David Jaffe of Eat Sleep Play is not one to hide his opinion behind subtlety. In a recent post on his personal blog, Jaffe lashes out at gamers and game journalists who praise “art” games.
“Just because there's wind blowing and a minimal soundtrack and vast open spaces to explore and a slow pace doesn't mean that the game you are playing is art. And just because a game's story and presentation contains elements you've see in the 'big boy movies' doesn't make a game adult or mean the medium is maturing,” he writes. “These are all surface elements that-while challenging as anything else in games to produce well- do not speak to the maturation of the medium one iota.”
Jaffe feels that we do the industry a disservice to say that games are artistic when some games really only pay lip service to artistic elements of other mediums. He explains that real art should not have to explain itself to really affect a viewer.
“There seems to be the need/desire amongst some gamers, some game makers, and a number of games journalists to shout from the rooftops that games 'have arrived'. But for those of us who simply don't think that that is anywhere near the case, it's troubling because it sends a false message that actually hurts the very progress that is needed to CREATE AND NURTURE the more nutritious gaming diet we so crave (assuming this sort of diet is even possible with games/interactivity),” he writes.
“Just because your game's surface elements shout from the rooftops that 'this is important and artistic and meaningful' doesn't make it so. And in fact, the more a game- or anything for that matter- rambles on and on telling you how special it is, the more reason we have to assume that the claims come from a place of ego (or marketing) and not real passion and innovation,” he continues. “Real art and genuinely important work doesn't need to continually toot its own horn.”
Jaffe contends that gaming as a medium does certain things very well and those are the things that creators and consumers should be focusing on.
“Traditional games are disrespected, devalued, and shown a lack of appreciation, understanding, and love for the very things the medium does so well, so effortlessly, and so successfully,” he adds. “To be going on and on about how games need to be/can be/should be/already are 'more' than 'just games' to me disrespects the joy and happiness traditional games bring to the world.”
Are some developers, journalists, and players missing the point? In our quest for legitimacy, are we forgetting what we as an industry do so well?
[Via Destructoid]
2 Comments
March 15, 2011
"In our quest for legitimacy, are we forgetting what we as an industry do so well?"
Whine incessantly. Just stand in a line at GDC or Comic Con and listen.
March 19, 2011
Big talk from a guy that hasn't released any non-derivative titles recently, art or otherwise.