No one denies that video games can inspire art or that they contain art within them, but are they art when taken as a whole? Roger Ebert has stated that video games can never be “high art”. I personally couldn’t give a damn what some high society windbags deem “High Art” and what they think is too low for them to consider.  High Art is and always has been simply art that the ruling social class prefers. Should gamers care that some old farts look down on the hobby we love from their high horse?

The answer is simply: No! Let’s not forget that Shakespeare’s plays were originally written for and performed to the poor masses and not High Society. It took those arrogant bastards quite a while to recognize Shakespeare’s genius. The same is true of Edgar Allan Poe who is considered one of the best writers of all time but who died penniless and unrecognized. How many brilliant painters only become famous years after their deaths?

We don’t even have to go that far back. Look at the Lord of the Rings series which was originally snubbed by the Academy Awards. The Fellowship of the Ring only won 4 awards even though it can be argued that it was the best of the series. The Return of the King won a whopping 11 even though it was the least favorite among the fans. Although I agree that the Academy Awards can barely be seen as a “High society” function, it tries to be and that is enough for this point.

No one can tell me that when I scale the highest building in Assassin’s Creed and look at the city that was recreated by a skilled artistic and technical team, this vision before me cannot be compared to a visually striking film or a beautifully painted canvas! When I play Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and have to stop playing just to listen to the beautiful musical score, is that not art that is moving me?

“High Society” will probably catch up to us peasants in time, but if they never do, it’ll be their loss…