Why do some people say video games aren't art?
The argument that video games aren't art usually rests on two points: players control what happens, so there is no single author's vision, and most games are commercial products built to entertain and sell. Today that view is in the minority. Major museums collect video games, the US Supreme Court has treated them as protected expression, and many critics and artists consider them a full art form.
The arguments against games as art
- Player agency. Film critic Roger Ebert famously wrote in 2010 that video games can never be art, because the player's choices replace the author's control. Game designer Brian Moriarty made a related case in a 2011 lecture.
- Games have rules and goals. Some argue that anything you can win or lose is closer to a sport or a toy than a painting or a novel.
- Industry pressure. Big games are shaped by budgets, focus testing and monetization, which critics see as the opposite of personal artistic expression.
The arguments for games as art
- Games combine many art forms. Visual art, music, writing, acting and architecture all go into them.
- Interactivity is the art. Designers create systems and spaces that produce feelings only possible when you take part, such as guilt in Undertale or loneliness in Shadow of the Colossus.
- Recognition by institutions. In 2012 the Museum of Modern Art in New York added video games to its collection, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum ran "The Art of Video Games" exhibition.
- Legal status. In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011), the US Supreme Court ruled that video games qualify for First Amendment protection, like books and films.
So, are video games art?
Most people who study the medium would say some games are art, the same way some films and books are, while others are mainly entertainment products. Being commercial or interactive does not rule a work out.
FAQ
Can video games be considered a sport?
Competitive gaming, or esports, has leagues, pro teams and big tournaments, and many organizations treat it as a sport, though whether it counts as one remains debated.
Are video games a hobby?
Yes. For most players gaming is a hobby like reading or watching films.
What are examples of artistic video games?
Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, Undertale, Disco Elysium, Inside and Gris are often cited.