Gaming (specifically video gaming) is a young medium. As of this writing in 2016
I would consider gaming to be 32 years old. 1984 is when Mario Bros. debuted for
the Nintendo Entertainment System. Gaming itself is maturing, but it is made up
of many other mature art forms. Environment/stage design, voice acting, music, and
plot writing are all part of gaming. It has only been recently that computing
quality has risen and prices have lowered to a level where games can take
advantage and encompass the glory of our past artistic expressions. What has and
what will gaming give us that is unique? What does this medium of art have to offer?
Gaming is and always has been (since the days of chess) a way to learn. Gaming
is exercise for the brain. It stimulates the gears of memory, prediction,
offense, defense, chance and patience. Every culture has some form of simulated
warfare either for the mind or the body. Football (Soccer) was preceded by a
military exercise in China called Tsu' Chu (http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/the-game/).
It is clear that gaming is not just a form of entertainment but is also a tool
to train and gain skills. Gaming is learning the soft way.
Coupled with its realistic simulations gaming becomes an escapist art. Tied into the old
themes, fantasies and story lines are new scenes, sounds and creates. Beyond the
traditional plots of good and evil gaming has matured along with its audiance to
include more nuianced realistic themes of sacrifice and individuality. It is the decision
making and interactivity that makes gaming a special art form. The game by itself is
not the end product, it is only when a player interacts with a game that the art is
manifested. This interaction is different for evey player, it is a dance between the
game and the player, between the players in a multiplayer game.With each playthrough
something unique and personal is created. Its this interactivity that makes the art of gaming
special. What if you could solo with your favorite jazz album and have them play off your
additions? What if you could change the angle of your favorite painting to reveal a new scene?
In gaming you get this type of experience and its only going to be more perfected as time
goes on.
As this medium matures it will have more to offer to humanity. Sports teaches us ways to fight and cooperate.
Music teaches us expression of emotions. Movies teaches us about cultures and history. Gaming has all these things.
With the play between the gamer and the game we learn about ourselves. We get to contemplate
and try out different roles , different strategies and see what works what personally feels
right within a plot story or battle sequence and get some sense of consequence.
When we place our thoughts, emotions and feelings into the play we get a since of what it might really be like for us to be in the game. In doing this the escapism of the art of gaming is not an escape from reality for is an honest escaping of the bounds of reality.
GLHF
-Mr GameAndWork
-Mr GameAndWork
