Essay on Video Games

I believe that videogames are in fact a form of art. Like many other forms of art, they are for recreation. They embrace complex stories and try to get an emotional reaction from the player to create a unique, interesting, and emotional experience. Not all videogames succeed at this, just as not all movies or all paintings succeed.
One of the main arguments against videogames is that they do not require skill. Many people believe that for something to be an art it must require a talent or skill that can be perfected and improved upon. When talking about whether or not videogames require skill people generally look at the gamer, the person using the videogame. While playing videogames may or may not require skill, it does not mean they are not art. It is a mistake to look for skill in the gamer, as it would be like looking for the skill in one who is watching a movie, not in the actors or directors. A similar argument could be made against paintings, does it require skill to observe a painting and find it pleasing to the eye? The skill in art is found not in the one using or enjoying it, but in the one's producing it. Just as it takes skill to paint, it takes skill to create a videogame.
Videogames are a collaborative effort between many people of varying skills, everything in the videogame was conceived, designed, perfected, and added into the game. They have concept artists, graphics designers, directors, all working together to make certain the story, visuals, music, and atmosphere come together to create an impressive game. Videogames use sound, visuals, and storytelling to convey emotions unto the player.
All the visuals in a game are deliberate, planned, and have a purpose. From the smallest detail to the grandest building the features of the game are designed to be pleasing to the eye. For example, when creating an in game building, architecture is taken into account to make sure the building looks well designed. Even if they sometimes fail at this, they