Yes, Videogames ARE Art, Actually

The very first videogame, Pong, was nothing more than a pixel moving across a bland, blank screen, while two thin rectangular paddles moved up and down to bounce it back and forth. It was not particularly interesting to look at, but it didn’t have to be. The whole point of the game was that an actual person was controlling the little vertical rectangle in real time, interacting with their television (and possibly another person at the same time). It was revolutionary at the time, and it didn’t really have to look good in order to be good.

Since then, videogame graphics have come a long, long way. Thirty seven years after Pong’s big debut, videogame graphics are almost lifelike in their realism, and a player comes to expect incredible, immersive graphics when a game is released. With such high expectations, videogame companies put a lot of effort into making their graphics, characters, and environments stunning- essentially elevating videogames to a high art form.

Art can be described as a way to express emotions or ideas in a creative way. Using this definition, it is hard to argue that videogames are not “art”. Music, literature, film, and visual art are all elements commonly found in videogames. A composer is hired to create a moving soundtrack for the game, which is performed by musicians. A writer is hired to write a moving story which takes the characters in the game on exciting adventures. A film maker is hired to direct and edit cut scenes, which may involve real actors, or may just use voices of real actors recorded over an animation. An artist is hired to create lush environments, exciting weapons and outfits, design sweeping cityscapes, or terrifying monsters. All of the main areas of “fine art” are incorporated into most videogames. With so many artists adding to the creative “soup”, it is hard to argue that the final videogame itself should not be considered a work of art.

Art is also used to make the viewer feel a certain emotion. Many artists pour their own emotions into their art in order to try to convey how they are feeling. Videogames can do this too. Some videogames may be all about shooting the zombies, or hijacking the car, or figuring out a puzzle, but some games also try to create an environment that the player can lose themselves in, and forget about their real lives. The game lets the player believe that they truly are the main character, exploring new worlds or saving the world. When things go right, the player truly feels proud and good. When things go bad, the player may feel like a failure, and it might hurt a little. By making a videogame totally immersive, on a visual and emotional level, videogames have elevated themselves to a high art form. They might not be something that a millionaire and his wife might enjoy at a museum, but videogames are something that the players can connect to on an emotional level, just as the artists who made them intended. With that fact, it is hard to argue that videogames should not be considered art.