Are videogames a matter of entertainment only?

Do you play games just to pass the time? Or do you appreciate it as something else... art maybe...

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

Depends on the game. Some are meant for litle more than a good time and others are more about being an experience.

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

drekula2

There are plenty of games in both camps.

[QUOTE="drekula2"]

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

turtlethetaffer

There are plenty of games in both camps.

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="drekula2"]

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

Lulu_Lulu

There are plenty of games in both camps.

Let me re phrase. There are both games that are meant to simply entertain and there are games that are meant to be more "artistic." Of course there aren't as many of the latter because people don't buy them as much.  but to imply that every single game is all rooty tooty is wrong.

[QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

There are plenty of games in both camps.

turtlethetaffer

Let me re phrase. There are both games that are meant to simply entertain and there are games that are meant to be more "artistic." Of course there aren't as many of the latter because people don't buy them as much.  but to imply that every single game is all rooty tooty is wrong.

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"] no there are notLulu_Lulu

Let me re phrase. There are both games that are meant to simply entertain and there are games that are meant to be more "artistic." Of course there aren't as many of the latter because people don't buy them as much.  but to imply that every single game is all rooty tooty is wrong.

That's what I just said. I corrected myself.  But to imply that every game is mindless is just stupid.

[QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

Let me re phrase. There are both games that are meant to simply entertain and there are games that are meant to be more "artistic." Of course there aren't as many of the latter because people don't buy them as much.  but to imply that every single game is all rooty tooty is wrong.

turtlethetaffer

That's what I just said. I corrected myself.  But to imply that every game is mindless is just stupid.

Depends on the game.turtlethetaffer

My problem with labeling something as art is that some will use that as a get out of jail free card.

"This game play suck. All you do is move to the right."

"You don't get it. It is art."

"I can tell where my character can interact with."

"You don't get it. It is art."

But they aren't art. For a game to be considered art then it has to do the same thing that Paintings do or Artistic movies, It has to be open for a vast number of interpetation and affect people emotionally different. But since it would be interactive then one might need to add a large amount of artistic moments within the "game". Being entertaining wouldn't be the goal but rather make you think and affect your emotions. But if that were to happen then it wouldn't be a "game", it'd be interactive art. So technically, Videogames would essentially just be for entertainment.Treflis

It's art if you want it to be. Nobody has ever come up with a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for being art and nobody ever will. What separates material as worthy or not worthy of being displayed in a gallery of art is the opinion of a pseudo-intellectual hipster collective trying to justify the 100k they each spent on their art majors by serving as the self-appointed doormen to high culture.

As far as entertainment only, games have been used for everything from teaching (simulators, yes, but also games like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego) to promoting political campaigns. It comes down to what the developer has in mind to do with the game.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

drekula2

Dont play very many games do you? Or perhaps you only play games that get good reviews from 12 year old kids?

No, there's plenty of games of all types. Lots can be emotional or educational. Not only are games COD or GTA, there's also Antichamber, Reus, Dyad, Rome 2 Total War, The 39 Steps, etc.

Do you play games just to pass the time? Or do you appreciate it as something else... art maybe...

Tqricardinho

What if I say that if a game is being good entertainment then it is also good art?

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

drekula2

[QUOTE="drekula2"]

This is the problem.  Games can be so much more than that.  Books and movies often are.  But 99% of games out there are largely just escapist entertainment. 

Games could become powerful story mediums that provoke, inspire, educate, persuade, and evoke complex emotions in people.

Instead, a girl is kidnapped, grab a gun, shoot through 15 levels and watch entertaining cutscenes in between.

firefox59

I would be careful about calling a movie a mindless action since some of those movies have a great deal of though put into them. I would dare say that they take more though than arty movies.

I play videogames because i enjoy being immersed and its an art.

I don't solely play them for entertainment. I also play them because they are art and often also ask questions about societyThe_Last_Ride

I find that many games that try to say something don't have strong enough writing to be as profound as they'd like.

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"] There are not plenty of games in both camps, the ratio is way off.Lulu_Lulu

That's what I just said. I corrected myself.  But to imply that every game is mindless is just stupid.

TC did. I was reffering to them.

[QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

That's what I just said. I corrected myself.  But to imply that every game is mindless is just stupid.

turtlethetaffer

TC did. I was reffering to them.

Video gaming is entertainment and a craft to work, but I consider some video games works of art.

Do you play games just to pass the time? Or do you appreciate it as something else... art maybe...

Tqricardinho

I appreciate games for so much more than just entertainment.

But in reality any Video Game(besides educational games), Movie/Tv Show(besides documentaries), and fictional books, are only a matter of entertainment.

There may be messages you can take away from them, but in the end it is all only there to be entertainment, and in most cases for money.

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"]I don't solely play them for entertainment. I also play them because they are art and often also ask questions about societyturtlethetaffer

I find that many games that try to say something don't have strong enough writing to be as profound as they'd like.

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"]I don't solely play them for entertainment. I also play them because they are art and often also ask questions about societyThe_Last_Ride

I find that many games that try to say something don't have strong enough writing to be as profound as they'd like.

