games is a art as well as films and music. Big game production have a 1000 employes workers (graphics designers, motion programmers etc.). This is a craft work.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDelete– Yes, I sometimes play games. It's fun way to spend free time.
2. How do you personally define art?
– I would say art is when you see something for the very first time and instantly you're amaze by it.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
– Not really. I never thought about games as art and I don't believe I'll ever do so.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteYes, I play video games, clasiic ones like WarlordsBattlecry II, Heroes Might and Magic III or modern ones, like League of Legends.
2. How do you personally define art?
Term "art" has wide definition. Personally this term suits to paintings, grafitti, or fanArt. I don't think that this term suits to video games, even when some of them are masterpiece.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
As I mention before I don't find video games to be an art. I prefer call it hard work of many people. Monika D
Aren't movies or plays or orchestra concerts a hard work of many people as well? Aren't they also meant to entartain people? What in your opinion makes them different than video games and why the first three are considered to be art, while the games are usually not? :)
Delete1. Unfortunately I do not have that much time to play video games.
ReplyDelete2. This is something nice or controversial, created by the artist :D
3. Rather not, it is not like a painting. I hope I did not offend you :)
You did not, however I highly recommend you to play some of the titles that are super nice (at least for me) and that could be as breathtaking as some of the paintings :) Give ICO or Shadow of the Colossus try. While they're not complicated and not as visually advanced as some of the new titles, both of them left me speechless after I finished them.
Delete1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteYes, but only if I have spare time, so not too often.
2. How do you personally define art?
It's everything that is expressing and triggering emotions. Good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant - doesn't matter.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
I think that video games are already some kind of art. Why movies are falling under art category and video games not? Many games have better story lines than movies.
That's a really good point - one of the main arguments for games not being art is that they're not made by one person - but who says it can't be a work of many? I think that collaborations can sometimes be more effective when it comes to digging out the emotions out of people rather than working solo.
Delete1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteI do, but not regularly. Usually when I start a new game and I like it, I can't stop, so when I play a game it's most likely to be during a weekend :)
2. How do you personally define art?
It is something that touch you deeply and you can't forget it. It might be pretty much everything. But also you need to be open to experience the art. Nowadays people are constantly in a hurry and don't even notice the art around them.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
It depends. Most of games are just for quick fun and earning money :) But for sure there are games that are perfect in some fields and could be considered as an piece of art.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteYes I do, I find it very relaxing. I like to discover things that creators put into their worlds.
2. How do you personally define art?
To define art is to define beauty.. and everyone has his own sense of it so I don't think defining art to be a good idea.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
Some of them are like interactive movie, with a really interesting plot - so while films are a kind of art, why games shouldn't?
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteI was playing lots of games in my early years. Right now, I sometimes returns to those big titles, such as "Final Fantasy". I am a big fan of retro games.
2. How do you personally define art?
It's a question for a whole diploma :)
To make it short, I define art as something, that not necessarily need to be practical or useful. It is a creation that pleases our eyes, something that drawing our interest, that have a hidden story behind curtains.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
Yes! People likes to be caught in a magical stories, watch astonishing views and solve complex puzzles. I think the one, who can invent such imagining worlds is an artist.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteSince I was a child I was playing a video games. The first game with which I spend many hours playing was “Super Mario” on Nintendo 64. Till today I have this console with some games, of course the graphic is not the best side of this now but it was not the point. The story and the climate of this game was so fantastic that even today if I remember this all the great memories comes back. Now I don’t have so much time to play video games but I still love to play games and if I have a free moment I play some games.
2. How do you personally define art?
For me art is something by what people express themselves, their feelings and personality.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
It is hard to say, from one side video games are made to make some big money but from the other side many artists are working to make this game looks fabulous. There are graphics designer and story designer who call themselves an artist.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteNo, i dont plat video games because i dont have a time. I played a lot of the sims, but on PC
2. How do you personally define art?
For me, art is something what express and touch my personal emotions like music, photos, images.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
I think it depends on person. For me (im not a fan of video games) its not an art, beacuse i don't use it :)
But... when i played on The sims 1 on PC, i truely loved game soundtrack.. yes - it was an art!
