Ar In3640 Presentation

I lose.. Therefore I think

Shuen-Shing Lee’s views on video games as expressive of culture.

What about games?• Games have moral undertones (usually)• Games are usually fun/ enjoyable• Appropriating games = fun?• Content?• Delivery?

Games you will never win. (Why Bother?)• Games are usually win/lose situations.• Some games you can’t win – Lose/lose mentality• No defined way to “win”. E.g. Penguin Baseball• Artistic games imply, with no ending, a time of

contemplation on the reason for the game/ not being able to win.

• E.g. New York Defender, Kabul Kaboom

Trial & Error breakouts• Trial and error is common for overcoming obstacles• E.g. Arcade fighters, shooters lasting until player dies• Player “wins” not in the game, but in a determined

other space of other players’ scores.• Having no score creates a void of reason• E.g. NYD, Kabul Kaboom.

Is there a need for a message?

• Some games attempt to be message focused• However, Jarvis’ Narc simply becomes another

shooter, while attempting to be socially critical.

• Paradoxically attempting to comment on social issues while becoming one.

• Confuses the artistic nature.

I lose, therefore I think..

• Explicit goal – game recognises end state• Implicit goal – Game supports user made goals• NYD & KK = Aim to lose the game• Second level player – Reflective state of

understanding game design/relevance as opposed to finishing it.

• Losing invokes thought to create solutions (trial and error); removing it creates an open space of interpretation as to why the game exists.

De-gaming games..

• To remove an aspect to focus on another.• Changes expression form• Focuses audience attention on specific things.• E.g. Arena, Adam’s Killer.• Ironic = Artistic?

Time & Pleasure in Twisted Spaces

• Event time – In game happenings• Negotiation time – Time spent managing, making

solutions• Progression time – Game time overall.

• Limited progression time = No solution. • Thus; Enlightenment.

So, we’re done..

• Games aren’t always “fun”• Can be educating• Use of game as expressive media.• How useful is it/ will it be?

Questions

• Basic shooters as artistic in method OR complex shooters being artistic in delivery?

• Will art games, or games reflecting cultural concepts become more evident as their own thing or simply become another genre?

• Any good ideas for some?