Art and Video Games
Like running through an art gallery
I was reading a newsletter today and there was that research about Online Art having a positive impact on mood and health that is comparable to going out in nature or visiting an “in person” art gallery.
That gave me a pause because it somewhat dove tail into video game.
First, Video games on their own have been proven to have antidepressant quality so long as you are “reasonable” and “only” play less then 20 hours a week. (I don’t know for you but 20 hours is a lot of video game!) That stays true either you play the same game or a variety of games. If I remember the research well, there was also no genre of video games that would “not work” so long as the player is engaged.
Which brings me back to art. Not all video games are created equal but art is a big part of video games. Some video games are literally “interactive art pieces” but even putting those aside, the majority of video games are artistic depictions of an environment, of characters, of fauna and flora in amazing details and in every style and “medium” you can think off.
I actually question if humans have ever been that “visually artistically” productive in any part of history before video games. In a way games have made art something almost everyone has access to at any time and in such a variety of ways that everyone can find something they can enjoy.
In conclusion: if looking at a “virtual art gallery” is an idea that make you yawn, grab some video games. Go through the App Store on your favorite device and try a few free games. Take a moment to enjoy the splash screen, the menus, the backgrounds, the objects that are drawn and painted on your screen. Those are all art. And then get playful and see how the game make you interact with those mini pieces of art!
And if you feel a bit “experimental” with your art and game exploration, check out Itch.io ! That’s where indie game developers and indie graphic artists hang out and let me tell you: the shop screen itself looks like an art gallery.
Gif image come from this indie game about painting and art: https://akuparagames.itch.io/behind-the-frame-the-finest-scenery
#Mindset