What Video Games Can Do as an Artform | The Language of Games, and Why Video Games are Art

[@RaycerkGamer]

"In movies, the expression is show don't tell. But in games, is do, don't show." This my man, is something that every game developer needs to understand, because many don't even see it. This video is amazing, good games are art, a work that coveys an specific experience. It's a shame that are still greedy companies that only see them as cash grabs, or toys.

[@ReubMann]

I think the problem is that developers who have those ideas in line with that principal are not at the forefront of teams nor are those works always rewarded

[@thewindthatblows]

@@ReubMann Yes, because most gamers prefer them as sports playing for the sake of playing and be fairly challenged in their skills and logic rather than to be emotionally challenged by the puzzles ala Florence

[@hijodelsoldeoriente]

This channel is one of the most underrated and important channels I've ever seen in this platform! Thank you!

[@gameoverture]

Great video! One thing I hope to see more of as the medium evolves are how developers can use mechanics as storytelling devices, I feel like some games already do that to some extent, but a lot of developers seem afraid to portray negative emotions through play, because games are supposed to be “fun”. Environmental storytelling and branching narratives are the bread and butter of gaming narratives, but I think mechanics that simbolize how characters feel are vastly more interesting and a lot less common unfortunately

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks! Great Points, and I think what game critics and analysts can do to further the conversation is to point out when games actually use mechanics and environmental storytelling to convey their themes. What I would also love to see happen is the building of a library of different meaningful mechanics, something that's pretty lacking in the literature, but for that to happen, we are going to need a more general theory for how games work.

[@danielgranjaconejeros6355]

This sounds like what The Last of Us 2 tried to do,. Not trough a new mechanic though, but they surely tried to ''portray negative emotions through play".

[@Orange_Swirl]

Pathologic 2: "I got you fam."

[@link6616]

Such a great video so early on in your channel. I am super excited to see where you go!

[@indieprogress7170]

Great video. I learned a lot. Games take a lot of work to create, but they deliver so much more! Thanks!

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks for the kind words Indie Progress!

[@reallycool]

Interesting look at interactivity. We see a lot more collaborative works in VR--through "experiences"--though that has arguably harmed the medium for the short term.

[@niespeludo]

Fantastically edited, well thought out and researched video essay.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you!

[@davidb4020]

Your channel definitively should have more subscribers. I also never thought I'd see Mircea Eliade in a video game analysis video. This is the best description of video games I've seen, notably because of the big emphasis on game mechanics as meaning-generators.

[@dylankim6477]

This is a really great video. A lot of great content to think about. I really appreciate the work you have obviously put into this.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you for the kind words !

[@MrWilbert7]

Fantastic video! Keep it up! Great channel, I love your work!

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@DracoEvolve]

Great channel and a very unique video bud! deserves more views

[@2712541]

I just found your channel and you produce some amazing videos man! I cant belive you have under 1000 subs.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks! Hopefully we can grow it together!

[@2712541]

@@thegameoveranalyser4835 did you try posting your videos on reddit? This will boost the views for sure.

[@X-mordred-X]

Howdy! Excellent video and content. Which game is the one on 15:20? Thanks

[@MrAlterEcho]

Can someone list all the books he referenced ?

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Raph Koster -A Theory of Fun Jesper Juul -The Art of Failure Jane Mcgonigall -Reality is Broken Ian Bogost- Persuasive games James Gee - What Video Games teach us about Learning and Literacy Joseph Campbell - The Hero with a thousand Faces Hope that Helps!

[@killergamerz8901]

You are doing a great work keep it going i love your videos

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank You for supporting the channel!

[@chexe1677]

great video.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks!

[@RemmyLebo]

I Dig it! Team Alpha Gaming Approves :)

[@Zerotan]

one medium, many media

[@freelanceart1019]

But verbs are scientific technical mechanics, these stuff are not games do at it's core. Videogames are unique as they challenge the players' resolve while adding in objectives to enhance a sense of mastery for the player.

[@Mocherad]

nice vide man, but TOO LONG!

[@nc956]

For some reason I never understood the love skyrim gets. It's always on everybodies mouth when talking about games. Is it really so much better than let's say - Oblivion or Morrowind ? IMO it's not. Out of those 3 Skyrim was the least interesting for me as it basically mirrors Oblivion but never mechanically improves the formula enough for me to see meaningful difference... And narratively ? I much preferred the otherworldly and dream-like Oblivion to Skyrim.

[@rodchang9141]

This seemed like a long winded attempt to declare that video games is art. Your statements such as: "Play and art share a common lineage" and "Roger Federer is an artist" fall flat and does not make a strong case for connecting video game and art. You also say that "Interactivity is not exclusive to games... interactivity is an implicit part of theater, books and comics". No, interactivity is a unique trait of video games, something that theater, books and comics can only scratch the surface as a visual/audio interactive medium only. Again, you are trying to connect classical art mediums with video games but again fail to make a strong case for it. I strongly believe that many of the best video games have artistic elements, but not all video game can be considered art. Interactivity and fun are core values of a "game", but interactivity and fun in and by itself is not art. The visuals, characters and narrative can make it an art form, but gameplay, fun and interactivity are what make it a "game".

[@seanrodrigues8184]

Interactivity in and of itself is not art, but how interactivity is used within video games pushes artistic expression.