video games: the state of the art [email protected] video games: the state of the art randy smith...

Video Games: The State of the [email protected]

Video Games: Video Games: The State of the The State of the

ArtArtRandy Smith

[email protected]

AMODA Presentation Series May 5, 2003

“From Zero to One: Expressions in a Digital World”


IntroductionIntroduction

• Who I am

• Material in this presentation» Video games as “Interactive Art”» “Interactivity” and how it’s used in

video games» Perspective on the status and

future of video games


Are Video Games Art?Are Video Games Art?• Video games are just visceral

entertainment, a diversion?

• Do games share the breadth of human experience? Evoke a range of emotions, tell meaningful stories?

• Games don’t seem like art, because there’s no Schindler’s List of games.

• Let’s look at some critical reviews…


LOTR: The Two Towers, LOTR: The Two Towers, the filmthe film

• “...positively astounding in the depth and breadth of its massive, multitiered story arc, its wholly identifiable characters, and the sheer magnitude of the vision involved in its creation. ….adaptive near-perfection and an engaging, emotionally supercharged epic adventure.”

– Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle


LOTR: The Two Towers, LOTR: The Two Towers, the video gamethe video game

• “…a visceral, high-action beat-'em-up that hugs closely to the concept of Golden Axe, yet layers the game with options, rewards, multiple playable characters, and a progressive combat system.”

– Douglass C. Perry, IGN


What we learn from What we learn from reviewsreviews

• Reviews can be a metric for maturity of an artform.

• Game reviews seem to indicate less maturity, less social acceptance.

• Game reviews:» Jargon (“beat-’em-up”)

» Feature lists (“multiple playable characters”)

» References to existing work (“Golden Axe”)

» A lack of shared critical language (“a progressive combat system”)


Common Topics in Game Common Topics in Game ReviewsReviews

• Art

• Fiction / Story

• Technology

• …but what is the unique contribution of video games?

• Art forms progress in maturity by finding their distinct quality.


How Did Other Art Forms How Did Other Art Forms Achieve Maturity?Achieve Maturity?

• Insightful parallels:» History of Film in 4 Slides» History of Comics in 4 Slides

• This will be grossly oversimplified, surprisingly.


The History of Film, Slide The History of Film, Slide 11

• Auguste and Louis Lumiere invented the cinematograph / projector in 1895.


The History of Film, Slide The History of Film, Slide 22• Used it to capture kinetics, including the famous L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de la Ciotat.

• No narrative structure.

• They didn’t see the artistic/storytelling potential

• “The cinema is an invention without any future”.


The History of Film, Slide The History of Film, Slide 33• Then filmmakers started noticing that you could do stuff with film that you couldn’t do with theater.

• Georges Méliès “A Trip to the Moon”, 1902 = special effects

• Storytelling still done with theater techniques


The History of Film, Slide The History of Film, Slide 44

• Orson Welles used the distinct qualities of film (the camera) as a narrative tool – » Deep focus» Low angles» Careful shot

construction» Pans, dollies, close-

ups, etc.» Post production


The History of Comics, The History of Comics, Slide 1Slide 1• Scott McCloud calls

comic books “Sequential Art”.

• All comic books are Sequential Art, but not all Sequential Art has to take the form of comic books.


The History of Comics, The History of Comics, Slide 2Slide 2• Should serious works

be called “comics” at all?

• We have something similar going on in video games. Video games are all “Interactive Art”, but not all “Interactive Art” has to take the form of video games.


The History of Comics, The History of Comics, Slide 3Slide 3

• Closure = What happens between the panels. Closure tells stories because the audience understands the panels to be sequential.

• Closure is the distinct quality of Sequential Art.


The History of Comics, The History of Comics, Slide 4Slide 4

• Not all Closure is equal. Some comics use it more than others to evoke emotions and tell stories.


Video Games are Video Games are “Interactive Art”“Interactive Art”

• “Interactivity” is the distinct quality of Interactive Art.

• Are other art forms interactive?

• Definition of Interactivity = “Everyone in the audience can have a different experience” ?

• If so, are films interactive? Kinda, they are, yeah.


Films are Interactive???Films are Interactive???

• Your experience depends on which parts of the film you pay attention to. And when you get up to go to the bathroom. Etc..

• Ok, sounds like a stretch, but…


TimecodeTimecode


House of LeavesHouse of Leaves

• A non-sequential novel


So That Definition Wasn’t So That Definition Wasn’t Narrow EnoughNarrow Enough

• How are video games more interactive than film or books?

