Alex Schuh The Art of Games A look

Alex Schuh The Art of Games A look at a new art form.

Alex Schuh What is Art?

Alex Schuh Definitions by Websters • Skill acquired by experience, study, or observation • The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects • Decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

Alex Schuh Forms/Styles of Art • • Painting Sculpture Music Theater Graphic Design Digital Art Game Design • • • Classic Modern Abstract Expressionist Contemporary Interactive

Alex Schuh Walter Benjamin And Aura • Benjamin lists aura as the emotional value the individual places on an object – Due to mechanical reproduction, those objects now have less meaning • Example: Mona Lisa • Games are a prime example of mechanical reproduction – Example: Halo

Alex Schuh Are Games Art? • History shows that great works of art take time to be recognized by society – Video Games have only been around about 30 years • Games in a sense grew up too fast – Gaming now makes more money than movies

Alex Schuh A Perpetual Cycle • Scenario – A game is developed and becomes a major hit – Due to its success other developers attempt to recreate the game • The original developer in turn creates a sequel to the game or another mirror image of the game – The market becomes over saturated – The public loses interest

Alex Schuh If it ain't broke don't fix it • This is the mentality that must be reexamined – Developers must begin distinguishing themselves and gamers must open their minds to new possibilities • They must take themselves seriously before others will

Alex Schuh Games as Art • “Art is something designed to evoke emotion through fantasy” Cris Crawford • Games are an interactive art form – Others are passive (quietly observe) • A painting, sculpture, or piece of music is created and is meant to be observed – Games are created and meant to be transformed

Alex Schuh • In a painting the artist invests the most emotion into the piece • In games the audience invests as much if not more emotion than the artist or “programmer” • Developers hide behind the statement “We are in the entertainment business. ” • Technology is the domineering force in games

Alex Schuh Other Interactive Art • There is now interactive theater – Audience changes the script • Physical interactive art – Text Rain: letters of poem fall and can be interacted with • These are different from games, however, because games require interaction

Alex Schuh Reflection • Some games reflect the traits of their creators – Ex: Mario; Metal Gear Solid, and Pokemon • The creators of these games drew from their life experiences to create these games

Alex Schuh Creating the experience • Games in general allow the user to create their own experience • Games like The Sims allow for nearly infinite creativity – However, is a Sim that is created by a player art?

Alex Schuh • Consider ceramics • A person can go spend a few hours creating a vase in an arts and crafts store – This vase, although it may not be awe inspiring would be considered art – However, isn't the vase limited by the spinning wheel and the kiln that are used to create it – “So is it the medium or the creation that makes something art? ” Chi Kong Lui

Alex Schuh Compare to Motion Pictures • In the early days of cinema movies were considered a novelty or past time – It wasn't until movies like The Man With A Movie Camera that cinema began to be taken seriously as an art form • Avant garde films would also add to film as art • Kinetoscope machines were also the precursors to arcade machines

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Alex Schuh Opposing argument • Games are games not art – They are there own separate form • Games are not uniform through time – Games change due to interactivity, a sculpture will always stay the same • Entertainment for the masses – Designed to promote play not thought

Alex Schuh How can games be taken seriously as art? • Use new innovative technology in a alternate way – But how? • Games that use other art – Ex: playing Doom while a poem is being read • Art that is created from games – Ex: Play Doom and have what you do changed into a picture

Alex Schuh Change the system • Games that allow for character creation come close but more is needed – Create the character and the story – Developer creates freedom but the overall game play has a message

Alex Schuh Conclusion • The graphics of games have come a long way and now have incredible realism – However, there is more to games than the graphics, and pictures aren't the only form of art • If developers want their games to be considered as art they need to be willing to deviate from the norm

Alex Schuh Resources • http: //www. merriamwebster. com/dictionary • The Art of Computer Game Design, Crawford, Chris, 1996 -1997, http: //www. vancouver. wsu. edu/fac/peabo dy/game-book/Coverpage. html

Alex Schuh • Are Video Games Art? , Lui, Chi Kong, 27 May, 2003, http: //www. gamecritics. com/arevideogames-art • The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical of Reproduction, Benjamin, Walter, 1936, http: //www. marxists. org/reference/s ubject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin. htm