Smithsonian Game Art Thing

[Napoleon Insists]

Yo,
Don't know if anyone has seen this / been following it, but a while back the Smithsonian had a massive vote on which games to include in a big exhibition. I get emails from them every now and then, and I thought this one was pretty cool.

http://eyelevel.si.edu/2011/08/the-art-of-video-games-five-questions-with-chris-melissinos.html

I'm not a big fan of 'videogames as art' thing, but this guy has an interesting perspective, in the first question at least, which I think is pretty cool - and entirely true.

"Video games are a unique form of artistic expression through, what I call, the "three voices:" the voice of the designer or artist, the voice of the game and its mechanics, and the voice of the player. A designer can craft an experience that follows a pre-determined arc to a set conclusion, while allowing the player the ability to laterally move and experience the game world. This retains the authoritative voice of the creator, yet allows each player to have a unique experience. There is no other form of media that allows for these three distinct voices to combine and present themselves as the output of expression."

That point of laterally moving through the world... yeah, I dig that. I mean, it harks back to days when I'd sit around just stuffing around with mechanics, or driving backwards races, and all that. And of course modern times with open world style games and all that. 

Also it's nice to see them getting some recognition, as ever.

[nshady]

That's a really interesting perspective that I like. Also glad that Smithsonian recognises their value. Don't know why you have a problem with the 'games as art' thing?

[Napoleon Insists]

I don't really, but I think people make way too big of a deal about it sometimes. I don't really care what other people see them as - you know, as long as they're not trying to demonise it to the point that it will somehow diminish my enjoyment of it. There are a lot of writers I don't like so much who make a huge deal of it as well, but I just think the points they make are rubbish.

Beyond visually exciting games, and beyond what this guy says, I think they're artful in the way they can kind of induce weird bouts of nostalgia on you, and also how the best ones can change your life in some ways, you know, by reaching out and changing a perspective or whatever. I mean, books can do the same thing, but in a different way.

But yeah, as far as saying "All games are art", I disagree with that, and I also disagree with the militant pursuit of changing people's attitudes to "games are art" - if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen.