One of my favourite gaming magazines,
Play, has published my letter which I have sent to them a few months back, as Letter of the Month!
I had seen, in another gaming magazine, a quote said by Roger Ebert (Film critic.) who was basically bashing video games and stating that they were, to put it simply, a waste of time in our society.
I was so angered by this, that I had felt the need to do something. Instead of sending him an e-mail which he would most likely not even read, I then decided to take my chances with one of the most thought provoking and considering gaming magazines on the market.
This here is the official site for this magazine;
http://www.playmagazine.com/
However, since there is no way to read my letter unless one actually purchases the magazine, (September, 2007) I have included it here, if anyone is interested.
I believe the nature of the video game medium prevents it from moving beyond craftsmanship to the stature of art...Video games represent a loss of those precious hours we have available to make ourselves more cultured, civilized, and empethetic.
This, said by movie critic, Roger Ebert.
It is hard indeed to convince someone who does not play video games that the latter cannot be art.
I'll not even list such obvious examples as Shadow of the Colossus or Okami, as gamers themselves can see past what passes off as stereotypical art.
Now do not get me wrong, those games are wonderful in themselves, but the point is, many, many other video games present an artistic element, which may not be as subtle as those previously mentioned, but which are undeniable once recognized.
Anyone ever played through Silent Hill, for example? Everything about it is art, from the imagery, the creation of lucid atmosphere, to the gameplay and its key elements.
Many video games realize a form of art or another, and not just with their pretty graphics or melodic scores, (Which are still more then valid, in my opinion.) but with their gameplay mechanics, the setting of atmosphere or the ability to draw in a player with its story. Who will not agree that the plots in games like Metal Gear solid or Final Fantasy are not so well worked upon, that the games themselves are often recognized for such a strong point?
The Castlevania series accomplishes a stature of art not merely for its very unique traits, its assortment of mythological references or the ability to portray the vampire mythos much like one would read about in a Sheridan Le Fanu tale, or again, Bram Stoker's famous Dracula (Duh.), but comically enough, for its cavalcade of success and failures the series has seen in its career.
It sounds stupid, but many will indeed say that art is spontaneous and the creator does not create something, but simply digs it up somewhere.
Van Gogh slit his damned ear off, and now look at him. The comically drawn chain of events which led him to become famous can almost be regarded in the same way for many video game series, and I am sure that such trite claims as I have quoted above pretty much only refer to fruit basket and flower vase contemporary art.
Urban Champion does for video gaming what Mortician did for the metal scene, ha ha.
Speaking of old games, I am not merely talking about recent and current generations, oh no. I do believe that older games, such as all the classics we have grown up with like Super Mario Bros or Street Fighter have greatly helped to pave the way to an artistic form of entertainment. Why did people get hooked playing R-Type? Because of the unique gameplay.
I must stress once more, the way certain gameplay is presented and flows, the execution of such, in my opinion, is art in itself.
Someone may string up dead rabbits on metal wires in various patterns; will people enjoy it? Not likely, but it is still art.
Ok, fine. perhaps art is a hard thing to define...as we are all stuck with out opinions, as no absolute answer exists. Some say it is a manifestation of one's emotions, others say it is the ability to, simply, create.
So, if that cannot pass as a legitimate statement, allow me to elaborate upon the following; culture?
Videogames do not aspire to cultural enlightenment?
Final Fantasy Tactics had such an interesting plot, that I was fascinated and had decided to look into religious history, for nothing but mine own INTEREST.
If I did not play any Final Fantasy games, I would not have been inspired to research Norse mythology, if I did not play Shadow Hearts, I would not have discovered anything about who Roger Bacon or Grigori Rasputin were.
Many games are an abundant source of all sorts of references to life, mankind's history and mythology, and I find this amazing and entertaining.
I do not know if it can truly culture someone with its sole presentation, but I know that films cannot do any better.
And while I am on the subject...civility?! What in Imothep's rusty scythe does he mean by THAT?
I know that everyone wants to believe that nobody would ever be going postal if it were not for video games, however I highly doubt one cannot look at violent films as well, if not even more, when making such an ignorant statement.
If anything, video games help to relieve my stress and my anger in a healthy way, which might prevent me from going in some shopping mall and doing it in a very less then healthy way.
Phooey.
I do believe that films and literature are great ways to become more diverse and cultured; but I do not agree that video games should be excluded. Did Gladiator really teach anyone anything about Roman history? If you were interested in such because of the movie, you had to go and read a book or check out a site on the net to learn more, and video games are equal in this matter. That is, without counting the almost ''myth'' this medium might be recognized with for its methods of execution such as gameplay, interactivity, plot and atmosphere, or the sprinkling of mythology and references to other events, real or not.
If people were willing to look past the gore, the redundant idea that video games are ''repetitive'' and offer no original concept, or give children bad influences, they might actually not go through life believing that the Necronomicon is actually locked up somewhere in the Vatican.
Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your time.
Gisèle Chicoine
I have always wanted to try and contribute to the gaming industry, in some way, by trying to get all those biased and closed minded souls to understand and accept video games as a legitimate and intelligent form of entertainment, and this may be a small start?
I did not even revise my letter after making it; and many of its points are thrown around and follow no real order. However, what I truly wished to do was get the several points across which were attacked in the quote, and even though the letter's construction is rather, hem, shoddy, to say the least, I believe that they must not have printed it for nothing.
So this means that I am not the only one who thinks that video games deserve more respect and a closer look.
And thousands of people are going to be reading my letter!
Play is considered as the one gaming magazine which, among gaming fans, has acquired ''high brow status'', so there is another reason for me to brag!
)
Ok, perhaps not, but none the less, this made me very happy this afternoon when I purchased the new issue and found my letter inside.
Does anyone even care? Most likely not, but for me, it is a small step in trying to get my point across to all those hard heads.