http://blog.gamer20.com/2009/01/games-are-not-art-even-game-designers-think-so/ Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:49:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://blog.gamer20.com/2009/01/games-are-not-art-even-game-designers-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Daniel Phillips Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:57:07 +0000 http://blog.gamer20.com/?p=1633#comment-555 The problem (aside from you refuting my entire article) is that games are an INTERACTIVE medium--films are voyeuristic, observational relics or accounts or moving narratives. Games, largely, depend on us to unfold, and so, if they do not engage us--it's not a matter of fun, but of true attachment to something within it, an engagement with its very playing and interaction--we feel we are being cheated out of the experience promised. Films can be long and grueling and longwinded and full of true emotion because all that is asked of is about two hours and our attention. Games last much longer, and ask us to do much more--to pay attention, most of the time, every second. And so, if they are not engaging, not fun, as Mr. Huynh says, we lose interest quickly. While I love both, and certainly think games could transcend to art, films and videogames are not the same. The one linking element is that they are largely visual and aural and most people want them to be entertaining. The problem (aside from you refuting my entire article) is that games are an INTERACTIVE medium–films are voyeuristic, observational relics or accounts or moving narratives. Games, largely, depend on us to unfold, and so, if they do not engage us–it's not a matter of fun, but of true attachment to something within it, an engagement with its very playing and interaction–we feel we are being cheated out of the experience promised. Films can be long and grueling and longwinded and full of true emotion because all that is asked of is about two hours and our attention. Games last much longer, and ask us to do much more–to pay attention, most of the time, every second. And so, if they are not engaging, not fun, as Mr. Huynh says, we lose interest quickly. While I love both, and certainly think games could transcend to art, films and videogames are not the same. The one linking element is that they are largely visual and aural and most people want them to be entertaining.

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