Journey: Can Video-Games Be Art?

An article both reviewing Journey as well as an interview Robin Hunicke discussing its place in the artistic world.

[Godlovesgamers]

A little late to the "can video games be art" discussion, aren't we? By like 2 years!!

[serratos27]

Haha I was late to the game actually. Heard of it as well as tried the demo but didnt play it until a few months back and regardless of how short this game is, its amazing. A lot of video games have an emotional aspect to them but Journey should be defined as an emotional rollercoaster. The title says it all.

[godofboobees]

Why are we still asking this? Yes video games can be art. Its called expressing ones self through a medium I.e music, dance.....VIDEO GAMES

[knifefight]

Well of course video game enthusiasts like you and I feel that way.

The rest of the world? There's a long way to go.

Until the mainstream stops blaming video games for bad grades and mass shootings...there are still obviously a lot of people that need to think about this topic.

[AznGaara]

I don't get this phrase at all. Videogames are art regardless if they achieve some emotional or exploratory thing that changes the industry forever. Not everything has to be "artsy" or dive into some psychological themes to be considered art... Art can be fun too. I just don't get this.

[Plyzz]

I'd think it depends on your personal definition of art, but IMO every video game ever made is art.

[Sizzon]

Yes, of course.

[BG11579]

Damn, I was going to say that! ^^

[McScroggz]

I went to New Orleans with a buddy of mine. There is a man wearing a suit and is painted from head to toe in gold paint and smells as if he was never taught the importance of bathing. This man, among many things, would occasionally perform robot dances and jump out and scare people.

This man considered this art.

Look, I don't care about the strict interpretation of the word art - this isn't a judicial study. Some games are just so inherently artistic, so emotionally engaging and visually stunning that to argue semantics is to really miss the point. Our medium has grown into something capable of incredibly moving experiences in a broad spectrum of games.

To me, art is something that tugs at your soul. And games can most definitely do that. So let's just all agree that games ARE art and we are much better for having the medium.

[serratos27]

Art is free that's why it's called art. Jk I have no idea what I'm saying but we live in a different world now. One which surrounds technology. Video games can definitely be considered art.