Are video games art? Yes. Should we move on? Yes. A Dork Shelf guest editorial by Ubisoft Toronto narrative designer Navid Khavari.
Ubisoft says they are focusing on two "core verticals," and that's to return as a leader in the open world genre, and live service games.
Calling Ubisoft a leader in open world gaming at any point in time would be like calling Dollar General a leader in retail.
Well, to be fair, they did pump out good open world games before. It was used as a template so much that people now know what it means when you say it's like an Ubi open world collectahon.
What though? I can't think of one game they had where I liked anything about it. Atleast since the ps3/360 Gen
If they have never been the leader in open world gaming, then explain me this: why does almost every open world game follow the same tired old Ubisoft open world formula?
Follow the Leader.
I don't think they were ever the leader tbh. I've never really cared for any of their open world games. I do wanna try watch dogs 2 because it looks like it's set in San Fran. Looked interesting
Hanzala from eXputer: "With Ubisoft's practices becoming increasingly anti-consumer lately, the destruction of The Sands of Time Remake looks almost inevitable."
Hey Ubi, here's a gun, don't shoot yourself in the foot.
*Ubi takes gun, aims at foot, empties clip*
Top executives including games boss Sean Shoptaw have also been promoted…
auteur? Ahumm... its not a goddamn book.
Anything that expresses the human creative skill and imagination is art. The question is whether it's good or bad. What many developers fail to understand is that they're has to be great character development in order for the story to be powerful. Bioshock infinite, Uncharted, even Journey accomplished that without having dialog. Games have evolved through time and are now a great way of telling amazing stories that could be found in books or movies.
@dboyc310: Emotional impact. For me that is the biggest thing I look for in Art. My favorite, well everything, has had an emotional impact on me. Whether I am amazed, empathetic, angered, intrigued, or driven to laughter, I need at least one of these to have any interest in what is going on. A character could grow in from of my eyes (e.g. AC3) but if I'm not emotional invested I get bored with that character and that story (e.g. AC3).
On topic: Love this guys critique though. If we're going to change the way we talk about video games it's really going to come from developers. Lets face it, we just want to talk sh*t, and video game reviewers of any actual quality are rare.
The art of video game creation is respected by many but ignored by most. If that is to change it will have to be a shift in the entire industry and that starts with the developers. The gamers are the money men, we hold all the cards. But it's the developers that make us willing to play our cards. The more indies are embraced, the more risks that are taken, the better this industry will be and the more respect it will command. It's already got the money side respect, now it's time to get the artistry respected. It'll take time but these guy will make it happen. Heavy Rain, Journey, Red Dead, games with character, impact, big budgets, big ideas, small budgets, small ideas, there is so much that has yet to be done the sky isn't even the limit here. One day we'll look back and remember when video games didn't get any respect and we still called them video games (I hate that term SO MUCH).
If Bioshock Infinite isn't art...I don't know what is. This game has ruined me for awhile. But good art does that.