Jaffe defends 'artless' videogames, "some of us LIKE" it that way

Developers have no duty to make games that are "art", says God of War creator David Jaffe.

Writing on his blog, Jaffe took aim at unspecified journalists who routinely criticise games for lacking "deeper artistic sensibilities, deeper stories, meaningful mature views of the world, or more realistic portrayals of women."

[dangert12]

What games are lacking in an artistic way? :S
I mean i see a different art in everygame
Ratchet and clank
Bayonetta
Yakuza
COD
Killzone
MADWORLD
:S weres the artless games

[SnuggleBandit]

Ya, but as a follewer of his blog, he also says that he LOVES games that are artsy, for example flower.

He just doesnt think every game NEEDS to be a profound experience like that

[Dark General]

Exactly. It's just like exploitation flicks, while yeah the are often ludicrous and they aren't everyone's cup of tea (I personally love them) not every movie needs to be a There Will be Blood, A clockwork Orange or Requiem for a dream. Variety is the spice of life.

[Akagi]

/cough MW2 cough/

[DelbertGrady]

Quantum Theory.

@dchalfont - He looks like a gnome. :)

[Downtown boogey]

R&C and Bayonetta aren't even trying to make you feel anything: They're just plain fun. CoDs actually do have emotional components, especially the early ones.

[TEFL0N_D0N_81]

Don't get me wrong, I love video games pretty much from all genres. But not all video games (including some arcade games) would I consider "art". I'll take a stab at a few:

1) Dominoes, Spades
2) Any simulator game (simulation is not creation)
3) 1 vs 100
4) Hannah Montana's sing along games.
5) Any crappy movie based video game (most of them)
6) Any game that starts with "Cabela's".

nuff said. What art do you see in the list? It's cool to disagree, but please explain.

[All_4_One]

Keep in mind, Jaffe has never been about focusing on having a deep artistic value. There are a couple old documentaries and interviews scattered about where he says he always wanted to get that hollywood, action, blocbuster feel of a movie into a game, that`s always been his focus as I remember. Now, I`m sure he still appreciates art in games, his GOTY last year was Flower.

[Kleptic]

overall I think he is talking more about how the game plays, not just how it looks...he has always had a great eye for atmosphere, which used to be the only 'art' factor noticed for a video game...TM Black is exactly that; coming at a time where strong atmosphere was almost unheard of in a video game...but now for a game to be 'artistic'...it has to be completely different, especially gameplay wise...and I guess that is what he means...the industry is so much bigger now, and so much more money is involved, that developers have pressures to build games that play entirely different than anything else...which is what he is saying he will avoid...Twisted metal will 'play' similar to TM games in the past...and I agree with him, a lot of us want it that way...

[Downtown boogey]

"overall I think he is talking more about how the game plays, not just how it looks"

Not reading any further because you thought wrong :/

[Nihilism]

[email protected] that photo, that's one of those photos you would find of yourself in years to come and rip it up hoping no one else would ever see it, just damn, get a chin and a tan you beady eyed F***

@jetlian

Yeah when people are pissed, it makes you pay attention, this photo looks like he should have a school uniform on complete with matching hat.

[jetlian]

was more interrested in the photo. he looks better when he's mad

[MGRogue2017]

... jajajajajajajaja, He looks retarded. :P

But in real life, He looks normal..

[Corrwin]

I love Shadow of the Colossus, Flower, Heavy Rain.

But sometimes I just wanna play Doom.

[Treyb3yond]

A loud mouth with zero social skills and one decent game under his belt.

[Corrwin]

C'mon - at least 3!

And who said developers need social skills?

[djfullshred]

Pretentious forum posters on N4G.

[dagreatest41]

I kinda have to agree with Jaffe on this one. For every Heavy Rain and Flower, we need a game like Twisted Metal or Dead Rising.

In the movie industry, we have the Oscar caliber movies but we also have movies like Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean. So why should the gaming industry be any different? there's different people with different tastes. And even though I personally prefer the more sophisticated games with rich storylines and character development, I also enjoy mindless/fun games every now and then.

[AlienFodder]

Very true. It's all about balance. :)

[djfullshred]

I have been playing video games since the Pong days. I have never, not once gone to the store looking for "video art" instead of a video GAME.

[Jack-Pyro]

Dose everything really need to be high art here?

[SeraphimBlade]

I can completely get behind that statement. I just wish he had taken that philosophy with God of War 3. I seriously hate everything after you drive a sword through Zeus. The entire script after that should have just been Kratos yelling "SUCK IT!!"

[gamerz]

If they can't do an artistic game well then I agree with Jaffe, don't do it at all and just focus on the gameplay. I enjoy plenty of games with no story and mediocre graphics as long as they don't take themselves too seriously. That being said, I tend enjoy games more that have great voice acting, great cinematics and an intriguing story.

[Areeb11]

I like david jaffe... he's cool. :)

[turok]

...but laugh at that photo lol. thats one to forget for jaffe.

jaffe however speaks truth. most gamers enjoy regardless of artsy or not.

[Mista T]

Jaffe care most and foremost about fun factor, gameplay, and replayability. that's what I like about him

[Rocket Sauce]

Who are the Orson Welleses of the video game world?