Well take for instance Far Cry 3. The entire game it felt like it was trying to say something.  But the characters were si shallow and the plot so poorly written that it came off as laughable.

Honestly, Idk if I've ever played a game that really made me question society as a whole. Individuals, sure, like with Silent Hill Shattered Memories. But for the most part it seems that games either try too hard or they don't try hard enough.

Do you play games just to pass the time? Or do you appreciate it as something else... art maybe...

Tqricardinho

I play games to simply pass the time. I know it takes some serious coding and time to make a game. But, that's the extent of my appreciation of it. Games as art? Nope.

The closest I come to regarding games as art is taking screenshots of my (PC) games and making them my wallpaper. I consider the screenshot as art, not the game.

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"][QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

I find that many games that try to say something don't have strong enough writing to be as profound as they'd like.

turtlethetaffer

Well take for instance Far Cry 3. The entire game it felt like it was trying to say something.  But the characters were si shallow and the plot so poorly written that it came off as laughable.

Honestly, Idk if I've ever played a game that really made me question society as a whole. Individuals, sure, like with Silent Hill Shattered Memories. But for the most part it seems that games either try too hard or they don't try hard enough.

Entertainment. That's what toys are for.

Entertainment. That's what toys are for.

Renegade_Fury

[QUOTE="Renegade_Fury"]

Entertainment. That's what toys are for.

The_Last_Ride

i personally dont see video games as art just like i dont see movies as art or stupid art installations of trash arranged to look like trash.

i think games are something else. if you can call it a hybrid then call it a hybrid. i mean theres definitely pretty or realistic aeshtetics, technical art and graphics, but its interaction. its an imagination projector to me...which is entertaining

Of course not. They're as much an art form as any other form of media. Anyone who says otherwise is crazy.

Of course not. They're as much an art form as any other form of media. Anyone who says otherwise is crazy.

c_rake

What part of a game is the real question. I would say that The Journy is not good art when it is look at as a game.

Well, to be fair it's not like the majority of movies are super thought provoking, or at least the popular ones usually aren't.  Every form of media has its fair share of purely entertainment products.  Video games have more of them than the artistic ones, but these days we are getting a good amount of more artistic/emotional/though provoking games (i.e. The Unfinished Swan, Journey, Ico, Bioshock series, probably Beyond: Two Souls [I say probably since it's not out yet, but from what they've previewed it seems to be an emotional roller coaster], and so on).

But it's easier to promote action games, and they're not bad games, but to answer your question, there are games that fit into different categories other than just crazy action/entertainment (though, I find the games I listed to be very entertaining, so perhaps that's the wrong word choice).

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"][QUOTE="Renegade_Fury"]

Entertainment. That's what toys are for.

Lulu_Lulu

Given the inherently nebulous and elastic definition of art, games can and do fit snugly into that category. Like all media, some games are clearly meant more as a product than a deeper thematic exploration of the human condition but clearly there are games that address all manner of issues and mine those more profound subjects and the number of games that aspire to do so is ever-growing.

The other thing to consider is that even games that are seen as bereft of any deeper substance could very well have something to say but fall victim to superficial analysis. The film Taken was mentioned in this thread and while it would be easy to dismiss that film as a relatively linear action movie, I could also posit an argument that the film offers an interesting exploration of a father's concerted and unconditional love that manifests in a slew of dead bodies left in his wake as he pursues her kidnappers.

There is something downright poetic about the manner in which he so deftly and effortlessly slices through the ranks of these nefarious underworld minions specifically because his violence is propelled by something pure even if that motivation forces him to do grisly and sometimes horrible things. There is a juxtaposition of love and violence on display in this film that belies the notion of it being some mere vapid excursion in revenge-fantasy.

Or you could make the argument that Taken is just Liam Neeson kicking ass for two hours. ;)

The point is that art is a process; art is an outcome; art is a product; art is the obscure; art is the niche; art is the popular.

But most importantly, art is whatever the hell YOU THINK it is when you bump into it.

I would argue that the only true problem is when somebody else tries to tell you what ISN'T art because frankly, they are in no position to make that call.

[QUOTE="The_Last_Ride"][QUOTE="Lulu_Lulu"] I dont get Art, I think its all Bullsh!t. Its a terrible concert.Lulu_Lulu

The Journey is something that stand for two huge problems that can hurt gaming. The first is graphic over game play. I jave not heard a single good thing about the game play in The Journey that was good but I hear everyone just throwing it away because the graphic is so good. The second is the over valuing the indie games. The second problem is that it show the overvaluing of indie games. Over all I would say that it is a poorly crafted games. I know some would say it is a master piece of art.

The lead to what is is art. Some seem to have a tiny box and only those things in the tiny box is art. It seem that to them a a good movie is only about the interal conflict of a character. To me that is too narrow. A masterful made action movie is art in it own way and may be even hard to craft. A game that masterfully blend entertaining game play, a good story, good graphic and good audio is a master piece of art.