• The difference in experience only comes from the way the audience pays attention to the medium. » Timecode depicts the same sounds

and images every time it’s viewed.» House of Leaves has the same words

and pictures every time it’s read.


Static vs. Interactive Static vs. Interactive MediaMedia

• Static Media = The media cannot change in response to audience input while it is perceived.

• Interactive Media = The media changes in response to audience input while it is perceived.


That still seems like a That still seems like a broad definition….broad definition….

• So if there’s an art installation with a button that turns on a light, is that interactive art?

• Yes, but just like Closure in comics, not all Interactivity is equal.

• An important point = To what extent is the distinct quality used as part of the art?


What else fits the What else fits the definition?definition?

• What else is Interactive Art besides video games?

• (And what makes a game a game?)

• Let’s look at some examples from AMODA showcases…


moboid’s “Grip”moboid’s “Grip”

• Made with a video game engine

• About video games


Levitated’s “Organic Levitated’s “Organic Machinery”Machinery”

• Randomly-selected combinations of insect parts

• Re-combine randomly when clicked on


Zack Simpson’s “Shadow Zack Simpson’s “Shadow Garden”Garden”


Interactive Art and GamesInteractive Art and Games

• How does non-game Interactive Art contribute to the maturation of games?

• How do games inspire Interactive Art?

• This year’s Experimental Gameplay Workshop at the Game Developer’s Conference…


Casey Muratori's Owl Casey Muratori's Owl gamegame


Games that Accidentally Games that Accidentally Carry Messages?Carry Messages?


Missile Command: The Missile Command: The Futility of Nuclear War?Futility of Nuclear War?


A Closer Look at A Closer Look at InteractivityInteractivity

• So how is Interactivity being used (or not) in video games as part of the art form?

• IE – How is it used to convey emotion, tell stories, share human experience?

• What types of Interactivity are there?


Interactivity Isn’t Always Interactivity Isn’t Always the Focusthe Focus

• Tech breakthroughs like the “Full Motion Video” craze of the mid 90’s.


Recent Interest in Recent Interest in InteractivityInteractivity

• “Open-endedness” is a big deal these days.

• Meaningful feeling of control


Interactivity Isn’t Used Interactivity Isn’t Used EquallyEqually

• GTA3 versus King’s Quest


Interactivity Isn’t Used Interactivity Isn’t Used EquallyEqually

• The Sims versus Final Fantasy


How Interactive is the How Interactive is the game?game?

• Do you feel like you’re participating in the static experience planned by the designer simply by clicking it forward?

• Or do you feel like you’re contributing to the outcome? Do you have any creative expression?


Some reasons people like Some reasons people like more Interactive gamesmore Interactive games

• Meaningful control

• Ownership of experiences

• Creative expression

• Narcissism – An experience about the player, not the artist


Types of InteractionTypes of Interaction

• “Hit Any Key to Continue” Interaction:


Branching InteractionBranching Interaction


Locks and KeysLocks and Keys

• Many adventure game puzzles are locks and keys.

• Can be contextualized to seem like stories, even very emotional ones.


Discrete InteractionDiscrete Interaction

• “Hit Any Key to Continue”

• Branching

• Locks and Keys

• …these aren’t “open-ended”.


So what’s the alternative So what’s the alternative to discrete interaction?to discrete interaction?

• Game Systems, such as the driving system in GTA3

• Simulations, such as the physics simulation in GTA3

• Game systems and simulations are the nuts and bolts of highly-interactive games. They make more meaningful use of player input.


Driving System in GTA3Driving System in GTA3


So GTA3 has Interactive So GTA3 has Interactive driving. Big deal.driving. Big deal.

• GTA3 has higher caliber Interactivity. But is it better art?

• In other words: So Final Fantasy’s story isn’t very Interactive. It’s still a better story than GTA3’s.

• Ok, so let’s survey how these types of Interaction are applied to storytelling in games.

• But first….


Can’t Ignore the Distinct Can’t Ignore the Distinct QualityQuality

• To achieve artistic maturity, games need to use interactivity for art/storytelling, not fall back on literature and film techniques.

• Final Fantasy = better storytelling because it uses the tools from a longer, richer storytelling tradition.


