Are Video Games Works of Art?

by SodaHead Questions Posted 2011/11/15 23:00:00

Related Topics: Video Games, Art, Background, Graphics, Artist, Jobs, Economy, Games

768 votes
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	Yes	624 votes	81%
	No	144 votes	19%

Video games aren't typically referred to as "pieces of art," though the occasional game does manage to shake up the visual department enough to be considered "artsy." But every game, new and old, requires an artist or, more commonly, a large team of artists to create skins, backgrounds, objects, and cut-scenes and more.

Luckily, according to USA Today, the market for video game artists is growing, and colleges are even adding classes to address that need specifically. Do you consider video games works of art?

skyrim scenery

+24

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Brosia 2011/11/16 00:20:20

Yes

+14
Dude, I am watching my husband work through Skyrim, and it is amazing.
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More polls by SodaHead Questions

SonofSp... to BBoy le... 2011/11/17 05:28:19

It's just a dumb criterion (unless it is part of a larger system). It doesn't define something as art or not art.

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BBoy le... to SonofSp... 2011/11/18 02:12:44

How would you know? I bet you've never studied Graphic Design or computer engineering. You are just saying what you want to say... or think.

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SonofSp... to BBoy le... 2011/11/18 03:32:30

I am not saying that games are not art. I am saying that there are things that do not take a lot of time that are also art.

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BBoy le... to SonofSp... 2011/11/19 00:07:20

They are both!

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SunnyPatchKid (*_*) 2011/11/16 05:44:40

Yes

I took a 3ds max class in '04, and even that little bit was so tedious. Not only does it require a vivid imagination and artistry, but also that one be a great technical thinker. I think the men and women involved in the industry (from writers to sketches to cg, actually putting in serious work) are super amazing artists, and yes video games are works of art as a whole. Bravo folks, bravo.

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Kigan 2011/11/16 05:19:04

Yes

Those who haven't learned anything about video games may not get it. A great deal of work goes into them.

Graphics, audio, story...all of it comes together in good games to make an art.

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Depsycho 2011/11/16 05:05:25

Yes

+1
... um...DUH?!?

Those who disagree have NO CLUE WHATSOEVER just HOW much work goes into a GOOD game!

I'm surprised there are even ANY "no" answers.

More than likely mis-clicks that MEANT yes and trolls.

HOW is something like THIS game, among so many others NOT art anyway??

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Juliet to Depsycho 2011/11/16 06:29:35

+1
i m lookin forward to the next assassins creed... that vid is just beautiful

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Depsycho to Juliet 2011/11/16 07:57:51

+1
I know!! I'm saving to get the special edition. It comes with a V for Vendetta mask, coconut bombs, and the very best part - Vlad the Impaler's sword.

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autumn 2011/11/16 04:59:02

Yes

My favorite is Final Fantasy. Just visually stunning to me. One of the first games use 3D computer graphics.

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SonofSp... to autumn 2011/11/16 14:09:33
autumn to SonofSp... 2011/11/20 07:29:52

I never played the first one. My cousin had one of the older games but I'm not sure which one it was. Kept hogging it so I didn't really get to play that one.

I think I can understand what you mean though.

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NoobGotPowned 2011/11/16 04:25:12

Yes

+1

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Notasheeplikeu 2011/11/16 04:03:11 (edited)
autumn to Notashe... 2011/11/16 04:51:33

+2
Wow really think that. Japan is an innovator of technology and creativity. Video games are just another thing that prove that.

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Notashe... to autumn 2011/11/16 04:56:20
autumn to Notashe... 2011/11/16 04:59:59

+2
Clearly I don't share your brand of "humor".

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Notashe... to autumn 2011/11/16 05:13:47
SonofSp... to autumn 2011/11/16 14:11:12
Kat Khaos to Notashe... 2011/11/16 13:14:40

Seriously? What about the games that are made in the states? They trying to get back at us too? You can't blame them for having amazing technology skills.

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Yoru Az... to Notashe... 2011/11/16 14:42:13

You seem to be trolling so just go back under your bridge

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Notashe... to Yoru Az... 2011/11/18 17:22:28
Yoru Az... to Notashe... 2011/11/18 23:02:51

Do as you wish but dont be surprised if your bridge is burned down

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Ruger 2011/11/16 03:50:50

Yes

+1
I downloaded the Flower demo it is pretty cool and relaxing.

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Chris 2011/11/16 03:43:02 (edited)

Yes

A very large scale work of art made by many talented graphic design artists. They are much more work than a painting and can bring in $400,000,000 in 24 hours as with Call of Duty MW3. The most expensive painting in the world isn't even half of that. And they can be mass duplicated so no need to try to preserve it in a museum. Although a video game museum would be interesting to visit once a longer history is built up, right now it is just roughly from early 80's to now.... except for this one

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SunnyPa... to Chris 2011/11/16 05:46:53 (edited)

Imagine the oold 'consoles' @ E3? And heey, painting is up there too ~_• Iss all good. Yeah?

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Joey 2011/11/16 02:49:00

Yes

+2
Just look at this .

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Monster Claws 2011/11/16 02:38:26

Yes

I dont play a lot of video games but in some ill be playing it (or be doing stupid things that has nothing to do with completing the game) and ill stop and admire the background.

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*Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T 2011/11/16 02:29:12 (edited)

Yes

It's visual art meets interaction and designing a game isn't easy. Buy Drake Fortune and you will discover exactly what I am talking about.

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Indie 2011/11/16 02:24:40

No

Not all of them

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Aly Hart 2011/11/16 02:18:57

Yes

The well-made ones, at least.

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Terran Sherwood 2011/11/16 02:18:56

Yes

+2
Art =/= Visual. Art = Experience. While films and paintings are considered pieces of art, so are books and music. Art is simply something that can trigger an emotional response, that adds value to the human condition. And while not every game does that, neither does every novel, song, or movie. But you can't deny that some games, Like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, create that same emotion we get from a symphony or a riveting novel.

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lulzifer 2011/11/16 02:15:10 (edited)

Yes

+1
Some of them. Most are just horrible shlock, made solely to make money (like the call of duty series, or skyrim).

But it is the same with movies. Some movies are art. Most are horrible trash.

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Ariel to lulzifer 2011/11/16 04:09:18

I agree with Skyrim. All my boyfriend does is play that stupid game and talk about how cool it is to be a werewolf and blah blah blah. It's a dumb game and the graphics aren't even that great, though he seems to think they're magical.

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Butterb... to Ariel 2011/11/16 04:31:22

I like your boyfriend.

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Nuke to Butterb... 2011/11/16 06:32:54

lol

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angel face 2011/11/16 02:07:05

No

its works of imagination

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Omni to angel face 2011/11/16 08:36:01

+3
Isn't that what art essentially is?

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angel face to Omni 2011/11/17 08:39:42

but i dont think of games as art. its just not something that seems right with it. but i honestly hate almost all games so.. yeah

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GLaDOS 2011/11/16 02:04:27

No

Yes and no, actually. They're a product. I will say that they can be "artsy," however.

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