The Literal Art of Video Games
 

So, here's something interesting that most people hopefully also think about. Video games can be absolutely gorgeous. If it's just a character model for a game you're playing, to the environments that you're running through. I actually heard someone talking about it, or maybe I was having the conversation with someone...besides the point, it was the topic of whether or not video games can be considered an art. By that I mean, can it be put into the same category that drawing and music can be put in. I know some people may not think music is considered an art, but enough people think it is. A few things I hope to accomplish here...

1) Post some of your favorite environments / character models / etc etc. Things you find beautiful / cool looking in video games that you've played.

2) Discuss whether or not the making of a game can be considered a legitimate art. And possible discuss whether or not playing a game could be considered the appreciation of said art.

Doesn't have to be serious, it's just something that's on my mind and I thought it'd be fun to talk about. The reason I really brought it up is to post a picture of the recent boss I fought in Torchlight II.

http://i59.tinypic.com/2lmki79.png

where it's at

http://images.wikia.com/nintendo/en/...dgeofEldin.jpg

Dude, the ****ing Citadel from Mass Effect.


http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...E3_Citadel.png

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ls-d4xe70j.png

http://cdn.ng4a.com/wp-content/uploa.../original3.jpg

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...rmandyjack.png

http://cdn.medialib.totalxbox.com/sc...mb_wide940.jpg

http://gamingtrend.com/wp-content/up...alkthrough.png

http://puloduplo.com.br/wp-content/u...4-1024x585.png

^Good god that looks amazing.

One of my favorites was Manaan from Kotor 1. The music fit the setting as well. I always found it charming:



On a more outstanding level...

The hospital in Outlast always looked amazing when I played the game for the first time:

http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/...r-1280x720.jpg

Don't forget Morrowind!

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/...9715-vivec.jpg

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2..._in_Palace.png

It's got a lot of great fan art too...

http://crispme.com/wp-content/uploads/101796.jpg

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/20...lk-d4oi43o.jpg

Tenpenny tower - Fallout

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/...20131126185424

Want a decent room in this sh*t of a waste land? look no further than Tenpenny tower.
You too can afford a room there for the low price of blowing up Megaton :p:

SOTC and Ico are both also beautiful looking PS2 games

Going older, The Zelda snes game had a simple yet great Art style that was very immersive

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20090729211018

The art style was so good it becamic iconic for the Zelda series and even influenced other rpg titles in future consoles.

like 80% of GBA rpgs look similar to this Zelda game.. Hell, between this an Earthbound Nintendo stumbled upon one of the most effective and immersive ways to use sprite artwork.

Journey is one of the prettiest games I've ever seen.

http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/files...012journey.png

Of course video games are art.

morrowind is the only game that I still play on my own. and I have it on original xbox. and its still beautiful and great and the best game ever. its actually amazing how many details I still remember (locations and stuff) and yet theres still so much I discover each time I play. I can gush forever about it really

RIP every other post in this thread. Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you crysis. The draw distance is this game is so ****ing godly.

All hail the PC!