Some VocabularySome Vocabulary• “Gameplay” vs. “Story”

• In Final Fantasy» Gameplay = turn-based combat» Story = told via cutscenes

• In GTA3…» Gameplay = driving mayhem» Story = some crap about gangs

fighting

• Storytelling strategies in games have to do with the relationships between these 2 things.


The Final Fantasy The Final Fantasy StrategyStrategy

• The story is basically non-interactive and relies on storytelling techniques from other media.

• Often delivers a higher quality story.

• The gameplay is used between story updates.


The Adventure Game The Adventure Game StrategyStrategy

• The story contains simple, discrete interactivity» Branching» Keys and Locks

• Often delivers a higher quality story, but often less of it.

• The story and gameplay are often the same thing, but the gameplay isn’t very interactive.


The Simulation Game The Simulation Game StrategyStrategy

• Some Simulation Games» GTA3» Thief

• “Embedded Narrative” = Static story elements, such as cutscenes.

• “Emergent Narrative” = Interactive story the player tells through gameplay.


Simulation Game Simulation Game Strategy, cont.Strategy, cont.

• Embedded Narrative is the framing device that brings meaning and investment to the core gameplay.


Emergent Narratives Emergent Narratives require Game Systemsrequire Game Systems

• Emergent Narratives are not written by developers, they are written by players with core gameplay.

• Buzzword = “Emergent Gameplay”

• Game systems are needed in order for core gameplay to support Emergent Narratives.


Simulation Game Simulation Game Strategy, cont.Strategy, cont.

• The story has a dichotomy» Embedded Narrative» Emergent Narrative

• The Embedded Narrative is higher quality but non-interactive.

• The Emergent Narrative is interactive. Story and gameplay are the same. But what quality is it?


Is this a Cop-Out?Is this a Cop-Out?

• The Emergent Narratives are basically just action sequences.

• We dodge the issue of making the Embedded Narrative interactive. Only the Emergent Narrative is interactive.

• We keep the story thin to emphasize the player’s experience.


Interactive Storytelling is Interactive Storytelling is a Hard Problema Hard Problem

• What game systems can be made that will dynamically craft stories?

• It’s way easier to see how to apply game systems to mathematical stuff like physics.

• It’s kind of an Artificial Intelligence problem: create an AI Dungeon Master.


What have games What have games accomplished so far?accomplished so far?

• Topics typically covered by core gameplay:» Combat / Violent Conflict» Move / Climb / Drive» Explore / Unlock» Acquire / Manage resources

• Emotions games typically evoke:» Fear» Paranoia» Revenge » Power fantasies


Wasted potential?Wasted potential?• Mismatch between what

interactivity is capable of…» Meaningful control» Ownership of experiences» Creative expression

• …and what its currently used for:» Combat / Violent Conflict» Move / Climb / Drive» Fear» Power fantasies » Etc.


The Potential of The Potential of Interactive ArtInteractive Art

• Interactivity Art» The art responds in real time to the

audience’s input. » The art of creating experiences.» About the audience, not the artist.

• Wow, what can you do with that?


What’s the current What’s the current status?status?

• Are we in the early, Dark Ages of Video Game Pornography?

• Alone in dark rooms, controller in hand, experiencing visceral diversions and base emotions?


Some Barriers to Maturity Some Barriers to Maturity

and Acceptanceand Acceptance• Detractors, such as John Carmack.

• Economic pressure. Aversion to risk and experimentation. Tried and true methods for satisfying story in games.

• Demographics – male 17-24 year olds. What is the mass market demographic in film?

• Emphasis on technology.

• Games that demonstrate limitations rather than potential.


The Path to MaturityThe Path to Maturity• More native use of Interactivity

» as a storytelling tool» to evoke different topics and emotions

• Seminal, serious works like Maus

• Shared critical and design language

• Self-consciousness amongst the artistic community. An “Understanding Video Games”


The Path to Maturity, The Path to Maturity, cont.cont.

• Experiments in Interaction, like Timecode and Shadow Garden

• Lower barrier to entry for making games.

• Time. Film = 100 years old. Sequential art = 3000 years old.


ReferencesReferences

• Murray, Janet. Hamlet on the Holodeck

• Laurel, Brenda. Computers as Theater

• Poole, Steven. Trigger Happy: Videogames and the Entertainment Revolution

• (More available on request)


AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements• Matthew Sakey

• Heather Kelley

• Bernd Kreimeier

• Sarah Paetsch

• Jane Pinckard

• Robin Hunicke

• Harvey Smith


Randy Smith

[email protected]

Q & Q & AA

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