The Art of Video Games
To consider video games as a form of art is to stir controversy. The nature of video games was hotly debated as arcades boomed in the 1980s. As the technology improved and video game consumers became more abundant, the diversity of video games expanded. Games were no longer two-dimensional and 8-bit pixels on a screen. In just a few decades, video games evolved into something greater. However, that growth invited a call to regress the ever-changing landscape of video games. It was not until 2012 that the Supreme Court declared video games as a form of art and were protected under the first amendment as creative works. The Smithsonian American Art Museum held an exhibition titled "The Art of Video Games" that celebrated 40 years of the genre that included video-game screenshots, videotaped interviews with game designers, and vintage consoles (Tucker). This blog is a showcase of video games as a form of art. All presented works are screenshots of users participating in the immersive experience that are video games.
Tokyo, Japan 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) is the newest installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise. The game is an open-world style game meaning that players can move about the world unbounded to a fixed path. Players take on the role of the in-game character named Link as they move about the world to defeat the enemy, Calamity Ganon. In a role-playing fashion, "the player not only experiences and interacts with the art, but to some extent, also controls it" ("The Art of Video Games"). In the screenshot, Link is seen knocking an arrow at wild fauna in a forest setting. The first thing that I notice and appreciate about the art of BotW is how the user interface (the map, the health hearts, etc.) is obscure and does not detract from the immersive experience of the game. The crosshair of the bow is subtle yet gently assists the player in the game. The landscape and topography of the world are delicately pieced together. The mountains in the background elongate the size of the world. The trees in the midground and flora in the foreground immerse the player in the natural setting.
Halo Reach, Bungie
Bellevue, Washington 2010
Halo Reach is a prequel to the Halo series and takes place in the year 2552. The world named Reach is being invaded by an alien species called the Covenant. The player assumes the role of a squad tasked with preventing the invasion. The screenshot shows a picture of what is called a "Halo" in the game's universe. Halos are ringworlds that were built by a species called the Forerunners. Halo Reach is an example of video games that "are truly a collision of art and science" (Melissinos). The screenshot shows the effort of the developers' attention to building the Halo universe. The rocky mountain outcrop in the foreground contrasts the obtuse mechanical structure of the ringworld in the background. The glare of the sun and clouds are reminiscent of a view on earth. The shadow that casts onto the Halo ring mimics those on earth and demonstrates that the rotation of the world is comparable.
No Man's Sky, Hello Games
Guildford, England 2016
No Man's Sky is another open-world game, or rather an open universe game. It was advertised to be a limitless space-faring game where new and exciting worlds are constantly generating for the player to find. Unfortunately, the advertisement did not live up to the game. Despite the disappointment of the players, the game still displays a surreal visual experience. The screenshot shows a spaceship traveling to a planet with an asteroid belt. The lines leading to a vanishing point on the planet appear to make the ship travel at an incredibly high speed. The debris in the foreground and background are dismissed as the ship moves towards its destination. The focus of the screenshot is broken into thirds. The seemingly larger area to the right of the ship creates the feeling of emptiness and insignificance as a ship traveling into nothing.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda Studios
Rockville, Maryland 2011
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world role-playing game developed by Bethesda Studios. As the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls series, this title generated a lot of well-deserved excitement. Bethesda did well to meet the expectations of the players and beyond. Today, the game is still supported and a dedicated community of online players continues to introduce their modifications to the game. Some modifications to the game include: changing all dragons to Thomas the train, improving the details of bodies of water, improving the movement of grass and wheat fields, new quests and stories, etc. When Skyrim was released, the graphics of the video game were as realistic as they could be at the time. However, with an online community dedicated to the beautification and improvement of the game, Skyrim is constantly improving. The screenshot is of a small town on a body of water. The sun peeks behind the clouded sky floating behind the village. The light illuminates the water and brightens the atmosphere of the Nordic town. The composition of the screenshot appears incredibly balanced. The water, the towns' homes, the trees, and the sky create the idyllic Skyrim town.
Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo
Tokyo, Japan 2017
Arguably the most recognizable character of any franchise, Mario joins a new character, Cappy, in Super Mario Odyssey. Mario is largely credited in the booming popularity of gaming with the release of the arcade game Super Mario Bros. in the 1980s. The two-dimensional platformer has since moved onto the three-dimensional landscape in Super Mario Odyssey. The screenshot shows Mario running past a non-playable character in a parody of New York City. Mario perfectly contrasts his surroundings as a video game character within a realistic setting. The steam quietly climbing out of the manholes is a detail unique to larger cities like New York City. The three taxi cabs lining the street on the right are as well. The screenshot is busily packed with details of the world's setting, true to the real-world environment of New York City.
Forza Horizon 4, Playground Games
Leamington Spa, England 2018
The Forza franchise is dedicated to car enthusiasts and those with a need for speed. The racing game is committed to realistic simulations of automobiles and racing environments. With every installment, the franchise improves its graphics, physics simulations, and adds new cars to satisfy the car enthusiast fan base. The screenshots show a car driving through a dirt road in the night. The cars' high beams illuminate the road ahead in a conical fashion while the rear of the car darkens in contrast. The rear wheels pick up mud and dirt that appear in splotches. The road appears to curve ahead and continue onward past the hill. The evergreen trees indicate that the environment is in a colder northern climate. The cool, gray color of the image mutes the dynamic action of the car and ties the car to its environment as if they are one entity.
Works Cited
“The Art of Video Games.” The Art of Video Games - Memphis, TN | Brooks Museum, www.brooksmuseum.org/the-art-of-video-games.
Melissinos, Chris. “Video Games Are One of the Most Important Art Forms in History.” Time, Time, 22 Sept. 2015, time.com/collection-post/4038820/chris-melissinos-are-video-games-art/.
Tucker, Abigail. “The Art of Video Games.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Mar. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-art-of-video-games-101131359/.
Thank you Gerald for your post. It is really quite something...the fact that video games are actually considered according to law a form of art. I find myself also often pondering what is the art or not art. What is fine art, performance art, visual art, or game art? The art that you have provided here today though comes from a video game can easily be art displayed in a gallery. The first video game you bring up Zelda: Breath of the Wild is of course without a doubt one of the most enjoyable games on the Nintendo Switch being an open-world filled with beauty of nature, mountains, water, animals, and characters that you can interact with in any way you so please. I consider 'video game' art to be transcendent of a time period as it is now an art that is so relevant in our world of the pandemic where we cannot go far, but on a screen in a virtual world we easily can. I think it is satisfying and rewarding to make art move, shake, and feel alive. Perhaps that is where art is evidently headed.
ReplyDeleteStarting off with Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a perfect example of how immersive open world video games strive to be. They put in an enormous amount of attention to detail in order to make they player feel as if they are inside the video game. I've played Breath of the Wild and the small details of the game, the random shifting of the wind that affects the way trees and grass blow, the jumping of small insect critters through the grass, it was all masterfully done in order to make the world seem real. Video game art is almost an extension of Baroque art in that Baroque strove to capture movement, video games strive to go beyond movement and simulate the randomness. As Kevin noted, video games could very well be trailblazing a new route for art.
ReplyDeleteHi Gerald, awesome post! I never knew video games, by law, were a form of art- so cool! I personally do not play, that's more my husband's thing, but it was interesting to hear your thoughts about it. When I first read that videos games are art, I found myself questioning why and then I really thought about it; videos games are a form of graphic art. A video game designer had to sit there, become inspired, and then create. It really isn't much different than an artists who creates with paint and canvas. I really liked the image you chose for Skyrim, it looks like a painting! You're absolutely right about the composition appearing incredibly balanced. Great analysis!
ReplyDeleteI remember picking up Breath of the Wild on a whim, not being much of a Zelda fan beforehand, and being absolutely floored by the amazing art direction and little immersive touches you mentioned. Video games as a whole have an amazing amount of potential as art, not only are they impressive combinations of artists, composers, writers, and coders, but they also connect with the viewer in a unique way because they require player input and interaction. If you're looking for more good "artsy" games, I would recommend checking out "Hades" by Supergiant Games, "Hollow Knight" by Team Cherry, and "Hyper Light Drifter" by Heart Machine. Great post!
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