Europeans get their Rift on in limited MotorStorm demo
Media Molecule hosts official SackBoy costume contest
Street Fighter IV 'Sagat vs. Ryu' gameplay(continued from previous page) ...fun and beautiful game that shatters the current boundaries of motion-capture technology.”
A-grade actors aren’t the only ones entering the industry, as videogames are currently being directed by some of the most creative minds on the planet. Outside of the dozens of directors who are making their debut through their games, well-known masterminds like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are currently involved in a plethora of projects.
With such renowned directors at the helm of games with high-production values, the final products often end up extraordinarily realistic. With realism -- which just so happened to be an artistic movement -- rising within games every day, titles are now able to accurately represent the creativity and passion of their developers. Unfortunately, what a developer often considers an innovative game will be labeled by the mainstream media as a murder simulator. Let us examine one of the most realistic and undoubtedly most controversial games arriving this year–Grand Theft Auto IV.
Grand Theft Auto is a franchise that has been mired in controversy since the turn of the century. Media and politicians have blamed the series for corrupting the minds of teenagers worldwide. I must disagree, as I believe that Grand Theft Auto is ‘The Godfather’ of videogames (except for the Godfather game of course). All of the elements are present, from the distinctly stylized visuals to the intense, adrenaline-pumping action. Also, I guarantee you that those with disdain for the game overlook its deep plotlines brimming with political and social satire.
On the other hand, not all great games involve violence. The mind-boggling Echochrome certainly doesn’t, as it doesn’t even feature any color. This M.C. Escher-inspired puzzler seems confusing, and it is. In this game, an abstract set of laws govern the world. Although you may not be able to see them, paths exist everywhere. By shifting your perspective to block gaps or empty spaces from sight, you block them from existence, creating a path on which to travel. Hide an obstruction, and it no longer exists. If something appears below or above you, it is. If you’re clever, you can fall up. E.H. Gombrich, in his book Art and Illusion, says that “since ancient times, art has pushed the boundaries of our perception.” The sort of design ingenuity within Echochrome is the evolution of that idea, sparking constant thought about what is possible. The boundaries are limitless.
Looking back, we’ve certainly come a long way since Super Mario Bros. Emotional connections with characters are now not only possible, but a distinct reality. Okami, possibly the best PlayStation 2 title of all time, represents my point exactly.
I was sick with the flu for a full two weeks last year. Bedridden with a 102 degree fever, Okami was my only companion. Like any great work of art, not many people bought it. Based on Japanese lore, Okami puts you in the paws of the sun goddess Okami Amaterasu. Rather than taking the form of a human female, Okami is pictured as an incredible white wolf. Whilst playing through the game, your senses are immersed in a moving watercolor painting. One must see the game in motion to truly appreciate its awe-inspiring aesthetics. Okami’s design is based around the Celestial Brush, a godly mechanism that literally lets you paint things into the world or directly affect its state, like changing night to day or causing the winds to rush. While playing Okami, I formed such a deep connection with the main character that, at the game’s epic conclusion, I choked up in tears. A game managed to evoke such complex emotions from within me. Okami is the definition of interactive art.
 |
Next: First Rock Band album announced Harmonix has announced that Judas Priest’s 1982 Heavy Metal record, “Screaming for Vengeance,” will be the first full-length album available to download... |
I agree with you. I personally find most games to be art. Even I rented the game Viking, which has gatten mediocre scores and I was blown away by the worlds interaction.... not with you the main character per say but within itself. That element alone helps to get lost in this fantasy world.
Games just like movies represent art becuase of the range of emotions that they can evoke. But games take it a step farther because of the interaction. Because you get to roam around an environment. With a movie you are always stuck to a point of view (the directors) the story and world is only as vibrant and alive as they make it seem. While really good games place you in a world that not only looks and sounds fully realized but also has its own rules and history. Rules you can test and history that you can write.
There is one thing that is true, movies and films are not in the same league. Games have surpassed movies as a complete package.
Photo editing is considered art and also interactive. So why not games? When the gamer generation steps into power and all the old blood dies out, we will start seeing a shift in perspectives.
I agree, If movies can be considered art then why not games? I think games connect with their audience on an even deeper level that movies at times because of the connection the player forms with the main character and their interactions with other characters. And when games offer players a choice, i.e. Mass Effect, I think the game connects on an even deeper level. Making a player make a difficult decision can evoke emotion from a player that a pre-scripted often times cannot.
I also would have to say that games can be related somewhat to books in their relation to art. I say this because of the time a person dedicates to a book or game is typically far longer than a movie. This makes the players connection with the cast and world that the media takes place in even stronger. Take for instance Final Fantasy 7 or any other Final Fantasy since then. Games in which you devote many hours of play makes the player actually care about the characters and what happens to them. Unlike a movie where a character you've only had an hour and 10 minutes to connect with is killed off, yes it may be sad but you don't feel that sense of loss like when a character you've had a long time to connect with is lost.
Just my opinion of course lol.
Just look at games like Okami
In my opinion, video games can be considered Art, but just a small percentage of them can be categorized as Art. Games such as Metal Gear Solid 4, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Final Fantasy series are works of art. I could go as far as to say that Metal Gear Solid 4 is literally a movie and a game all in one because the Metal Gear Solid series is one of the most cinematic game franchises EVER. I read an article in Playstation The Official Magazine and it said that it has been estimated that the cutscenes in MGS4 are going to be around 4 hours in length.
Most average everyday people fail to realize that millions of dollars go into producing video games of this generation of gaming and that a lot of video games have Movie Production quality music and voice acting.
Video games that are considered Art to me are those video games that have that riveting story that just keeps you capativated in the game and just wont let you go, and games that actually have memorable or legendary game characters.
Yes, I do agree that Video games can be considered Art, but only a select number of video games even deserve to fall within that category.
Games can absolutely be a piece of art. That's not to say that all games are, but some games can just blow your mind with their creative genious or their cinematic quality story line or their complex character development. I think some of the most beautiful scenery i've seen has been inside of a game, and some of the musical scores of games will pull me into the game so far that i don't want to leave.
art is a matter of opinon, once a single person has the opinion that anything is art, no one can remove that opinion, and said subject is now art. The issue we now have is either people being aware of this opinon in others, or simply the arrogant rejection of others thought and feeling.
Go buy real art.
Oh EFFORTLESS7
I can always count on your helpful feedback ;)
sure they maybe art, but they're also a big waste of time and money imo.
to me videgames are the best artform ever created
Eric, I just wanna put a smile on your face....
Well, you've succeeded.
Did you like the feature though?
yeah, it was good, a little too good.....