Re: Are games art? A popular debate that I've recently revisited
DID SOMEONE JUST SHIT ON MAH HALO?
Nah they said it's not art. The sandwich I'm eating isn't art either, and if that makes it shit then I'm very worried.
Thinking about it at the moment, it's definitely harder to pick out mainstream games as being overall artistic. Though as we've all said they can have their moments. Except for the details of "what is art", which is an entirely different matter, I think the question here is actually very simple, and has been answered here several times now. We all seem to agree on that part. I'm more interested in seeing what games or parts of games people here would consider artistic, in whatever deinition of art you choose to use. A unique style or visuals, something revolutionary or inspiring, or that moves you.
I suppose I can pick out the
Homeworld series as one which comes to mind. Both do it, though I'm talking about Homeworld 1 a little more. For a game that virtually never lets you see any "characters" directly, I really found myself connecting with the plight of the fleet of exiles you were tasked with leading home safely. When the Taidan are destroying the cryo trays (full of thousands of your people promised a new life), I wasn't saving them for the resource bonus, it was the implied helpless civilians inside getting pummelled with rail gun rounds that I was trying to save. The whole concept of the story, the visuals and carefully picked audio to go with it all added up. While it certainly looks heavily dated by today's standards, the graphics then were the best view of sci-fi space anyone had seen. For something as presumably featureless as space Relic really gave you something to look at. When your fleet is getting brutally assaulted and your losing ships left and right to the sound of the game's choral version of Adagio for Strings, you really worry about each individual ship your losing. Unlike the measly technical and legal pamphlets that come with games today, the original Homeworld manual was a full sized inch thick
book. It didn't say manual on the front, it was titled as a "Technical & Historical Briefing". The entire first half was pure story and history of the game world, giving bios on each of the historical clans (which weren't even mentioned in the game), detailing their conflict and eventual uniting upon the discovery of their origins. It explained the progress of their work on the mothership project and the technology used. In something similar to a typical hints and tips section, the manual instead featured an argument between two admirals on the strategic use of strike craft and capital ships in battle. They seriously don't make em like they used to.
Old tribute vid I found long ago...
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End cut scene of the first game...
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This is actually the game that made me love Adagio for Strings. Every time I hear it now I recall the epic and tragic struggle as they push their way though a harsh and brutal galaxy to find their homeworld. I wanted to post the credits video with it's music too, but it seems youtubes WMG nazi squad have silenced it.