Games As an Art

Games as an art have been a long running debate and many have chosen sides, the greater side seeing games as just entertainment. Games as art are a big debate because the youth and content of games sometimes displays immature ideas and provide trivial entertainment. Many people would just relate games to violence and something lazy youth participate in.

Hideo Kojima the creator of the metal gear solid series argues that games are not an art. He being a game designer this was not expected of him. He proclaims that games are further than art. Art is a stand still a one time moment that captures a single moment in time and tries to convey the experience. Games have to capture their audience and provide the experience to them.

He used a museum as an example saying that creating the game would be the same equivalency of being the curator of the museum and trying to provide the best experience for the guest. Roger Ebert being a renowned movie critic is highly against games being called an art and thinks its blasphemy to consider them so.

He exclaimed in one of his interviews “The nature of the medium prevents it from moving beyond craftsmanship [however elegant or sophisticated] to the stature of art. To my knowledge, no one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of comparison with the great dramatists, poets, filmmakers, novelists and composers.

For most gamers, video games represent a loss of those precious hours we have available to make ourselves more cultured, civilized and empathetic. His views since this statement have shifted slightly now saying that they can be regarded as art but not high art.
Art styles in games have started to become a primary focus as to portraying a certain type of style to feed into the gameplay.

An example would be the cartoon style known as cel shaded graphics were used in the legend of Zelda to put more focus on the dazzle part of the game. Link’s eyes could actually be looking at an object in the room so the player would have some indication to a puzzle or prize. Games relate closely to past art primarily in the form of their movements and periods.

The same way the modernism and impressionism were founded is the same way game designers address their projects. You search for new ways to expand and broaden your horizon to give the audience something new the same way early impressionist artist pushed to show their new style. Caravaggio’s light to dark contrast showed his unique style of art and how he chose to portray it.

The same Kojima uses his grainy atmosphere in the metal gear series to give a feel of age and an air unique to his game. Bernini’s sculptures were used to give a new outlook on the old as his sculpture of David portrayed, even extending his expertise and talent into architecture. The same way Will Wright and his sim games brought a new genre to the video game world.

He used his programming knowledge to create what he called toys instead of just modern games. Something a person could play with and modify forever. Peter Paul Rueben’s art focused on his anatomy interacting bodies whether they are male or female. This same love for anatomy of the human body can be found in Miyamoto’s characters and their admirable traits. He is keen on creating characters that are likeable and retain their good through their many trials.

Impressionist paintings were the beginning of a ground breaking era. Their method was unorthodox and not familiar to their normal audience which favored the coloring in the lines method of painting that was realism. Not to say either way was wrong but impressionist paintings were not widely accepted. This movement began with its founder and leader Claude Monet.

The philosophy was expressing one’s perception before nature. Monet and companions were rejected annually by their audiences in favor of the approved style of naturalism. Monet found his way more expressive and a breathe of fresh air to the art that had been. Impressionist artist captured the essence of a subject rather than the details.

Their play of natural light was emphasized. Close attention was given to the reflection of objects against objects. This style was new to its era and allowed these artists to express themselves accordingly.

The Legend of Zelda is highly regarded in the game world as one of the top five games ranked as high art in the gaming community. The series has had multiple looks and all are used to convey the gameplay accordingly. The biggest turn the series has ever taken was the switch that was taken in The Wind Waker installment.

When the game first debuted it was as all the others had looked, as close as possible to real life. The game was shown a year later with a completely different look as to what was expected. Link the main character came out cartoon like and cel shaded. A complete 360 from what was expected of the series. Miyamoto the creator of the series said the look was changed to extend the series to all ages.

The change was so drastic that many people wondered if two separate games were in development. The game was shunned by fans and critics. Miyamoto was shocked by this reaction and didn’t show the game again until playable a year later. The game was a success. The celda look worked, it added another sense of depth to the game with its vivid colors and smoke and mirrors appeal.

Miyamoto’s choice to change the series was for the better and is now used to distinguish the difference between the realistic version being for the older audience and the celda version being for the younger audience. Both Impressionist and Miyamoto both took ridicule for their radical ideas that would later become industry standards.

My Wii and Me

Growing up Nintendo I was that guy that would take a bullet when people came to talk bad about the big N. Becoming a developer changed my views a lot when you realize certain decisions just aren’t that sound for gamers. During the Gamecube era Nintendo didn’t have many friends. This was also the hardest time I ever had defending my company.

I always loved their philosophy of incorporating everyone in play, but I don’t share their same beliefs in what a gamer wants and doesn’t want. Instead of saying mature we’re going to use the word complex. A lot of Nintendo titles lack complex material, even some of their games that are actually supposed to be more complex than normal. The Legend of Zelda series is as deep as it goes when it comes to complexity, with Metroid ranking second. I only put it second because Metroid barely has a storyline to tell of.

None of these titles have the same artistic view as normal games such as Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid. Between the two I can say that they are two of the best games I have ever played in my life but between the everything on Nintendo I can say The Wind Waker was the best Zelda game I have ever played but certainly not the best game.

There was a little bit of an abnormality when RE4 was released which this was the best game I had ever played up until MGS4. But games like RE4 are the exact games that aren’t on Nintendo’s system that everyone else was trying to tell me about years ago. I don’t down Nintendo’s theory on getting everyone to play but they are closer to being a toy company than a game developer.

They want to consider themselves in a different league than Sony and Microsoft, but you’re not, your a game company just like everyone else. I believe Nintendo will once again fall if they continue their weak efforts in making games. The gamer will take continue to play games as mothers grandma’s and uncle Stan will find something else to do once satisfied.

Nintendo has always been a profitable company, money is no new issue to them just as being number 1 in the industry and falling to dead last is also. I still have my Wii for Monster Hunter 4 but other than the occasional Smash Bros battle nothing happens with my Wii.