The apologetics of video games

Posted by Mathew Braun on Dec 10, 2011 in Arts & Culture | 0 comments

On Tuesday, November 15th, 2011, six high-profile video game titles were released in stores. Every fall, the market is inundated with a multitude of quality games for gamers of all stripes to engage with. The gaming industry is bigger than ever and yet there is still this stigma attached to the notion of a video game and its place alongside other forms of popular media.

I once mentioned to a friend that I wanted to write an article on video games for the Arts & Culture section of Mars’ Hill. They replied, “Why? Video games aren’t art or culture.” This stance absolutely baffled me. I suppose I could see how someone could experience a disconnect between video games and art, but culture? They may not be “high culture,” but video games are most certainly a part of our culture; a large part.

The video game industry is currently bigger than the film industry, making an estimated $65 billion a year. By comparison, in 2010, the American film industry made approximately $10.5 billion. You know those Harry Potter and Twilight films? Video games are bigger. Way bigger. The Activision published Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released on November 9th, and in the first 24 hours of its release, it sold approximately 6.5 million copies, earning an estimated gross of $400 million. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, a Hollywood record breaker, made $80 million in its first day of release. The game industry is a juggernaut. Why then do video games not garner the same respect as other entertainment mediums?

Is it because they’re still referred to as video games, and thus are seen as being primarily for children? Surely we’ve moved away from that outdated approach. Is it because of their interactive nature? You may be expecting me to provide an answer here, but I’m genuinely baffled. Video games, as they are being produced today, have production values as high as blockbuster films. They’re filled with fantastic stories, thoughtful themes, captivating characters, beautiful artwork, and soaring soundtracks. Engaging voice actors use motion capture technology to deliver cleverly written dialogue. Brilliant game design provides players with challenges and that require critical thinking and puzzle-solving abilities.

So what is it about video games that hold people back from giving them respect? How is it different than film, or any other entertainment medium? Is it the interactive element? Some believe that due to this interactive element, the creators of a video game are unable to include a message or intention, in the same way an artist or a filmmaker might. I disagree. I think that it’s exactly this interactive element that allows designers to affect the player in ways that a film or a television show cannot.

Novels allow readers to use their imagination to interact with the material. Games, on the other hand, actually give the player the opportunity to influence the world and the events going on around them. This wasn’t always the case, but more and more, immersive worlds are being created in which the player can actually craft their own story or influence the outcome of a story that has been crafted around the concept of an interactive experience. Games allow players to inhabit a world in a way that no other medium can.

Take the Legend of Zelda series. Considered by many to be the greatest game franchise of all time, The Legend of Zelda series combines many of the best aspects of the gaming medium. The series, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, focuses on the adventures of Link and his various quests to vanquish evil from the land of Hyrule and, more often than not, save Princess Zelda.

Each game in the series has players embarking on an epic journey through a fantasy world filled with unique creatures, memorable characters, and cleverly designed dungeons. Players use a variety of items, such as the classic boomerang, to fight their way to the end of the dungeon, where they’ll engage in a stunning boss battle. This series, while sometimes a tad formulaic, still retains this unexplainable charm. Whether your navigating the overworld of Ocarina of Time on your trusty steed Epona, investing in the day-to-day lives of the citizens of Clock Town in Majora’s Mask, or exploring the vast ocean in Wind Waker, it’s hard not to get swept up in the world of Zelda. Ask anyone who has played a game in the series about their experience and a smile is sure to appear. While it’s not as “grown-up” as something like Halo or Call of Duty, the Zelda series has this magic to it that most games could only hope to replicate.

The 15th game in the Zelda series, Skyward Sword, was released this past Sunday (November 20th), and I can’t wait to once again immerse myself in Link’s magical world. Why not try out the stunning experience for yourself and see if you’re opinion on games doesn’t change. They may not be considered “high art,” but they are most certainly deserving of your respect as a legitimate art form and entertainment medium.

Andrew Stewart