Are video games art?

[j2graves]

It seems that one question that tends to float around these days is;
"Are video games art?"
Interesting question, isn't it? We game developers, who work long and hard on games, might be quick to say "Yes, they are!". But one cannot say something is art unless they first define art, and that thing fits into that definition. I'm curious on people's opinions on this. Do you think video games are art? Why or why not? What do you consider to be art, and why?

[MrJolteon]

I'd say both yes and no, because some games are art, and some are not.

[Jagmaster]

Graphics/spriting/animating=ART, Music/sound design/vocals and story development = ART Coding = ART!!!

This is why I love game development, it encompasses all the art forms I know of, and melts it into a single respectable art form in itself

Game programming is an art. RESPECT IT!

[Game A Gogo]

Art is something that is suppose to bring out emotions in you.

Games are certainly arts. Not only that, but it's various media all put into one.

Images is art. Musics is art. Story is art. Animated images is also art (Look at movies).

How can games not be art if they are solely composed of art works?

On top of that, you can even choose what happens. So it's like all those art pieces multiplied by infinite of possibilities!

Really, if games are not art works, I'd trow my on-coming career away.

EDIT: I see jagmaster beat me to it

[Jagmaster]

EDIT: I see jagmaster beat me to it

after typing that it sounded like something you would say, so I decided to quote your signature.

The game industry is always expanding. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future like 50 years from now instead of say, going to a theater to see a movie, people will go to a theater to play games. Imagine, a movie you can actually be a part of! Being able to stand in the middle of a fictional environment and live a story side-by side with the characters themselves! As virtual reality increases, people will hire actors to play roles in virtual "movies" instead of regular ones so to speak. They are already doing it on a small level. Every gadget that comes out nowadays is just a step closer to this state of game art! It's just a matter of time until all the element come together. In a way, game development may be the future of art itself.

[DST]

The word 'art' gets thrown around a lot these days. Art is like Sanity. We can be pretty sure in the more extreme situations that someone isn't sane, but there isn't a sanity measure for everyone.
Almost anything can be art from a certain point of view, but not everyone shares that point of view.

But don't forget about Illustration. In most circles, that is not considered the same as art. Do a google search for 'art vs. illustration' and you'll find plenty of discussions there. I think that's the debate when it comes to video games.

[ikarus]

I believe just about anything can be art. And especially games! Down to it, art by it's definition is a way of communicating through unconventional means utilizing some kind of skill. So by that definition I'd say 100% games are art, is at a high skill level, so is programming.