The Art of Videogames

by Grant Tavinor

"The Art of Videogames" explores how philosophy of the arts theories developed to address traditional art works can also be applied to videogames. Presents a unique philosophical approach to the art of videogaming, situating videogames in the framework of analytic philosophy of the artsExplores how philosophical theories developed to address traditional art works can also be applied to videogamesWritten for a broad audience of both philosophers and videogame enthusiasts by a philosopher who is also an avid gamerDiscusses the relationship between games and earlier artistic and entertainment media, how videogames allow for interactive fiction, the role of game narrative, and the moral status of violent events depicted in videogame worldsArgues that videogames do indeed qualify as a new and exciting form of representational art

Genres: Games, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Art, Video Games, College, Game Design

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2009

Reviews

[Kalin]

I was particularly interested in the sections examining narratives or the emotional impact of games, so I'll make a brief comment only about them:

https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...

[Mjhancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tavinor discusses several videogame issues, leading to the question of whether or not video games can qualify as art. The book is rather theoretically heavy, though it tends to use popular games from the time of its publication (2009) for examples. The early chapters are especially slow, as Tavinor wants to be very, very clear on his terminology--though I'm still not convinced on the functional difference between games as narrative and games as interactive fictions. The later chapters on games as art, games and moral criticism, and games as artifacts capable of evoking emotion are very well presented--in particular, I think the discussion on game violence and the morality of video games to be the most in-depth, thought-out discussion of the subject that I've read in a while. I don't like his tendency to dismiss early games from discussion, nor his occasional foray into definitional pedantry, but overall, it's a very good discussion on games and aesthetic philosophy.

[David Blanar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking analysis, well worth the read. Ultimately it feels as though Tavinor pulls his punches slightly, perhaps to acknowledge the emergent nature of this kind of research, but it does not diminish the ideas presented.

[[chris] Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tavinor does a good job of making the case that videogames are a unique artform, but his discussion of their ontology is not rigorous and his views on what is valuable about videogames are not shared by me.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

shows that games are not just a thing to play when your bored its beyond entertainemnt and this book explains it a must buy for all gamers