Not long ago, Robert Ebert expressed in his journal that "Video games can never be art", this provided the spark for an issue that has been stirring for a long time. One statement that stood out in my mind was that "No one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of comparison with the great poets, filmmakers, and novelists." But I would like to personally point out 2 "not-so-old" video games that deserve to be considered a form of art more so that any movie or book. The first video game is Grand Theft Auto IV; with a cast of characters that you learn about as the game progresses and a story-line that could hold a candle to any Hollywood action flick. Grand Theft Auto IV is a masterpiece in the world of art. You become smitten with the characters and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, "simply amazing" are the only words to describe it. Another great video game worthy of being called art is Mass Effect. This video game takes story-telling to the next level, the developer, Bioware, builds a universe from scratch and actually makes you care about your decisions within the game. They make you feel as if you simply aren't just playing a video game but that you're actually affecting people's lives, you decide by your actions how the characters in the game respond and whether or not they're loyal to you and even if they survive or not. The best way to classify this video game franchise is by calling it an interactive movie, a form of art at its finest.If these video games can create so much emotion, more so than any novel or movie then why shouldn't they be considered art? The answer is that they should be able to be called art. Art consists of great creativity, art brings about emotions in people, and video games are art.
For Ebert's journal, follow this link:
LinkOther note worthy video games are:
Shadow of the Colossus
Red Dead Redemption
Bioshock
Fallout 3
Oblivion
Final Fantasy XIII
What are your thoughts on the matter?