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PoV: Video Games aren’t Art

Posted Feb 13, 2012 at 5:00PM EST by

Listed in: PS3 Tags: games as art, pov

mikeartbig

Warning: This post is a PoV, short for “Point of View.” The statements contained within are based entirely on my opinion, which you may or may not like. Guess who doesn’t care either way?

It seems like we can’t go more than two weeks without some idiot games commenter taking on the “games as art” debate. On the one hand are people who argue that games are too childish or violent to ever be taken as a true art form, and on the other are legions of fanboys with countless examples of why games are all masterpieces and the world just doesn’t understand.

Well here’s the scoop, everyone: games aren't art. And it has nothing to do with how they’re developed, the stories they tell or the visual design they involve. Games aren't art, because games are created to earn a profit. Almost every game you've ever played was designed to earn a return on an investment, and that’s simply not how art works.

Art is done for the passion, and for reflecting on the world in which it is created. Art is not done for the dollar. And as long as games are created with their profit margins in mind, they can never ascend to the level of true art. The same is true for any film, book or painting created with the final revenue in mind. Art can never exist for profit.

Some games can be art, and some games are. But the great majority are simply a part of a corporate profit machine, which permanently exempts them from being classified as artistic pursuits.

Deal with it.

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Hello Mr.F

I see you say that Games cant be art because "Art can never exist for profit".

Are you saying if I write a book and try to sell it it's not art?

Are you saying if I make a painting and sell it it's not art?

Are you saying if a company makes a movie and charges people to see it it's not art? (I could go on forever on this)

While I do believe games can be art we as a society have yet to come to an understanding why they are. I also believe movies, especially animation, are also art. That dosn't mean I don't realize that companies make a profit on the creations of others.

I don't mind herring other peoples thoughts, either for or agents, on this matter but in my eye's your argument is just plan Lazy, on top of which according to you almost everything can be considered "not art".

# I agree — Mastorer 2012-02-13 22:30

i work in the entertainment industry and by that same line of thought movies aren't are either...... hmmmmmmm i think a lot of people would disagree with that one.

comics are definately art or contain art work but hey people make a living off of it so its can't possible be art....

+1 # Are movies the 7th art? And comics not art? — ShogunCR 2012-02-13 19:26

Movies are considered art, and they are mostly produced to develop a profit. Comics as well... And lets be honest, wich artist nowadays makes art without the intent to sell it...

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — AkaiOtoko 2012-02-13 19:55

"The same is true for any film, book or painting created with the final revenue in mind. Art can never exist for profit."

"Art - Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.

Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation.

The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colours, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."

So...I guess that games aren't art.

Real good on your part to make this "article" without knowing what the word means first...

Games can be and are art.

Case closed.

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — DJ PON-3 2012-02-13 21:12

I disagree.

You're look too much at the negatives instead of the development aspect of creating a video game. Some go for an easy buck, some actually take their time to create a unique game and enjoy it during the process of developing it.

+2 # RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — virgoprince 2012-02-13 21:21

Mr.f is a complete and utter dumbass

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — bucketseats 2012-02-13 21:26

The Last Guardian says hello. Long development time, and it looks beautifully artistic to me!

+2 # RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — annonymous 2012-02-13 21:38

FUCK this FAIL article

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — LeftisGR 2012-02-13 21:45

What!!!!!!!!!!? Mr. F have you seen at what price the paintings are sold? 500euros minimum to 100.000euros! Music is another art. Does it come free? A ticket at the movies now costs 12euros.

Let's face it. Any form of art is sold. Further more at high price. Never expected someone to judge art, by the price.

# I agree... kinda — Jason 2012-02-13 22:33

I agree that many or even most games are not "art" in the most common expression of the word, I disagree with how you define art.

A painting, the simplest and oldest type of art, is "art" whether or not the creator sells it and makes a profit on it. When a developer such as Miyamoto or Hideo Kojima use their creativity to come up with a story and forms of gameplay and ways of reaching their audience, it's art. It's the creativity and effort put forth on the part of the creator that defines whether or not it's art. Actually I'm going to contradict myself and go as far as saying most games are art. I can draw a sh*tty picture of boot and it will be art... just not a masterpiece. Video games are a form of art, regardless of profit.

I can't tell you how many times I've played a game and said "that's absolutely brilliant" or "that's a beautiful landscape"... 2 phrases you might hear at an "art" gallery.

+3 # RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — yaoitaru 2012-02-14 00:18

I joined QJ at the eight of PSP CFW and Wii homebrew. Look at what it has become?

and LMFAO at the first sentence of the article.

btw I didn't read your PoV. I came to troll.

# Didn't read? — guyman 2012-02-14 06:18

You didn't miss much lol.

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — SINCaliber 2012-02-14 01:08

Can't take you seriously. Your username (Mr. F) makes it all the more humorous with your yapping.

+1 # RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — anonymoussss 2012-02-14 02:58

written like a rebel teenager. Please Mr.F do us a favor and shut the fuck up

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — CrazyMix 2012-02-14 03:31

Games are art to me, if you made a mod or a game you put a lot of work in to it Modeling it perfectly, that's Art so that's the way I view it. Its like making a pot and someone selling there Art.

+2 # Had to be done — DJ PON-3 2012-02-14 10:38

# RE: Had to be done — chickenboy 2012-02-17 08:34

who the fuck is this mr f guy? im pretty sure i went full retard trying to figure out why he even made this article. he contradicts himself, wow how qj has fallen.

p.s. that picture is pure win

# RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — UltimaXIX 2012-02-14 14:16

So... let me get this straight.

Anybody who puts their stake in on this debate is invariably an idiot, regardless of whose side they take.

You say that in the same article you state your own opinion on the very same argument.

Did you just... call yourself an idiot?

In any case, games may well be produced for profit but who are you to say that at no point in its production the creators didn't make a decision in its design which favoured artistic integrity over the bottom line? Does every single musician who accepts a payment for what they do automatically cease to be an artist?

I'll say this; if Kojima cared about nothing BUT the money, he sure as shit wouldn't have replaced everybody's favourite hero with a certain platinum blonde.

+1 # RE: PoV: Video Games aren’t Art — Keith__ 2012-02-14 16:44

so i guess the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel isn't art since Michaelangelo was paid to do it.

# Games ARE art.... — QuickSilver 2012-02-14 23:12

"Real good on your part to make this "article" without knowing what the word means first...

Games can be and are art.

Case closed."
I Agree. Games are art. Games that are made to earn a dollar are the same ones that don't sale. saying games aren't art is the dumbest statement ANYONE on the face of the earth has ever made.

+1 # Hue — Owl 2012-02-15 13:59

Don't know if full retard or trolling.

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