Are video games a form of art? What do you think? Are they just a mindless tool to entertain kids and adults or just as valid as music, paintings, and movies? I have seen this topic talked about but never on Vizzed. I want to know how you guys feel about the subject.

I feel that video games are very much art. Everything about them just screams art, everything from the drawings and designs on the cart and box of the game to the game its self. Video games is like all art combined into one tiny little cart. You have beautiful characters like a painting and music that is good enough to listen to without playing the game (in some cases). I just can't see how a person could think there is no art behind video games, if you think its not art please let me know why you think that.

Definitely, yes. They say literature is art? Video game storylines. They say drawings are art? Graphics, they put a lot of time making graphics in games these days. They say music is art? Video game soundtracks. They say programming is art? Well... Actually, no one says that but me. Still, I'd consider programming half-art.

I agree, video games are very much an art form in my opinion. Even if you took out the visuals of the game you'd be still be left with a text adventure. A game form that relies heavily, solely might be a better word, on the art of story telling. Everything about video games from the models and box to the story itself was crafted by an artist of one sort or another. One of the games I own (Okami) I only looked into at first because of the art style. The game looks like a moving watercolour so I was instantly intrigued. To say games are not at least some form of art is untrue. Some people call playing chess an art, so why would video games be no different? All of them in some way or another require the player to ask him/herself "what to do" at one point or another, whether it applies beating a particularly annoying boss or organizing ones troops in a military game. Chess asks that same question of "what to do." Without art video games would not be what they are. The dragon would not swoop down out of the sky spitting flames from it's wide and gnarled maw, instead it would remain in the creators mind never to be seen by others. We would not know an Italian plumber could beat up a giant tortoise, or in some cases a giant ape. We would not know that a little boy could save a world with nothing but a sword, shield, and boomerang. Art is in everything, including video games.

Yeah, Video Games do have art into them, without art, then they wouldn't be video games, like when the first games created, it was mostly based on a 1D drawing spites, and then it revolutionized into a 2D figures and then into 3D figures and now, we're going into an HD universe, so art and design in video games is always changing.

So art is like the backbone of video games.

Art is nothing more than a product of creativity, so I agree that video games are works of art.

I would argue that designers are supposed to treat them as Art. If they don't, the game usually sucks.

yah i would look at them as art some of the scenes that i look at are really beautiful

Some games yes, some games no.  Anyone who tells me Angry Birds is art deserves a punch in the face.  Anyone who tells me Myst, Final Fantasy VI, or Shadow of the Collosus are art has something to argue.  The games that tell stories, that have beautiful scenery and music and tales are works of art without a doubt.  Visual and audio effects make masterpieces in some games and they can be an art form.

Fruit ninja, or whatever the heck that is, is not art.

I can draw a pokemon and a Mario and I am no artist.  A bunch of circles and a random lightning bolt.  Easy.  Non art definitely.
Metal Gear series, Final Fantasy and any Blizzard game cut scene is pure art.
As for in-game "art" I would say ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, Uncharted series, Gears of War, Crysis (lots of digital art??)

I am pretty tired so I will give a pretty standard answer.
Art is commonly defined as "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination", games require a great deal of creativeness in order to think of story lines and game mechanics, you also have the scenery and character designs which are quite frankly beautiful and almost real in some instances. A third, and often underrated area of games which could be considered art is the voice acting, it is growing more and more common but voice actors actually put in a fair bit of work into their jobs which give the games a personal feel.

I personally believe that all games are art, are all of them good? Absolutely not, but art? Arguably. Even something like Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 has something, a huge team of designers got together and started trying to make the best game they can that fit a certain bill, it's got scenery, voice acting, music, and even a complex character attack system, this is just one little example though, something like Chrono Trigger or Chrono Cross or Final Fantasy IV or VI would most likely put it to complete shame, but it's still a piece of art, even if not one of the best around it's still something a group of people got together and started working on, using their creative abilities to truly make.

I'm going to use a better example here, BlazBlue: Continuum shift. Don't get me wrong, I am a total fan boy for this game, but honestly, it's got a world with depth, characters with true personalities that change over time and develop, it's got amazing art work, a great story, an interesting world, personally I believe it has some great music and even voice acting, maybe not when it's all together will it be easy to see as art, but I would bet that you asked anyone who made one of these things, they would say it's a form of art, art is creativity, and this is honestly creative.

I'm going to use one more example, my five year old brothers favorite movie (I know, it's a movie not a game, but relevant.) Ponyo, by studio Ghibli. Now Studio Ghibli to any of you who do not know is a famous and renown studio (Obviously.) from Japan which is famous for making amazing movies from Spirited away to Castle in the sky to Princess Mononoke to My Neighbor Totoro. Each of these movies are amazing, the stunning and beautiful hand drawn animation to the outstanding musical pieces that fuel the rest of the art, the way the art builds off itself is amazing truly. I compel you to watch a Studio Ghibli movie, if I had to choose I would go with Ponyo. Might not be what any of you are used to but I doubt many could watch that movie and not call it a work of art.

The art work, the animation, the voice acting, the music, the story all of it, ask any of the people at Studio Glibli, I assure you they would say what they do is create art.

That being said some games are honestly just made for profit, probably more than I care to admit, but that doesn't mean in a way they aren't art. Just not very good pieces if you ask me. But it can't really be said either way whether it is or not, because it's truly a matter of opinion.

Side note: You're on a gaming site, you're going to have a rather biased group of answers here, just saying.

I do believe that all games are art. See,the game's content doesn't matter, every game can be seen or interpreted as art. Take Manhunt. At first glance, it's about this psychopath who kills lots of people in really gruesome ways. Take a closer look, however, and you'll see that there are a lot of hidden messages, and no shortage of grittiness, which paints a realistic picture of a Rust Belt city. There are, of course, more profound works of video game art, like Super Mario Galaxy. I don't think I need to go into detail with that game.

I think it depends on game and the developers.
For it to be art the developers must think and design the user experience. Just making a simple fps or sidescroller will only make the player have simple fun.
From the storyline to a certain object, everything must have a reason to be there.

GenesisJunkie : Heck yeah they are. Do you know how long it takes to make video games? people who say otherwise need to rethink that

imamonster : The people who think its not seem to have a simple minded view of art and wont try to think other wise. I know I have my ways and views of stuff but I can still call things I don't like art (excluding a few things). They need a lesson in open mindedness but then again I really don't care what they think so just let them think its not, it don't hurt me, it hurts them.

GenesisJunkie : Yeah you're right they are have a very simple view very simple.

Obviously yes I do believe that making video games can be an art. I would be really surprised if somebody on this forum answers otherwise really as I think most people believe the same thing.

Zlinqx : I am sure there are at least one person here who thinks its not art. They may just not want to post, they might be worrying what others will say.

If you don't think video games are art, please post. I would love to see why you think that. I (and no one else) will bash you opinions.

thelastrequim : There are video games on display in an art museum??? You are pulling my leg. I never knew that. Where did you get this information from or did you see it in person? I would really love to see this for myself.