[Omega]

Are video games art? This question has long been a source of debate, especially between critics gaming and film. What do you think?

[DizzyD]

What is there to debate? A video game is a creative work. What more does something need to be before being called art?

[Rocket Riot]

Originally Posted by DizzyD

What is there to debate? A video game is a creative work. What more does something need to be before being called art?

That is a very broad definition which does not allow for much debate.

If they can become works of art comparable to, say, music or painting, is a better question.

I do not think there are many games that can be considered art when held up against that definition. certainly there is art in games, but with gaming in its infancy i would say they are a ways off from becoming truly powerful works of art.

[Omega]

I agree with you Rocket. There are not many games that are art. To me, art is all about creating an emotional response. And there certainly are games that invoke a powerful emotional response.

[Sprite]

It all depends on your own definition of art. No one person could ever define what art is to everyone.

[holydefiance]

Art is open to interpretation. One human's thought process is not the same as the person standing next to them (or in this case, sitting next to them).

[Mythros]

i find it odd that people tend to find simpler things more artistic than the more in depth. when you look at a picture you see a square of a world that a painter created and everyone gets to guess what the painter was trying to express if anything at all, but in more dramatic, creative, expressions such as video games with plots made to have emotional responses and vast layers and dimensions of expressions somehow it is up to debate weather it should be considered art or not. just an observation. simplicity is beautiful i guess.

sorry for the run on.

[MyArete]

Art? Of course. Their makers poor everything they have into their creation. And, the effect is to pull their audience into the world they created. Do video games differ, in this respect, from any upheld painting, piece of music, sculpture, etc?

And yes, we can define what art is for everyone. If we can not, then we can not have language. If we are all simply free to “agree to disagree” on terms, then language breaks down, it loses all meaning. However, I do agree with the premise that not everyone enjoys the same kinds of art. Personally don't spend much time with video games. But as an engineer, it is hard not to see the art deeply ingrained within all aspects – either as a player, programmer or bystander– of modern video games.

[Omega]

I knew it was too much to hope for a debate regarding this topic amongst the members of the TMK community. haha This is one rare instance in which we all seem to agree.

I always disliked the saying, "agree to disagree" MyArete.

[MyArete]

There is a quite famous instance of that phrase at my University (maybe I'll tell you where sometime) about this saying. A student was arguing with a physics professor about the answer to a test question. We were all there to see this. And, after about 10 min, the student said to the professor, "Can't we simply agree to disagree?" The professor, in his amazing wisdom answered, "No. This is engineering. Your wrong. The sun does not stop for your insanity, or anyone else's." If you've ever taken advanced physics in an American university, then you've likely read this man's book. Officially the topic is called, "Semiconductor Physics."

I hate that saying too.