artsy games

[Mr. Bungle]

Companies like Oddworld Inhabihants or DoubleFine are artists; companies like Activision aren't really in it for the artistic message.

Also, I'd like to say that Half-life 2 is an example of high art in a video game. Portal, too.

[Nate]

I don't think Portal is high art. I think it's merely very, very good. But it (and now we're getting in to definitions of art, which I said I wouldn't do...) didn't affect me emotionally or change my view in the world like high art should.

It would be like saying that Scott Pilgrim is high art; it's an accomplished, polished comedy, but it's not art.

[Wings of Fire]

I believe that for a game to be art it has to first be timeless. As in, picking it up and playing it now will still have the same effect on a newcomer as picking up and playing it then.

All the games I've mentioned, plus more, have aged beautifully. Picking up the original Half Life, it felt aged and awkward to me. And not in the 'This is so fun I can get past it' way.

[Dynamithix]

I really need to play Ico sometime. But yeah, Oddworld games (excluding MO.) and Shadow of the Colossus are art in my opinion.

[Manco]

I don't think Portal is high art. I think it's merely very, very good. But it (and now we're getting in to definitions of art, which I said I wouldn't do...) didn't affect me emotionally or change my view in the world like high art should.

It would be like saying that Scott Pilgrim is high art; it's an accomplished, polished comedy, but it's not art.

I don't really think it's fair to say something has to emotionally move you to be considered high art. That's a pretty narrow view, as it automatically excludes all other emotions from being worth considering.

If it's a very well-crafted work, and it accomplishes what it sets out to do, then I'd say it's "good art"; even more so if it pushes boundaries and innovates (like Portal did with its portal game mechanic).

[enchilado]

But it ... didn't affect me emotionally or change my view in the world like high art should.

That's a pretty narrow view, as it automatically excludes all other emotions from being worth considering.

I don't get it. Nate didn't refer to a particular emotion.

[Nate]

I don't really think it's fair to say something has to emotionally move you to be considered high art. That's a pretty narrow view, as it automatically excludes all other emotions from being worth considering.

If it's a very well-crafted work, and it accomplishes what it sets out to do, then I'd say it's "good art"; even more so if it pushes boundaries and innovates (like Portal did with its portal game mechanic).

I agree. As I said in my post, Portal is good art, not high art.

Not sure how your first paragraph relates to the second one though.

[Wings of Fire]

I thought something that only seeks to innovate is low art, like modern art.

[Manco]

I guess I should have mentioned that I think the concept of "high art versus low art" is kind of bullshit.

In my opinion, there's good art and there's bad art, and the distinction in a lot of cases comes down to personal taste.

People put art that they consider "classy" on a pedestal and label it "high art", but I don't think that's how it works.

[Disgruntled Intern]

I guess you could have an incorrect opinion about the story and characters, while at the same time I can sorta see someone not like the gameplay, but calling the game ugly is just untrue.

You're a fucking idiot.

[abe619]

Oddworld, Mortal Kombat and Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy (just beaten that last one today) are very good examples of Video games as art.

[Wings of Fire]

Mortal Kombat? Are you fucking kidding me?

[Disgruntled Intern]

oh come on

[STM]

Limbo, Legend of Zelda - Windwaker, Abe's Oddysee and perhaps a flash game called coma on Kongregate.

[Dynamithix]

Mortal Kombat is a let's fight game.
Mortal Kombat is not unique art.

[OANST]

Let's Dance games are art.

[Mac Sirloin]

I feel as if games qualify as art. Red Dead Redemption is the best example I can think of.

I respectfully but furiously disagree.

[Mr. Bungle]

Just like Limp Bizkit.

(response to OANST)

[Daxter King]

You're a fucking idiot.

No you.

[Wings of Fire]

urgh

[Manco]

RDR was a sandbox game about cowboys. Some people like that (I know I enjoyed it), others don't.

Do we really have to sit and bitch over it? (yes, i know the answer already)

[Mac Sirloin]

My argument for RDR not being art is largely because it did not feel unique to me. Everything had been done before, and better. Specific things like herding, hunting and exploring all felt superior in GUN. I found the story (especially that retarded climax) not to be up to snuff to what I consider good Western storytelling and the inconsistency in John's behavior was wayyyy too big a flaw to overlook.

I am of the opinion that the graphics, while certainly impressive from a technical standpoint, extremely drab and boring, with a thin layer of grime on everything for some reason.

Rockstar needs to stop thinking they are capable of making a good game that is also completely 100% humorless and restricting as fuck. Still hoping L.A. Noire bombs.


I'd say that anything that genuinely comes from the heart is art. Therein, Earthbound gets to be art, so I'm happy.

[Daxter King]

My argument for RDR not being art is largely because it did not feel unique to me. Everything had been done before, and better. Specific things like herding, hunting and exploring all felt superior in GUN. I found the story (especially that retarded climax) not to be up to snuff to what I consider good Western storytelling and the inconsistency in John's behavior was wayyyy too big a flaw to overlook.

I am of the opinion that the graphics, while certainly impressive from a technical standpoint, extremely drab and boring, with a thin layer of grime on everything for some reason.

Rockstar needs to stop thinking they are capable of making a good game that is also completely 100% humorless and restricting as fuck. Still hoping L.A. Noire bombs.


I'd say that anything that genuinely comes from the heart is art. Therein, Earthbound gets to be art, so I'm happy.

Herding was a terrible part of the game I will admit, I did enjoy the hunting and exploring though. The story grabbed me and I liked almost all of the characters. There was some humor in there, especially with the crack head doctor. I don't think that LA Noire will do as well as RDR did, simply because I don't think its setting is as popular as RDR's was. I don't think it will bomb either though, also Rockstar is not a single entity, their San Diego studio made RDR, and Team Bondi is making LA Noire with Rockstar over seeing them.

[Mac Sirloin]

Seriously, though.

Fuck herding.

[Manco]

How often was herding even used, like twice?

Also:

I am of the opinion that the graphics, while certainly impressive from a technical standpoint, extremely drab and boring, with a thin layer of grime on everything for some reason.

What the hell were you expecting from a game set in the Wild West? A world made of chrome and clean freaks?

[Dynamithix]

YES

[Daxter King]

How often was herding even used, like twice?

Twice too many.

[Manco]

That's no reason to call the entire game terrible though.

[Daxter King]

I'm not saying it is, but it is a valid complaint. To be honest, I had completely forgotten about it until Mac brought it up. Still, I think those were the most frustrating missions in the game.

[Mac Sirloin]

They absolutely were. I got over my inept and sudden dislike for RDR from like 2 months ago, though. It is absolutely a great game, but the flaws in it keep it from being art to me.

I adore the voice acting though.