Alex Schuh The Art of Games A look at a new art form.

Alex Schuh What is Art?

Alex Schuh Skill acquired by experience, study, or observation The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects Decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter Definitions by Websters

Alex Schuh Forms/Styles of Art Painting Sculpture Music Theater Graphic Design Digital Art Game Design Classic Modern Abstract Expressionist Contemporary Interactive

Alex Schuh Walter Benjamin And Aura Benjamin lists aura as the emotional value the individual places on an object –Due to mechanical reproduction, those objects now have less meaning Example: Mona Lisa Games are a prime example of mechanical reproduction –Example: Halo

Alex Schuh Are Games Art? History shows that great works of art take time to be recognized by society –Video Games have only been around about 30 years Games in a sense grew up too fast –Gaming now makes more money than movies

Alex Schuh A Perpetual Cycle Scenario –A game is developed and becomes a major hit –Due to its success other developers attempt to recreate the game The original developer in turn creates a sequel to the game or another mirror image of the game –The market becomes over saturated –The public loses interest

Alex Schuh If it ain't broke don't fix it This is the mentality that must be reexamined –Developers must begin distinguishing themselves and gamers must open their minds to new possibilities They must take themselves seriously before others will

Alex Schuh Games as Art “Art is something designed to evoke emotion through fantasy” Cris Crawford Games are an interactive art form –Others are passive (quietly observe)‏ A painting, sculpture, or piece of music is created and is meant to be observed – Games are created and meant to be transformed

Alex Schuh In a painting the artist invests the most emotion into the piece In games the audience invests as much if not more emotion than the artist or “programmer” Developers hide behind the statement “We are in the entertainment business.” Technology is the domineering force in games

Alex Schuh Other Interactive Art There is now interactive theater –Audience changes the script Physical interactive art –Text Rain: letters of poem fall and can be interacted with These are different from games, however, because games require interaction

Alex Schuh Reflection Some games reflect the traits of their creators –Ex: Mario; Metal Gear Solid, and Pokemon The creators of these games drew from their life experiences to create these games

Alex Schuh Creating the experience Games in general allow the user to create their own experience Games like The Sims allow for nearly infinite creativity –However, is a Sim that is created by a player art?

Alex Schuh Consider ceramics A person can go spend a few hours creating a vase in an arts and crafts store –This vase, although it may not be awe inspiring would be considered art –However, isn't the vase limited by the spinning wheel and the kiln that are used to create it –“So is it the medium or the creation that makes something art?” Chi Kong Lui

Alex Schuh Compare to Motion Pictures In the early days of cinema movies were considered a novelty or past time –It wasn't until movies like The Man With A Movie Camera that cinema began to be taken seriously as an art form Avant garde films would also add to film as art Kinetoscope machines were also the precursors to arcade machines

Alex Schuh

Opposing argument Games are games not art –They are there own separate form Games are not uniform through time –Games change due to interactivity, a sculpture will always stay the same Entertainment for the masses –Designed to promote play not thought

Alex Schuh How can games be taken seriously as art? Use new innovative technology in a alternate way –But how? Games that use other art –Ex: playing Doom while a poem is being read Art that is created from games –Ex:Play Doom and have what you do changed into a picture

Alex Schuh Games that allow for character creation come close but more is needed –Create the character and the story –Developer creates freedom but the overall game play has a message Change the system

Alex Schuh Conclusion The graphics of games have come a long way and now have incredible realism –However, there is more to games than the graphics, and pictures aren't the only form of art If developers want their games to be considered as art they need to be willing to deviate from the norm

Alex Schuh Resources webster.com/dictionary The Art of Computer Game Design, Crawford,Chris, , dy/game-book/Coverpage.html

Alex Schuh Are Video Games Art?, Lui, Chi Kong, 27 May, 2003, videogames-art The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical of Reproduction, Benjamin, Walter, 1936, ubject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm