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Left 4 Dead: an unlikely argument for games as art
Dexter345 | 8:43 PM on 05.26.2009 21 comments




Over the years of its existence, the game industry has undoubtedly matured. What once was simply a neat pastime for a handful of geeks has become a multibillion dollar industry, servicing a huge portion of humanity. With this coming of age, there are bound to be some pretentious scholars who seek to legitimize the medium as one that can be used as art. I am one such pretentious scholar.

The debate has raged on long enough, with thoughtful, cohesive arguments on either side. I personally believe that games can be art, just like movies can be, books can be, and music can be, but there are examples in each medium that can also function purely as entertainment.

Thus, I think it is important to examine individual titles, to draw meaning and emotion from each. Before having thought about it much, I never would have imagined that a first person shooter revolving around the impending zombie apocalypse could be anything more than glorious entertainment. Having thought more about it, Left 4 Dead might be the best example of gaming as a unique medium for artistic expression.

Let me begin with an excerpt from Ron's blog. In it, he describes one experience he had on the rooftop finale of the No Mercy campaign.

"I stayed on the mini-gun to clear the horde that appeared to rain on our parade. As I laid into them, the other three survivors rushed to the chopper. I hopped off the mini-gun, grabbed the gas can, and high tailed it to the EZ. As Bill and Francis boarded the chopper Zoey got tackled from behind by a hunter. I tossed the gas can pulled up my shotgun and put that hooded freak back in the dirt. Zoey got up and ran to the chopper. No sooner than she got to the chopper I got bashed in the back by a giant piece of concrete. Another Tank had appeared and he was pissed... I was already low on health so that hate bomb he tossed knocked me to the ground. As I bled out the zombies surrounded me and gave me a prison style gang beatdown. I fired up into their faces, just trying to thin the herd so the thundering tank could finish me off... I was on the ground next to the ramp up to the EZ. On the ramp was the gas can I chucked to rescue Zoey. I took aim...made my peace... and screamed "GO, GET TO THE CHOPPEEEERRRR!", then fired through the crowd into the can. I really don't know what killed me, the fire or the burning Tank fist, but all I do know is it looked badass..."

At first, it seems like it's just a haphazard retelling of a generic zombie movie, but there are a few key points that truly stand out and highlight gaming as being more than just "cinema with a gimmick."

First off, the anecdote was told in the first person. No other form of art can present to the audience such a personal experience. Certainly, one could say, "I looked at that painting," or "I watched that film," or "I listened to that composition, and it made me feel X." But those are all passive verbs; the audience simply observes and comments (aloud or otherwise), whereas the player has active involvement in the events to unfold. From the excerpt, we have "I laid into [the zombies]," "I fired up into their faces," and "I don't really know what killed me," which are statements that no other form of entertainment could bring out.

This idea that interactivity is what sets games apart from cinema is nothing new. Destructoid's own Jim Sterling has made that point on several occasions, in writing and on Podtoid. However, another thing that sets Left 4 Dead apart can also be gleaned from Ron's retelling. That story he passed on was his, but more importantly, it was his alone.

Contrary to what Aaron Linde had to say on the matter on Podtoid, I don't think powerful narrative is the necessary element to bring games to the level of cinema. What that does, in fact, is exactly what games-as-art detractor Devin Faraci claims: it makes it so games are just cinema with little gamey gimmicks thrown in. No, I think that the story told above is so important for legitimizing games as a unique medium for artistic expression because although Ron's story could have been told through other media, and perhaps with better descriptions or more dramatic angles, there are millions of unique stories generated like this one, and they continue to generate, months after the game has released.

This is the single most defining aspect of gaming with respect to cinema, music, literature, or other forms of art. When an artist creates something using those latter forms of media, the end product is what it is. Two viewers can take in the same piece and get out of it something completely different from one another, but it is still an entirely static work once it is deemed complete by the artist. In procedurally generated or directed games, it is not until the player puts thumb to joystick that the piece becomes complete, and the story told will vary from player to player.

Left 4 Dead is the best example I could come up with for these ideas. I've never played the original Fallout, though I have been led to believe it is another good one. Are there others I've forgotten? Or more importantly, does interactivity and the ability to tell an infinite number of unique stories sufficiently differentiate games from other forms of media, and does it elevate them from purely entertainment to high art? How do you feel about it?



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21 comments | showing # 1 to 21

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Dexter345's Destructoid Blog
P.S. I found that brain picture by Googling "framed brain painting." It was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for.
eternalplayer2345's Destructoid Blog
Hooray! It's been awhile since I've read a cblog worth reading. You making one makes me want to forcefully snuggle you dex! But seriously, I always have thought the First person games have the best chance of making the most meaningful stories but it seems like the industry only want to but them in a first person shooter situation. When you think about it L4D has only four levels and playing through all three would take no more than four hours. Yet you could play it endlessly. Perhaps a way to bring out games more would be to have a storyline but the means by which you advance to the end is different. Not open-ended but open-journey. Point A to B with a million paths each a little different than the last and all unique. I don't know why I need three analogies but damn it I did!
blehman's Destructoid Blog
*claps*

Good show Dex.
lv99ron's Destructoid Blog
YAY I WAS MENTIONED. Now I feel like I'm worth something. Hugs for all.
The Young Scot's Destructoid Blog
Left 4 Bed = Art.

Nah but seriously, this was well written. Good work!
CelicaCrazed's Destructoid Blog
This was a great write up!! I think we have long ago reached the point where video games can be considered art. We can see it but it's hard to convince others when many of them thinking that video games are nothing but a waste of time that corrupts children. Those people will never admit to the game as art argument.
Y0j1mb0's Destructoid Blog
This was a FANTASTIC read Dex.

That said, can't we just enjoy our video games without trying to tie them to something artistic? Video games are video games not art. They are made to be played. Some may be interpreted as art but then again you have morons that think they see Jesus in a Pringles chip. If I want art I'll go check out the Mona Lisa, not boot up a video game.
The Prodigal Son's Destructoid Blog
I'm with you about games having the capability of art. Whether or not they are becomes an entirely different argument altogether (and an incredibly subjective one at that). I think that artistic merit can be applied to *almost* everything. Interior design can be art. Automotive engineering can be art. Cooking can be art (hence the nomenclature "culinary arts"). Hell, even how your poop comes out could be considered art.
Dexter345's Destructoid Blog
@Y0j1mb0: We certainly can. Some days I just want to sit down and play Geometry Wars or Peggle, not because I care to critically analyze them, but just because I want some mindless fun. That said, just because we can enjoy some video games on a simple level like that, doesn't mean we can't seek deeper meaning in other games, or for that matter, for the same games.
Arch649's Destructoid Blog
As much as I hate this argument, You do have some legitimately good points.
FinnE's Destructoid Blog
better points could be made about legitimizing gaming as a form of art that you don't make in your post. but I'm on your side, as I believe gaming can be a form of art. I am not sure I'd take left 4 dead as an example - I'd go with bioshock or mass effect.

the main argument that I would present as to why games can be art is that they function, narratively, the same way a book does. they allow for the player to identify with a character on screen or on the page, the same way the audience identifies with a movie character or a character from a book. the only difference is that the game allows for FURTHER identification in that the choices the character makes are the choices of the player. in a book, the reader goes along with what happens. the pace is predetermined by the author. the author decides what the character does. in video gaming, there is a shift to the player taking control - they are the ones who decide what happens and at which pace. that's the argument I'd run with to legitimize video gaming as art.
Gyrael's Destructoid Blog
Dexter345 says:
(# 8) on 05/26/2009 22:30
@Y0j1mb0: We certainly can. Some days I just want to sit down and play Geometry Wars or Peggle, not because I care to critically analyze them, but just because I want some mindless fun. That said, just because we can enjoy some video games on a simple level like that, doesn't mean we can't seek deeper meaning in other games, or for that matter, for the same games.

This is the truth about life.
Ballistic's Destructoid Blog
This was a very good read, Dexter. You made a good argument for the player's story being the key to declaring games as art. You know, I had a similar intense first person experience to Ron's when I took my first trip into the half-life universe, so I would absolutely add HL2 to the list of games where this can happen.
Gibbo's Destructoid Blog
Well done sir. I'd also agree with the poster above. I thought HL2 was a very personal journey, especially since you're on your own for most of that game.

Tomasz's Destructoid Blog
Good read Dexter, your blog gave me an idea for a blog of my own. Personal gaming-as-art argument: The scene at the end of HL2, Episode 2 where see Alex sobbing over the body of her dead father. Most emotional gaming moment ever, for me anyways.

@Finne: I disagree. "Choices of the player" is one of the gimmicky things certain developers try to pull when they want to make a game more "artistic". Saying that players choice make a game art is like saying a Choose Your Own Adventure book is more art than any literary masterpiece ever written. To me, a game becomes art when you can talk about and disect it, or share an gaming experience with someone in a personal way... pretty much what Dex was talking about.
Tascar's Destructoid Blog
Dexter345, this is an incredible post. I have always disagreed that narrative is a key element to games being art, largely because the one thing that I loved and found most compelling about video game has nothing at all to do with narrative or story in the traditional sense.

One thing I miss most from 2-D games was the fun of looking at the entire map in Nintendo Power or something and look and study at the complexity of how to create a compelling experience within that space. Mega Man stages come to mind. Most of the Mario games have the same quality. I remember having alot of fun analyzing the design and positioning of items in world 3 and 4 of Super Mario Land specifically. I have always felt that there was a level of art with that which is unfortunately passed over because people are only looking for narrative and narrative.
Zippyduda's Destructoid Blog
Very good article Dex.

PepperOfDoom and Nibbo summed it up perfectly for me :]

I think open worlds like Fallout and FF, RPG's and games like Flower add to this argument for different reasons.
Wexx's Destructoid Blog
Tomasz: While I agree that that scene is a very emotional, well made scene, it's not really a personal one. It's a scripted event that happens during the game no matter what, so everyone that plays the game experiences it.

Great read Dex, and you bring up a lot of good points. Games that try to tell a story through cutscenes and scripted events, while good, will never reach the narrative capacity of literature or film. The interactivity is what sets games apart from these mediums, — and arguably, makes the scene more powerful— and while the scripted scenes may be one of the best stories ever told, they aren't taking full advantage of the medium.
KyleGamgee's Destructoid Blog
I love it. Poetry, my friend.

FRONTPAGE!
HarassmentPanda's Destructoid Blog
Good read. I think the sort of dynamic narrative you explored is present in a lot of games and, many, long before L4D. I actually discussed a number of them in a law review article I recently wrote, which I will hopefully be able to share soon.

Most great art, particularly paintings, are created in such a way that their meaning can be individually interpreted by each viewer. Of course, the artist has one particular idea in mind, but great art remains timeless because it means something different to everyone. Games can do this too.


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 about me

I'm a recent Master's graduate from Caltech with a degree in Chemistry. I'm currently living in Pasadena, CA, with a degree I don't want to use, trying to break into the game industry. I've been reading Destructoid since June of 2006. I'm a huge Nintendo fanboy. I've got far too many posts on the forum.

I play all types of games except realistic sports games and real-time strategy games. The former because I think they're boring and the latter because I utterly suck at them.

Games I'm currently playing:
Crush (PSP)
Left 4 Dead (360)
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP)
Rock Band 2 (360)
Rock Band Unplugged (PSP)

Games that are on the back burner:
BioShock (360, need to go back and get the Achievements I missed)
Culdcept SAGA (360, the battles just take way too long)
Grand Theft Auto IV (360, it just didn't draw me in like the old games)
Ikaruga (XBLA, SO. HARD.)
Mario Kart Wii (Wii, I just never feel like playing its single player)
The Orange Box (360, just need two more Portal Achievements)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, need to complete with Luigi)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii, same issue as with Mario Kart)

Games I haven't even touched yet:
de Blob (Wii)
God of War (PS2)
MadWorld (Wii)
Metal Gear Solid 1-3 (PS1, PS2)
Okami (PS2)
Persona 3: FES (PS2)
Project Gotham Racing 4 (360)
Quantum of Solace (360)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)

Games I have finished 100% during this console generation:
Aegis Wing (XBLA)
Banjo-Kazooie (XBLA)
Bionic Commando: Rearmed (XBLA)
Bomberman Live (XBLA)
Call of Duty 4 (360)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (XBLA)
Halo 3 (360)
Fable II: Pub Games (XBLA)
NEVES (DS)
Omega Five (XBLA)
Pac-Man C.E. (XBLA)
Peggle (XBLA)
Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1 (XBLA)
Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2 (XBLA)
Picross DS (DS)
Professor Layton & the Curious Village (DS)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PSN)
Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (XBLA)
skate. (360)
Uno (XBLA)
Worms (XBLA)

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