Video Games as a Medium

An exploration of the artistic merits of video games

Taking in the view in Assassin's Creed Origins

Over the past several years, video games have become less of a hobby for nerds and geeks and more of an entertainment powerhouse. With new games being released by the dozen each year, it's safe to say video games have made their mark in the media world. But what makes video games so special as a medium? The overarching answer seems to be that video games embody every aspect of media in a single entertainment format.

Perhaps the most obvious component of video games are the visuals. It's not uncommon nowadays for someone to spend over $1000 on a 4K television so that their games look as crisp as possible. Even Nintendo is jumping into the mix, with the new iteration of their current console boasting an OLED screen. With most AAA titles, there are dedicated teams of people working to make sure that the graphics of the game line up with the overall appeal and message of a game. Most popular games at this time are striving for as much realism as possible. In the recent remaster of Marvel’s Spiderman, some light can be reflected through the windows of buildings-or even further there are massive open worlds in the vein of Red Dead Redemption 2 which can have your character grow facial hair over time.

There are directors who create specific color palettes and set pieces. They often work in tandem with level designers who take their set pieces and make them an obstacle for the character to overcome. If we want to draw a comparison to film, we can talk about cinematography and cutscenes - the way the camera is positioned can impact how a player reacts with the world. The visuals are there to serve the game as a whole. In some games, the graphics have a specific art style so in that instance it's less about realism and more about vibrant colors.

Along with the visuals, comes the audio. Most games have voice actors who bring characters to life. If a performance is done right the words no longer feel as though they're coming from an actor. That dialogue truly belongs to the character. Another large component is score and possible use of licensed music. This background music often has to feel engaging but not distracting and it takes talent to find the balance between the two. There are also the Foley artists who work tirelessly to make sure that sound design fits with the tone and nature of the game. True, these games don't always sound the most realistic, but they don't have to because it fits with the tone of the game. And that's not even including the original music.

In this clip from The Last of Us, the characters are tasked with hiding from enemies that can echo locate. The sound design of this particular level adds to the tension and makes you keep an ear out for enemies.

Another huge aspect of most games is the writing. Titles like The Last of Us and the God of War reboot have been heavily praised for their story and pacing. I hold storytelling in games to the same regard as gameplay. There has to be balance between the two (for most titles, anyway.) Around five years ago there was a debate in most gaming circles that single player games were dead and that the focus should shift entirely to multiplayer. Recent gaming trends have taken that statement and thrown it out the window. The Batman Arkham series, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, The Legend of Zelda series-all of these games show that there is value in telling compelling stories with interesting characters. And that's not to mention the writing that goes into trailers and promotional material.

I have saved what I believe to be the most important piece of the video game puzzle for last, and that is personal interaction. Many could argue that everything else I've mentioned before can be found in movies or TV shows, but video games hold a specific distinction. With movies, you are a spectator watching the character’s journey play out. As a gamer, you have control of that character, and you are in charge of how the story unfolds. Watching Indiana Jones run away from a collapsing obstacle is a vastly different feeling in comparison to helping a character run away from a collapsing obstacle. You are in charge of choosing the right pathways, timing your moves correctly-almost everything comes down to you. As such you feel more of a connection to the story being told because you are participating in it.

And that's one single aspect of player interaction in games. There are multiplayer matches, which came in handy for a lot of people a few years ago, when talking to someone in person wasn't an option. There are online forums, which admittedly can be somewhat of a mixed bag. My point being, these are outlets that expand the story further than watching a film ever could.

It seems one of the biggest arguments against games as a serious medium is that they are designed for children. While it's true some titles are more geared towards a younger audience, the number of M rated games in my collection would beg to differ. In fact, M rated titles make up almost half of my total collection. Games have ratings for a reason-not all of them are for every age. Some of them are and that is perfectly fine. But would you tell someone that they are too old to be watching movies, or reading books, or listening to music? Of course not-so why are video games any different? And as far as them rotting your brain, studies have shown that for some people specific games have actually improved brain function with reaction time and puzzle solving skills.

And to jump off the previous topic ever so slightly, you have the fact that some video games can in fact be educational in ways that you didn't expect. The Assassin's Creed series is most known for stealth and somewhat violent gameplay. Assassin's Creed Origins released in 2017 and was a reboot for the series, taking on different elements of gameplay. However, the most notable difference was the guided tour mode. Selecting this option from the main menu would allow players to explore the historical aspects of the game setting, which in this case was ancient Egypt. The developers provided digital recreations of many famous Egyptian landmarks, what they would have looked like at the time and the actual history behind the events of the time period. They did the same thing for Assassin's Creed Odyssey which took place in ancient Greece. Some teachers were known to use these guided tours in their lessons. Something that initially was created as an entertainment medium has now become a tool used in classrooms. The video clip below is from the guided tour of Alexandria in Assassin's Creed Origins.

The Uncharted series is known for describing legends of famous explorers, such as Marco Polo or Henry Avery- and of course we have The Oregon Trail which taught students about the struggles of pioneer life. There are also games such as Brain Age, which test your mind's cognitive function and gives you steps to improve it.

Video games have been around for generations, and they show no signs of slowing down. I have been playing games for over a decade now and I've seen the impact they have made on me- not only as a stress reliever but in my abilities as a storyteller, as a media journalist, and to some extent interpersonal relationships. Recently, my mom has noticed that I've been playing a lot of Super Mario Brothers which is a game she grew up with. Thirty years later, she's teaching me about tricks and secret blocks that I haven't even thought to look for.

So, no matter your age, or what you've heard before, or even your previous opinions on the medium itself, I encourage you to take some time and pick up a controller. Put a coin in the slot. Press start.

This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming