On April 16 Roger Ebert posted an article headlined “Video games can never be art” that explains exactly this, his position on the topic. Ebert supposedly is a highly acclaimed film critic, fine with me. But Ebert states regularly that he never (?) plays videogames and has no desire to do so. “Wtf? What a douche.”
Well, I thought, another intellectually educated troll trying to show off. Don’t feed the troll. I restrained from participating in the discussion in any way.
But thousands of others did. And they made very good points, which is easy against such an idiotic statement.
So, now Ebert kinda wanted to let the fat lady sing and posted some sort of apology for that dumb statement he made.
But obviously he is mentally retarded or really likes to troll gamers around:
“My error in the first place was to think I could make a convincing argument on purely theoretical grounds. What I was saying is that video games could not in principle be Art.” In principle? Dude, first thing, check your definition of art.
“I concluded without a definition that satisfied me. I had to be prepared to agree that gamers can have an experience that, for them, is Art.”
Well, check that you have your definitions right before you start about something that you don’t know shit about.
And THEN this really made me laugh coffee-out-my-nose:
“I don’t know what they can learn about another human being that way, no matter how much they learn about Human Nature. I don’t know if they can be inspired to transcend themselves. Perhaps they can. How can I say? I may be wrong, but if I’m not willing to play a video game to find that out, I should say so.”
No shit, Sherlock! And that idea came to you just now? Or did you just assume that “kids who play video games” are generally not interested in art and discussions about it?
Have any of you played “A Mind Forever Voyaging” and have had your view changed on perceived reality, on politics and on privacy issues? Yes? Thought so.
Anyone played the “Monkey Island” series and have actually seen the fun the team had making it and the satirical references to cultural human behaviour? Yes? Thought so, it’s not hard.
Do you remember the first years of “Ultima Online” were virtually everything you saw was pixelcrafted by one man over the span of like five years? Remember when they added new content once and you were like “Duh, they have new people in the graphics department!” because the artwork just didn’t fit right? Yes? Thought so!
Clearly not Ebert, he doesn’t play games. Well, he can have any view on video games that he likes, fine with me, the intartubes are a free realm. But to degrade a vast subculture with members nowadays coming from all genders, all social levels, all ages and all different religions, convictions, ideologies and philosophies? That’s what you should apologize for and not repeat that insult.
Kudos to your superior trolling skills! Only a master troll weaves in an offending statement into it’s apology as subtle as you.
And, Ebert, I actually envy you deeply for your total ignorance about gaming. If only I could have all these experiences, all the great moments, all discoveries, every mind boggling information for the first time – again.
/Gem
References:
Everywhere on teh intartubes.
Good summary and all links: Escapist Magazine Article 1, Escapist Magazine Article 2