Videogames are a form of art, but like any other piece of art there are different kinds. Coming from a writing and poetry background, there's always been the discussion of whether the author's intent matters or not once the finished product is presented. In a way, this is the same with videogames.
What I mean is that some games have a very specific message in mind. Like novels, they take the reader through a journey with one message or moral in mind. Each interaction and battle is composed to make a natural path to the end result which usually involves some kind of realization or moral lesson. Most RPGs are modeled after this novel style of presentation.
On the other hand, some games, like Infamous and Bioshock, leave the decisions up to the player, thus creating a less linear and more open experience. Like some kinds of abstract poetry, the story will require the player to use their own experience to make the game what they want. They can often choose between two or more paths. Even though they may have lessons or commentary at the end, the decisions about how to interpret and experience the game are made by the player.
Then again, some are made purely for the enjoyment of the moment. The games are made with beautiful graphics and stories that aren't entirely too involved. Games like Zelda or Okami, the story is there to guide the player but the real enjoyment is getting from point A to point B and making accomplishments in the mean time. Zelda forms the story throughout the game, but only to compel the player to travel through the different dungeons and side quests. The ending is satisfying enough to justify the time taken, but the real joy is within the play and the journey itself.
Art doesn't simply refer to the graphics, and while some games are certainly made with a more artistic driven style, the entire experience is an art in itself. The good ones draw the players to converse about them and take a vested interest. The bad ones are either bad because they fail to do what they set out, or they fail on a number of other levels. But in the end, it's the experience that counts.
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I like your idea of an experience being art. This is something special about video games as art. They are much more immersive than other art forms, thereby making them more about an experience. Video games as art goes beyond good graphics and compelling stories to a level of interaction never available before.
ReplyDeleteGood parsing out of the varying degrees of evidence of art in video games. Furthermore, the actual experiences to be had in video games are perhaps a more honest indication of their artistic value than any other aspect, if only because experiences are more personally quantifiable.
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