Video Games: Can They Be Considereed Art?

Oct 14, 2013 by bganter

There have been many debates with regards to if video games can be considered art.  Many people strongly stand on the side of “no” as they do not act as a proper medium to provoke “depth” or “emotion” such as what is traditionally considered art.  Whether it’s a painting or sculpture, video games are not considered to be a part of art to a vast majority.  Robert Erbert says “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.”  In my opinion I can understand where he is coming from.  Video games are still very, very early in their lifetime and while the evolution of technology is extremely rapid, not many have attempted to make video games a form of art.

My choice of game was “Arteroids” and in all honestly, it is not a good example of how video games can be considered art.  The game is abstract, you float around as the word “Poetry” and shoot enemy words to make them explode.  This is not a good way to convey that video games can be art.  In my opinion it is very difficult for games to be considered a form of art.  There are many aspects that are required to be “artistic”.  Graphics, music, sound effects and voice overs are so, so important when it comes to immersion.  Video games can be art, games such as Bioshock: Infinite, Bastion, and Amnesia are great examples of such.  Each one of the listed games have one common aspect, they are immerse, and when it comes to art you want the viewer to be immersed in a new world, to be inspired.