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A look at a new art form. The Art of Games. What is Art?. Definitions by Websters. 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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 BenjaminAnd 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'tfix 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 toMotion 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
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 betaken 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
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• 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
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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
• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
• The Art of Computer Game Design, Crawford,Chris, 1996-1997, http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/peabody/game-book/Coverpage.html
Alex Schuh
• Are Video Games Art?, Lui, Chi Kong, 27 May, 2003,http://www.gamecritics.com/are-videogames-art
• The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical of Reproduction, Benjamin, Walter, 1936,http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm