Every year for the past three years a handful of game developers gather in Texas for Project Horseshoe, an invite only conference where the devs sit around discussing the biggest problems facing the industry and how to topple them like Boom Blox. This year the group took on the cause of how to make games art and came out with a Designer's Manifesto.
The manifesto isn't arguing that games aren't art yet, but that they aren't perceived as art yet and that lead designers aren't given the credit they deserve as artists. After noting the general issue the manifesto turns to the subject of how things become art, noting that painting wasn't considered a fine art until after about a century of PR relations which Michelangelo (the painter, not the Ninja Turtle) spearheaded. Thus the idea is that over time games could become seen as a fine art. However, we live in the "now," so the devs want to accelerate this whole thing.
They identify three major problems that have to be solved in order for game designers and games to get credit where credit is due and then give their own solutions to the problemS. It's far to long to reiterate all of it here, but, to summarize, the three major issues are the general public's perception of gaming, the leadership in gaming not being able to design creatively within the soul sucking confines of the modern gaming industry and, of course, the most ultimate evil of all, money. Their solutions for these problems range from insightful (broaden the middle circle of game criticism and writing) to obvious (mo' money, less problems).Their final big solution is for a new, major conference that is open to the public and shows off games as art, not as an industry like E3 does.
It's a solid read, if a bit long by internet standards. It's the weekend though, what else are you going to do? Play videogames?
Contest:
7:00 PM on 04.04.2009
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I suppose to me it does, but I certainly don't care to convince the wider world that such is the case.
The core of the problem is this; gamers aren't concerned about whether or not games are art to THEMSELVES. They already are. We find games to be, at their best, capable of granting emotional and aesthetic uplift to the same degree as film, literature, whatever accepted traditional medium you might choose as an example. Problems arise when gamers are desperate to have those not yet "among us" appreciate games as art, when we become upset because, say, Roger Ebert declares that they are not. I say, "who cares?" If folks want to open themselves up to the possibilty of a potentially enriching experience, great. If not, well, why should I make proselytizing my business?
Who doesn't perceive video game as a legitimate medium for art? I doubt anybody will tell you a video game is NOT a medium for art. Perhaps it's the word "game" in the phrase "video game" that makes people question the suitability or seriousness of making art in video games.
Also what's the problem with video game designers making money? Who here wants to be a "starving artist?"
Also trying to expresss yourself to make art is kind of hard in video games, because well, video games by definition and technology are limited by the rules and hardware.
One thing that REALLY confuses me is that why do these people make it seem like it's difficult doing art in video games. What's stopping them from programming their art games, in pure tranquil happiness? Did a publisher refuse to publish their games? What?
I will point out incorrect use of the word 'to.'
"It's far to long..."
If it has any purpose other than just being 'art', unfortunately it is not 'art'.
If it has any purpose other than just being 'art', unfortunately it is not 'art'.[/i]
Fuck off.
If it has any purpose other than just being 'art', unfortunately it is not 'art'.
Fuck off.
A significant amount of designers I've worked with so far have been self important pretentious douchebags. It is already a situation where the designer position is much like that of the singer in a rock band, a position that attracts all the assholes, we really shouldn't create an environment that feeds into that even more.
We have character artists, environment artists, concept artists, even animation is an art in itself. Designer on the other hand, which usually boils down to some ass who sits there and says "it's like Gears of War mixed with Devil May Cry!!!" and proceeds to slowly kill the team with pointless feature creep, is not a fucking artist. >_>
But, instead you tell me to 'fuck off' and that i am blatantly ignorant. If you guys are just as aggressive when you reply to people in real life, you seriously need to work on your social skills.
art
noun
the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Maybe this can promote some constructive discussion
...or the fool replying to said quote on the internets.
How about..
"producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power."
^The last line of a Dictionary quote.
This would suggest to me that most games are not art. Because, they are not created "primarily for their beauty or emotional power."
*cough* [only to serve the purpose of being art]
Games are created for us to play, race, fight, shoot etc..
They are also created to make money.. Most games, not all, most games are not very well made either and how many famous artistic pieces do you see that are just generic clones [Andy Warhol?]
There are some artistic games out there.. Flower, SotC [maybe] But, if anything I would consider demoscene to be more artistic than games themselves.
I also agree a great deal with Fury-Genesis.
"We have character artists, environment artists, concept artists, even animation is an art in itself."
I am a motion graphics designer/producer and have worked with coders on various occasions. None of the coders I have worked with have been artists. They are very good mathematicians, but, not artists.
Your very welcome to make your own opinion, as i have made mine. But, lets try and keep to the point.
I've just had a quick look at the article, it's pretty long but I'm determined to get through it before nightfall.