Video Games As Art

Well this issue is already becoming old, but I thought I'd throw in my opinion out there on the internet. So, Mr. Roger Ebert, extraordinary film critic, claims that games will not be 'art', or at least not in our lifetime. To which I have to say, "So what?"

Ok, I'm a gamer, and have been playing since I was old enough to hold the controller and press the necesarry button on the NES. I love video games and think they are a great experience. Let me repeat: Experience. Does art include experience? If not, then the video game is not an art form. Let's face it, there are aspects of a game that can be considered art: the story, the levels, or the music can all be art, but the thing we play it for is the game, the parts where we decide what happens. And I'm not convinced falling into the lava pit ten times in a row is art.

Now, this is not to say that art cannot include movement, because we have dance and theater, both respected art forms that include real people doing things. The main crux is the actions they perform. So why not video games? Because, if I don't find the movement of my character pleasing, the blast from a gun outstanding, or the clashing of swords jaw-dropping, it's not art. Ok, good art at least. And that's the only art anyone cares about anyway.

I may not have explained myself as clearly as I need to, but I want to ask you now, why should we care whether a video game is art anyway? As far as I'm aware, the video game is a game, and the thing that matters most is that it's fun to play. The artistic potential of a game is second to this, so why is it now such a big deal? I'm honestly asking this. Is it because we feel gameplay is as good as it will ever get? Because if so, that's awfully depressing. I was expecting to be able to run up a wall and slash a guy's head off all under my own power and not in a cutscene or quicktime event.

Or are we so concerned because this presents another way for non-gamers to put our video games down? "Oh, now it's corrupting our children and it's not even art like Edgar Allen Poe, and he gave us nightmares. Let's destroy the video games now and laugh as all the gamers cry." Yeah, I'm pretty sure that games not being considered art won't kill the whole medium. It's depressing to be attacked from so many angles, but look at it this way: games have never been so prevalent within our culture, so many people have a console or handheld (or even iPhone apps) that if video games were banned there would probably be some huge backlash from all corners. Even the people who only have a 360 to play Madden would probably be pissed.

Just calm down and think about whether or not games as an art form is really all that important. And Mr. Ebert, while I respect your opinion, without a basis from actually experiencing a videogame by playing it, it's not very informed. Because video games are an experience, and whether you can count that as an art form or not, you won't know until you play something. And there are quite a lot of films that I wouldn't consider good art, though they are pretty entertaining.

So, please people, calm down and discuss this, or any issue, rationally. Whoever shouts the loudest won't win an argument, they just look the most foolish. Put some thought into your opinions, and don't lose your credibility by panicking and getting angry. Animals fight each other, but humans can debate, which will you act like?

-Subtle