Are Video Games Art?

Jan Vržina or TheParanoidSurvivor asks a question that's been looming in the gaming and arts community for decades and attempts to answer it.

[incendy35]

Pretty good video, except for the mask :D. As for the topic, no question they are art!

[GutZ31]

Anything made by man, with much thought can be considered art.
If something as simple as a tool can be both a technology, and beautiful, it is art.

Games? They meet that criteria head on, and then some.

[F4sterTh4nFTL]

Some are, but most games are just products being sold to make as much money as possible.

[ironfist92]

I agree with this. Most of its just cashing in on franchises, paying more attention to gameplay, graphics, and fanboy pandering than trying to portray something unique.

However games like Journey show that there are a few cases of interactive art.

[solar]

why not? a chick queefing eggs full of paint is art by some sorta weird idea.

[itisallaboutps]

Of course. Especially by the scenery they create and the atmosphere.

[robtion]

Oh boy, here we go...

A better question, does it even matter?

[Wni0]

to quote the great alex turner

that's where youre wrong

ofc it matters. you want videogames to be at the bottom of the arts?

[yesah]

No, it doesn't matter. Art is just a word.

[Wni0]

right rape is just a word too, cept its really bad

[InMyOpinion]

This AGAIN??

[goldwyncq]

All games are art, but they're not all good art.

[digger18]

Nope. Just toys to enjoy

[Allsystemgamer]

Art goes into making a game. Just like a film, painting, music (not this modern dribble that follows the same pattern). And art is an expression. Games, drawings, sketches, painting, music. It's art.

[Stoppokingme]

For the 400th time, yes.

We wouldn't even be discussing this if Roger Ebert never said video games aren't art.

[SegaGamer]

If a painting of a circle or a few lines can be considered Art then a video game definitely is. A baby could do some of the things you see sell for millions.