While I was trolling along through the Internet the other day, I encountered a simple article titled “Video Games Can Never Be Art”, by Roger Ebert. In it, he proposed several interesting points as to why video games are not, and can never be, considered art. He mentions how physical games like football and soccer, or even more mental games like chess, have never made claims to be art, and that it is equally ridiculous for video games to attempt this. He holds up as examples the indie games “Braid” and “Flower,” saying that they have little to do with emotional experience, and — of the first — amounts to a wordy fortune cookie, and — of the second — a glorified greeting card. It was quickly evident that his only experience with these titles was a brief talk he had heard on them. I would say, in opposition, that video games combine nearly every form of art — story, visuals, and emotional immersion.

Now, I don’t always play video games. But when I do, I generally note an attention to story that rides higher than the average summer teen comedy, average action shoot-em-up or average chick flick that’s burning through the box offices. Sometimes when I write for various purposes — class assignments and so forth — it takes focus and determination for me to start caring about my subject matter. Not here, though. Games like Assassin’s Creed, Portal, Bioshock and Alan Wake alone blow the author’s claim out of the water. Every game in the Bioshock series takes hold of dramatic themes of capitalism versus communism, with Ayn Rand countering Friedrich Engels while the protagonist chooses which philosophy he will follow. Alan Wake touches on the nature of the soul, and gives me enormous empathy for the journeys of the main character — a writer — as he struggles to use his words to spread light into the hearts of others, instead of darkness.

True, some video games hold little to no plot — fighting games, racing games and games so badly written that those who play them wish they had been of the above types. To say in a blanket statement that video game storytelling is primitive, however, is a complete and utter falsehood. The very term “video game” is quickly progressing towards the point where it needs far more subtle distinctions than our current terms give it. Should a game with the deep emotional drama of an average father trying to save his son’s life from a serial killer, as in Heavy Rain, be classified in the same category as MarioKart: Wii? The second is a video game proper, made for quick and fun entertainment, while the first is more along the lines of an interactive suspense movie. I think that we are moving towards a day when people will recognize this, that not all video games should be put in the same category, and perhaps that day people will begin to understand that what we do is more than just a hobby — these are modern works of art.

The somber beauty captured in the dark black-and-white strokes of the indie game Limbo are more than on par with some of the pieces in several art museums today, and are arguably better as the pieces in the aforementioned museums do not require audience interaction. Even film is recognized as an artistic endeavor; how can video games continue being left out in the cold?

I understand I am not saying anything new; people have been campaigning the right of recognition for video games for years. It needs to be said, however. People need reminders, or they forget. So this week, I’d encourage you, whenever you have that moment where you take a break from your schoolwork, to try your hand at a video game instead of going on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. There are many free ones out there, and many of them are good. Try the slyly self-aware “Achievement Unlocked,” or the ridiculously over-the-top ragdoll violence of “Happy Wheels.” Play the game “Yet One Word” and address some issues you might carry. Think, really think, about how much work one man put into all this — and for flash games like those, it generally is one man. Afterwards, remember — this is art, too.