What are video games to you?

[Bluekirby2]

Just curious what you think, seeing as how I've heard multiple things. While as of right now, I don't know where I stand on this, I'm curious to see what others think.

 

[SphericalCrusher]

"An escape" and the most consistent hobby I have had for 25 years.

 

[dezeray112]

Its pretty much a mixture of art, entertainment and hobby for me.

 

[Sari]

85% of my life.

 

[finalark]

Entertainment. AMUSE ME, LIGHTS AND PIXELS!

 

[Chief Hotsuin]

If only l could say both art and sport... I guess it depends on whether l want to find ways to disrespect others at the time or if l want to actually compete.

 

[Substitution]

Video games to me are interactive electronics. Rather vague and generic yes, but that's mostly because games are vastly different. Sometimes a game can be a fun waste of time, a competitive sport, or yes even art.

It's the same with that of movies or literature: while every movie or literature boiled down is the same -- literature states an idea with text, or movies doing something similar albeit with video -- every one is different from each other, and portrays a different story with a different purpose.

 

[EarthCrash]

I consider them to be simply fun.

 

[Ghostly ~]

For entertainment and personal hobby.

 

[Minato]

Yup, I'd have to say hobby (and also as an escape). It can be other things as well for me, but I'd say that's the primary one.

 

[LunarWingCloud]

A hobby, but also a necessary escape from reality.

 

[Spak]

All of the first 4 listed options, but I'd have to say an escape as well. I've always vented my frustrations on lvl 1 CPUs in Melee (especially Bowser), even before I got into the competitive scene.

 

[Zink Imp]

A hobby and form of entertainment.

After studying Huizinga, Caillois and other theorists, I can't see video games as a form of art because I see them just as games.

 

[finalark]

After studying Huizinga, Caillois and other theorists, I can't see video games as a form of art because I see them just as games.

I don't know about that. I don't see movies, television shows, sculpting, painting, animation or books as anything more than entertainment but I consider them art because I appreciate the creative effort that goes into them.

But I guess that depends on how you define art.

 

[Kneutronic]

Video games?

...I see them as a hobby. It's something that you can do to help you out if you either had a bad day or you just want to mess around and have fun.

 

[Zink Imp]

I don't know about that. I don't see movies, television shows, sculpting, painting, animation or books as anything more than entertainment but I consider them art because I appreciate the creative effort that goes into them.

But I guess that depends on how you define art.

Games are meant to be played, and play is a basic instinct to many organisms. Games can have competition, role-playing, competition, a combination of them and more. Further, a game, and to play the game, it has to exist in its "own world with its own rules." Art doesn't fit in.

 

[Spak]

Games are meant to be played, and play is a basic instinct to many organisms. Games can have competition, role-playing, competition, a combination of them and more. Further, a game, and to play the game, it has to exist in its "own world with its own rules." Art doesn't fit in.

In that case, it all depends upon your definition of art.

Also, are you saying that every fictional book is not a work of art because it exists in its "own world with its own rules"? I'd hardly call The Lord of the Rings in our world with our rules, but I would consider both the book series and the trilogy of movies to be works of art.

 

[Zink Imp]

In that case, it all depends upon your definition of art.

Also, are you saying that every fictional book is not a work of art because it exists in its "own world with its own rules"? I'd hardly call The Lord of the Rings in our world with our rules, but I would consider both the book series and the trilogy of movies to be works of art.

You're misinterpreting.

 

[finalark]

Games are meant to be played, and play is a basic instinct to many organisms. Games can have competition, role-playing, competition, a combination of them and more. Further, a game, and to play the game, it has to exist in its "own world with its own rules." Art doesn't fit in.

So, because play is a basic instinct it's not art? The earliest humans used barriers and other natural items to create cave paint and use it as a form of communication, and communication with kin is also a basic instinct. Does this, by default, make all forms of communication, whether it be through visual or written mediums, not art?

I don't think I agree or follow.

Granted, I define art as anything that people can use as a creative outlet. And getting down to it, it sounds like you and I have very different definitions of the word.

 

[Zink Imp]

I don't think I agree or follow.

Granted, I define art as anything that people can use as a creative outlet. And getting down to it, it sounds like you and I have very different definitions of the word.

Clearly.

 

[Sucumbio]

Video games can be artistic but I don't think they qualify as art pieces unto themselves. They can be hailed, like "Metal Gear Solid is a work of art; a true masterpiece" but to me that speaks of the quality rather than the description.

For me video games are a form of entertainment and a hobby.

 

[Dan]

They're all of them.

