Hello everyone! :)
I have a question for you all regarding art direction in video games. This topic primarily comes from a common critique I read regarding independent games that use classic art directions, or retro aesthetics, for their video games. (Examples: Shovel Knight, Nidhogg, Axiom Verge and so on...)
My question is, how do you feel about games that use art styles popularized in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's in their contemporary video games? Do you feel that these art directions are primitive and dated; that the visual and auditory art of video games should evolve as technology does, or do you feel there is inherit value to these art directions and that they look attractive in their own right?
Personally, I admire the technologies and art directions used in the history of video games. Preserving the best examples of this artwork and channeling into modern games such as Shovel Knight not only shows the uniqueness of video games as a visual and auditory medium but also simply looks beautiful in its own right.
There is something quite beautiful about the representation of life-like objects in a primitive, digitized frame that draws on my eyes and ears. I can empathize with critics that feel these techniques are dated and flirtatiously nostalgic. Personally, if art is meant to be expressive, then nostalgia definitely qualifies.
So that is my topic of conversation? How do you feel about pixel art, low polygon counts? Chip tunes and midi tracks? Do you feel they are anchors both cheap and lazy efforts? Or do you admire and welcome this choice of expression with open arms as not only celebrating the uniqueness and history of video games but also the impeccable beauty that can be expressed within the frame of retro computer technology?
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