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteNot much, I do not have too much time. I am trying to play with my son, but rather to spent time with him.
2. How do you personally define art?
Art is something very personal, subjective. For me something can be art, and for somebody else not. It is something creating emotion or break stereotypes.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
Yes. Why not? Somebody can think games not deserve it, but for me there are many games that fulfill my definition of art :)
1. Yes, I play computer games. I really like games in which there are different puzzles to solve. Recently I play a lot with my fiancée. Our favorite is The Cave. I highly recommend it.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion art is a skill that requires talent. Art is all that arises from the imagination of humans. It is a civilization achievement. Art is impossible to define completely. It has many functions including: aesthetic, didactic, social and therapeutic.
3. I strongly believe that some of computer games deserve for the title of art. As well as the films they embarked on design awards for characters or scenography.
Of course videogames is art, how someone doesn't see it? For example people who made game Witcher 3, they have done very big art. In the past I played lots of games. Today I prefer not to start to play because I know that I'll never end. Sometimes I play some card game. I have hope that in the future I will have opportunity do make 3d models for videogames.
ReplyDelete1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteSometimes, but currently less because I have a lot of tasks related to my own company.
2. How do you personally define art?
For me it's every creative manifestation of human activity. If I create the layout of website it's for me art, if I create the mall piece of software a sense, it is also art manifestation.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
Of course yes! My friend is living with making games. Looking at the process of creating a game I would call it a symphony. A perfectly matched set of music, images, animations, gestures and masses of other elements that end up making the user move to a completely different world, virtual world. Where for a while he can forget abour real world. It's amazing!
1.Nowadays I do not play video games because I do not have enough time. When I was young, I spent a lot of time playing video games just like any other kid. I have fond memories of those times. A few years ago together with my friends we have installed a video game simulator on PC. Unfortunately, we were out of shape and neither of us was able to reach the level we reached when we were kids.
ReplyDelete2.For me, art is something unique. It can manifest in many forms, such as: pictures, photographs, sculptures or in ordinary things. In my opinion, computer graphics used in video games should be considered as form of art as well. Older games have their own, unique atmosphere. Another example of art for me is The Witcher game. I have never played this game, but seeing a few screenshots is enough to know that it is very unique.
3.This question has already been answered above. Yes – I think that video games are a form of art. They are very unique. This method of their production is no longer used today.
1. Do you play video games?
ReplyDeleteI used to, now I play very rarely.
2. How do you personally define art?
As Maciej Kaminski mentioned, it must be a gem among all the works, something unrivaled and wonderful, undiscovered.
3. Do you think video games deserve to fall under the art category?
For me yes. To create a game you need to be full of ideas, creativity and originality. Also game includes a cooperation of many people. They are responsible for several stages of a game. We can say that game I a small piece of art
1. I do. I regularly check how much time I spend on them and my Steam account always makes my heart break a little bit when I see numbers in range of 15-20-25h per 2 weeks. Because simple math says it’s nearly 2 hours per day. For some it might a lot, for others it’s nowhere close to the time they spend in front of PC gaming. However I still have plenty of time to go to gym, meet with friends, do sports and watch movies. So definitely there might be better ways to utilize this time every day (like sleeping more or finishing thesis on time), but I like it. I play online games like CS:GO and time spent there with my friends is fun ;)
ReplyDelete2. This question is hard. In my opinion art is something that causes emotions to appear. It makes you re-think some of the problems, take different perspective. Very often it’s correlated with visual stimulus. It’s something which is attractive to you, something you enjoy experiencing, something you admire. As you can see my definition is very open to potential non-standard cases, like video games :)
3. It depend. Would you call 5 years old girl house painting an art? Do all poems deserve to be called outstanding? I guess no. Even something which is supposed to be an art by default (like a book) can actually be a bad quality item. That’s why I think we shouldn’t generalize computer games that much :) If question was ‘do you think SOME of the video games (…)’ I’d definitely answer ‘yes’.
Sometimes (and not only in AAA titles) you can feel that every element of a gameplay is polished, put in that and not in the other way for a purpose. That what you’re experiencing is designed in very precise way. You can feel the climate of the game and its reality is very consistent, probable which moves the border of the immersion even more. And if that’s not art… then what is? :)