It’s a tired debate, and one which has been had many times in gaming forums around the world, including our very own. Upon closer inspection I decided last year that I don’t care, and that whether games subscribe to a predefined set of requirements needed to be called art has no impact on how much I enjoy them.
But people do care, and for that reason I am pleased to see that the US government has officially recognised video games as an art form.
The USA’s National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has updated its definition of “art” to include all forms of media, including games and content made for the internet and mobile platforms. Before the update, the only media forms that were officially sanctioned as art were those made for television and radio.
Now some of you (and me, a little) may still think it doesn’t matter. However, with games officially being considered art, they now qualify to apply for federal government funding in the USA.
“Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk & traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art.”
“Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); media created for theatrical release; performance programs; artistic segments for use within an existing series; multi-part webisodes; installations; and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more.”
A single project may be granted between US$10,000 and US$200,000 to aid development, and applications for those looking for such funding are now open in the US.
Shadow of the Colosus is considered by many to be the perfect example of a game which is art
Of course, our own system is completely different, so don’t expect the SA government to start handing out buckets of cash any time soon. However, given that the US is a leading western power, it does set an interesting precedent, and it may even have an interesting effect on the US indie scene.
On a related note, the Smithsonian American Art Museum conducted a recent poll to determine which games it would exhibit in its upcoming “The Art of Video Games” display, and the following were selected:
• Pac-Man
• Pitfall!
• Space Invaders
• Combat
• Donkey Kong
• Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
• Zaxxon
• Star Trek: Strategic Operation Simulator
• TRON: Maze-Atron
• Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
• Star Strike
• Utopia
• Jumpman
• The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate
• Attack of the Mutant Camels
• Sid Meier’s Pirates!
• Super Mario Brothers 3
• The Legend of Zelda
• 1943: The Battle of Midway
• Desert Commander
• Marble Madness
• Phantasy Star
• After Burner
• Spy vs. Spy
• Earthworm Jim
• Phantasy Star IV
• Gunstar Heroes
• Dune II: Battle of Arrakis
• Super Mario World
• The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
• Star Fox
• SimCity
• DOOM II
• Fallout
• Diablo II
• StarCraft
• Super Mario 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Goldeneye 007
• Worms Armageddon
• Sonic Adventure
• Shenmue
• Rez
• ChuChu Rockets!
• Tomb Raider
• Panzer Dragon Saga
• Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
• SimCity 2000
• Metal Gear Solid
• Final Fantasy VII
• Einhander
• Final Fantasy Tactics
• Halo 2
• Fable
• Panzer Dragoon Orta
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
• Bioshock
• Mass Effect 2
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
• Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II
• Portal
• Fallout 3
• flOw
• Minecraft
• Metroid Prime 2: Echos
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• Star Fox: Assault
• Pikmin 2
• Super Mario Galaxy 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Boom Blox
• Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure
• Shadow of the Colossus
• Okami
• Gradius V
• Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• Heavy Rain
• Flower
• Brutal Legend
Now, I’m not saying I care, but if games are to be considered art, then what sort of exhibition is complete without Braid? And seriously, 1943: Battle for Midway, really? Really?
What would you like to see added or removed from the list? Let us know in the forums
Braid
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