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#1 2012-03-04 16:02:17

soupoftomato
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Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Are Video Games Art?

Roger Ebert wrote what he thought was a good argument against considering games an art form.

I don't agree and you can read the comments for some arguments against him.

What do you think?


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#2 2012-03-04 16:04:48

veggieman001
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Registered: 2010-02-20
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

depends
there are some really artsy games like trauma and antichamber and then there are uh
other games


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#3 2012-03-04 16:07:26

soupoftomato
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Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

veggieman001 wrote:

depends
there are some really artsy games like trauma and antichamber and then there are uh
other games

Exactly.

He wasn't even giving a rebuttal to someone with a good argument.
The one thing that was right was "caveman art".

A good argument in the comments was, "So the writing narrative, graphics, and music that go into this are art, but simply cannot be because this is forbidden by being in a video game?"


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#4 2012-03-04 16:07:28

imnotbob
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Registered: 2010-12-11
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

There are games where you can draw stuff
Or make music, which is art
But other than those, no


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#5 2012-03-04 16:08:26

soupoftomato
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Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

imnotbob wrote:

But other than those, no

Bold statement.
Besides, the ones where you use your creativity would be the least artistic. Art is something to experience, you should not have to make it. Then it becomes your art, not art on the games behalf.


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#6 2012-03-04 16:09:58

GameHutSoftware
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Registered: 2010-04-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

someone needs to play skyward sword


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#7 2012-03-04 16:10:41

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

GameHutSoftware wrote:

someone needs to play skyward sword

Or Minecraft
Or Skyrim
Or Super Mario Bros
Or Bit.Trip
Or Kirby
Or Tetris.

Last edited by soupoftomato (2012-03-04 16:13:09)


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#8 2012-03-04 16:10:50

imnotbob
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Registered: 2010-12-11
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

soupoftomato wrote:

imnotbob wrote:

But other than those, no

Bold statement.
Besides, the ones where you use your creativity would be the least artistic. Art is something to experience, you should not have to make it. Then it becomes your art, not art on the games behalf.

I think creativity is artistic
Plus by "drawing games" I don't mean games where you win by staying in the lines


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#9 2012-03-04 16:12:13

soupoftomato
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Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

imnotbob wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

imnotbob wrote:

But other than those, no

Bold statement.
Besides, the ones where you use your creativity would be the least artistic. Art is something to experience, you should not have to make it. Then it becomes your art, not art on the games behalf.

I think creativity is artistic
Plus by "drawing games" I don't mean games where you win by staying in the lines

No.

I mean, art is NOT a medium for making art, it IS art. Those games where simply you draw stuff (like a paint program) are NOT art, they are a means of making art. But then it is YOUR art, not the game BEING art.

A game being art is it telling a story, allowing you to enjoy a well-crafted experience.


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#10 2012-03-04 16:20:03

Greenatic
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Registered: 2009-05-03
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

Last edited by Greenatic (2012-03-04 16:20:17)

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#11 2012-03-04 16:54:36

brettman98
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Registered: 2010-10-17
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Greenatic wrote:

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???


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#12 2012-03-04 17:07:15

Greenatic
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Registered: 2009-05-03
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???

Hitler wasn't composing music.

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#13 2012-03-04 17:11:30

brettman98
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-10-17
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Greenatic wrote:

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???

Hitler wasn't composing music.

So you're saying composing music is the only part of art in a video game?


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#14 2012-03-04 17:14:28

Greenatic
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-05-03
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:

brettman98 wrote:


not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???

Hitler wasn't composing music.

So you're saying composing music is the only part of art in a video game?

Or programming.  Or writing story plots.  Or being very creative at all--more like crazy.

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#15 2012-03-04 18:01:30

Albertt911
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-09-28
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

I believe Video Games are a form of art, yes.


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#16 2012-03-04 18:58:53

brettman98
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-10-17
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Greenatic wrote:

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:


Hitler wasn't composing music.