I have really been struggling with the idea that they are a waste of time lately. I know there's technically no such thing as "a waste of time", but sometimes they just really feel that way to me, to the point where I just want to sell all of them if I have a session that goes beyond 2 hours.

I sometimes wonder why I can spend many consecutive hours on the internet and it never feels like a waste of time, but if I play video games for any period of time, it always ends up feeling like a waste. It is fun, but it's like "you have sunk hundreds of hours into a game, but what do you have to show for it in the real world?".

Games are meant to be played, and play is a basic instinct to many organisms. Games can have competition, role-playing, competition, a combination of them and more. Further, a game, and to play the game, it has to exist in its "own world with its own rules." Art doesn't fit in.

See, but if you took a picture of Yoshi's Island, that's a work of art. Or take David Wise's "Aquatic Ambience" from Donkey Kong Country. Video games are made up of art?

 

[Zink Imp]

See, but if you took a picture of Yoshi's Island, that's a work of art. Or take David Wise's "Aquatic Ambience" from Donkey Kong Country. Video games are made up of art?

Games of any sort are not art.

 

[finalark]

Games of any sort are not art.

You're misinterpreting.

 

[Babycowland]

For me, games are basically just a hobby, a fun pastime. They're also something to play with friends and family (and meet new people with sometimes), which is part of the reason why I like having co-op options in games and don't usually enjoy playing against random peeps.

That said, even though games are a hobby that I spend a lot of time with, I usually avoid mentioning the fact that I play games when people ask me about my hobbies. I guess I worry that other people will consider them a waste of time, childish, or nerdy or whatever. So sometimes I wish I had gotten into hiking or sailing or some other more "socially acceptable" hobby, haha. I know that's a silly way to look at things, because it's not like games are bad, even if some people might think that.

 

[Zink Imp]

You're misinterpreting.

You sure got me!

 

[TimeChain]

Pretty much all the above lol. They're mostly my hobby and my main source of entertainment though. Not a lot of people I know really appreciates my hobby though, especially when they think that's literally all I do. Which is not...entirely true...ish...

 

[Bluekirby2]

I'm a little mixed now.

After playing Undertale, I feel like I could say some games can be art.

 

[Zink Imp]

I'm a little mixed now.

After playing Undertale, I feel like I could say some games can be art.

Now you're just trolling.

 

[Bluekirby2]

Now you're just trolling.

No, this is just my opinion ;P

 

[Jet3000]

I see video games as a hobby, entertainment, and a form of art.

 

[Kurri ★]

Games of any sort are not art.

Could you perhaps explain your position? I've read your other posts, but I'm not entirely convinced Video Games aren't a form of art. How does play invalidate something as art? I can understand why games such as "Tag" or "Hide n Seek" are not considered as art, but, as someone else mentioned, Video Games are created with numerous art assets.

 

[dezeray112]

Should I consider video games as a form of art?

 

[finalark]

Should I consider video games as a form of art?

Art is whatever you want it to be.

 

[Zink Imp]

Could you perhaps explain your position? I've read your other posts, but I'm not entirely convinced Video Games aren't a form of art. How does play invalidate something as art? I can understand why games such as "Tag" or "Hide n Seek" are not considered as art, but, as someone else mentioned, Video Games are created with numerous art assets.

You can say that music that are in video games are art. You can say that movie sequences in game are art.

However, once you start hitting buttons, you have commenced play. And such forth, you have entered a new "reality" governed by the game. That is what it means to be in play, and there is no room for art.

I'm not really here to convince you. I don't feel like writing an essay.

 

[finalark]

I just want to know why painting a picture is art but designing a game isn't.

 

[Kurri ★]

You can say that music that are in video games are art. You can say that movie sequences in game are art.

However, once you start hitting buttons, you have commenced play. And such forth, you have entered a new "reality" governed by the game. That is what it means to be in play, and there is no room for art.

I'm not really here to convince you. I don't feel like writing an essay.

Well I suppose I can't force you to persuade me. But if I may ask this, are you saying that art cannot be interactive, or is it something bigger that I'm not understanding?

 

[Zink Imp]

Well I suppose I can't force you to persuade me. But if I may ask this, are you saying that art cannot be interactive, or is it something bigger that I'm not understanding?

By interactive, you mean playing a game, then no. I specifically meaning playing games. I don't know what extent "interacting" means.

Try reading Huizinga or Caillos if you want more on the theory of games.

 

[finalark]

Well, obviously playing a game isn't art. Neither is looking at a picture or reading a book.

But is making a game art?

 

[dezeray112]

Art is whatever you want it to be.

I think I will agree with this and I do consider video games as not just art but my source of inspiration in terms of design (since I am aiming to be a graphic designer.)