The Ginger Man wrote:Pacino86845 wrote:I dunno Ginger, I get what you're saying about the business elements of games dominating the development pipeline, but couldn't the same arguments be made about animated films or comics?
I also think that the "infancy" argument still carries a lot of weight in defense of video games. I'm not sure games will be officially recognized as an art form of sorts, but until recently they've depended heavily on the technology available.
Arguments against video games' artistic merits that are based on the lack of the public's recognition don't stand up too well, though. We could look to the world of comics and even cartoons for reference. Comics were kids' stuff for decades, and now that we're finally in an era that recognizes art in the comic form, that recognition goes way back to the origins of the medium. I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but the same might happen to videogames, if it hasn't already started.
But you and I could produce and publish a comic on quality with Marvel or DC all on our own. Same goes with an animated film. You cannot develop and publish a next-gen game without corporate intervention.
Did you know that before any game is released on a platform, the corp that owns the platform (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) reviews the game? If they don't feel it meets their standards, you must change the game to their specifications if you want it released. Publishing corporations can have things slide b/c favors and other business related things. But an independent developer would be completely at the whim of the big 3.
Right, that's totally true. But just to carry things a little further (I'm so excited, me and Ginger are gonna make a comic!), we can consider independent game publishers/developers. Like all those flash games, you know, they might have like 5 people working on 'em. Even games you install on your PC, they might be developed by a handful of people and sold by the same people through the web. And relating your point to animated films, considering 3D CGI animated films, you and I could probably slap something together but it won't be as next gen as something Pixar dishes out.
I'm just saying that maybe the technology isn't at a point where it's easily placed in people's hands, so that you and I could make a decent 3D game that we could sell. Hmm, but maybe that's the rub right there. Videogames are totally technology dependent. The market as it is right now always wants the latest in graphics technology, and that will always be a couple of generations ahead of what regular people will have access to. I guess people would spring $20 for a trade of the first issues of X-Men, but who's gonna spring even $5 for Pacman?