So you're saying composing music is the only part of art in a video game?

Or programming.  Or writing story plots.  Or being very creative at all--more like crazy.

allright. I think video games could be art too.


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#17 2012-03-04 18:59:53

Luke121
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Registered: 2008-07-14
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Some games are art.






Others are Gears of War.

JK, but according to the Smithsonian they are.

Last edited by Luke121 (2012-03-04 19:04:17)


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#18 2012-03-04 20:10:30

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???

Yes, but movies too have tons of people working on them, most of the time, no?


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#19 2012-03-04 20:40:06

brettman98
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-10-17
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

soupoftomato wrote:

brettman98 wrote:

Greenatic wrote:

I'm surprised this is even an argument.  Making good video games requires an outstanding amount of creativity, progamming skill, music skill, art skill, etc.  How is that not art?

not when you have a company of several hundred video game makers and all you have to focus on is one certain part of the game.
and art isn't just ooohhh creativity.
Hitler was creative in methods used to kill Jews, does that make him an artist???

Yes, but movies too have tons of people working on them, most of the time, no?

I know, and I do think video games are art, I'm just trying to play devil's advocate  smile


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#20 2012-03-04 20:46:36

bananaman99
New Scratcher
Registered: 2012-02-04
Posts: 100+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

It depends. If a lot of thought and effort goes into it (portal, for example), definitely. If it's put together in a month or two with all the budget put towards graphics and none towards the actual gameplay, and you have to buy 80% of the game in add-ons for $30 a pop (say, CoD), not so much.

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#21 2012-03-04 20:49:23

Dinoclor
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-06-10
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they aren't.
Tired old things like Pokemon which drag on and on and on and on are not art. They're the same engine with different characters and pokemon and regions. The first Pokemons were art. The new ones are not.
When people put creative energy and effort into it, it's art.

Last edited by Dinoclor (2012-03-04 20:50:04)


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#22 2012-03-04 20:51:13

Luke121
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-14
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Dinoclor wrote:

Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they aren't.
Tired old things like Pokemon which drag on and on and on and on are not art. They're the same engine with different characters and pokemon and regions.
When people put creative energy and effort into it, it's art.

Name a game you'd consider art.



But don't mention any shooters. Because then I'd have to laugh at you.

And then I'd get in twubble. :c

Last edited by Luke121 (2012-03-04 20:53:59)


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#23 2012-03-04 20:53:50

Dinoclor
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-06-10
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Luke121 wrote:

Dinoclor wrote:

Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they aren't.
Tired old things like Pokemon which drag on and on and on and on are not art. They're the same engine with different characters and pokemon and regions.
When people put creative energy and effort into it, it's art.

Name a game you'd consider art.



But don't mention any shooters. Because then I'd have to laugh at you.

And then I'd get in twubble. :c

There are a lot of games I consider art.
Mainly flash games made by relatively unknown developers.
I agree.
Shooters are not art and can never be art.


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#24 2012-03-04 20:54:53

Luke121
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-14
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

Dinoclor wrote:

Luke121 wrote:

Dinoclor wrote:

Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they aren't.
Tired old things like Pokemon which drag on and on and on and on are not art. They're the same engine with different characters and pokemon and regions.
When people put creative energy and effort into it, it's art.

Name a game you'd consider art.



But don't mention any shooters. Because then I'd have to laugh at you.

And then I'd get in twubble. :c

There are a lot of games I consider art.
Mainly flash games made by relatively unknown developers.
I agree.
Shooters are not art and can never be art.

Agreed. Sure, they can have artful GRAPHICS, but there's nothing artsy about lighting people up.


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#25 2012-03-04 20:55:01

Garr8
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-08-10
Posts: 1000+

Re: Are Video Games Art?

in my opinion, videogames CAN be art, though not all of them are. A story is art, a story must have a plot.  I say a videogame must have a story or plot to it to be considered art.


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