Charls Carroll - New Video Games Are Not Art

Charls Carroll

26 May 202013:06

Summary

TLDRThe speaker passionately discusses their disillusionment with the modern gaming industry, criticizing the focus on visuals over gameplay and the lack of innovation since the arcade era. They argue that current games, despite high production values, often lack the artistic merit of older titles. The speaker also expresses skepticism about the industry's treatment of developers and the repetitive nature of new releases, suggesting that true artistry in gaming has been lost and is unlikely to return.

Takeaways

🎮 The speaker expresses a general disinterest in new games and graphics, focusing on the lack of significant improvements in gaming experiences like frame rates and loading times.
🖥️ A criticism of Unreal Engine 5 is mentioned, with the speaker not being impressed by the visuals or the new games showcased.
🕹️ The speaker is particularly bothered by the persistence of loading screens and sub-60 frame rates in modern games, despite the use of dedicated hardware.
🎨 There's a strong opinion that video games, especially newer ones, are not art and that the industry has lost its way in terms of creativity and talent.
📅 A nostalgic view is expressed, with the speaker reminiscing about the quality and smoothness of arcade games from the past compared to current games.
🗑️ The speaker criticizes modern game design, suggesting that it focuses on suffering, confusion, and the meaningless, rather than elevating the player's spirit.
👎 Dislike is expressed for certain art styles in games, such as the 'Fortnite-esque' and 'sexy anime' styles, which the speaker finds unappealing.
👍 A few games from the past, like 'Loom' and 'Monkey Island,' are mentioned as examples of games that could be considered art.
🚫 The speaker is not a fan of modern game mechanics that involve violence, sex, and other adult themes, which they believe do not contribute to art.
🤔 There's a call for the listener to take action if they are truly concerned about the state of the gaming industry, suggesting that creating their own games might be the answer.

Q & A

What is the speaker's opinion on Unreal Engine 5?
-The speaker is not impressed with Unreal Engine 5 and has become indifferent to new visuals or games, indicating a general disinterest in the current state of the gaming industry.
Why does the speaker express dissatisfaction with the game industry?
-The speaker is dissatisfied with the game industry due to the treatment of designers and developers, the quality of games released, and the presence of loading screens and sub-60 frame rates on dedicated hardware.
What does the speaker believe about the realism in video games?
-The speaker believes that the more realistic a video game is, the less it represents art, as video games are an abstract representation of imagination and not meant to be realistic.
What is the speaker's stance on video games being considered art?
-The speaker is adamant that video games will never be art, arguing that true art should elevate the spirit and soul, which he feels modern games do not achieve.
Which games does the speaker consider as examples of art in the gaming industry?
-The speaker mentions games like Loom, Monkey Island 1 & 2, Grim Fandango, and Full Throttle as examples of games that could be considered art forms.
What does the speaker think about modern games in comparison to arcade games from the past?
-The speaker compares modern games unfavorably to arcade games from the past, which he recalls as having smooth gameplay at 60 frames per second without loading screens.
What is the speaker's view on the current trend of game graphics and art styles?
-The speaker criticizes the current trend of game graphics and art styles, particularly the 'Fortnite-esque' and 'sexy anime' styles, which he finds unappealing and of low artistic value.
Why does the speaker mention The Witcher 3 in the context of art?
-The speaker uses The Witcher 3 as an example to question what qualifies as art in games, arguing that despite being a AAA game, its content of violence and explicit themes does not align with his definition of art.
What does the speaker suggest about the future of games and the industry?
-The speaker predicts that future games will focus on suffering, confusion, and meaninglessness, moving further away from what he considers to be elevating or enriching experiences.
What is the speaker's opinion on the role of sex and violence in games?
-The speaker is critical of the inclusion of sex and violence in games, suggesting that these elements are often used for shock value rather than to contribute to a meaningful or cautionary narrative.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Disillusionment with the Gaming Industry

The speaker expresses a deep dissatisfaction with the current state of the gaming industry, criticizing the focus on visuals at the expense of gameplay and innovation. They lament the lack of progress in frame rates and the persistence of loading screens, comparing unfavorably to the smooth experience of arcade games from the past. The speaker also criticizes the industry's treatment of developers and designers, and the content of modern games, which they find lacking in artistic value. They argue that video games, despite their potential, will never be art due to the industry's current direction and the lack of talent in game creation.

05:08

🖌️ The Search for Artistic Value in Games

In this paragraph, the speaker continues to elaborate on what they believe constitutes art in gaming, using 'Loom' as an example of a game that elevates the spirit. They criticize modern games for their focus on violence, gore, and superficial elements like 'sexy anime' characters, which they find repulsive. The speaker also touches on the idea of cautionary content versus wallowing in ugliness and perversion, suggesting that true art should provide a meaningful message rather than mere shock value. They express a longing for games that challenge and inspire, rather than those that cater to base instincts.

10:15

🚫 Critique of Modern Game Aesthetics and Content

The speaker vehemently criticizes the current trend in game design, particularly the 'ugly' and grotesque elements that they find prevalent. They argue that these games, which often include sex and violence as primary features, are not only unappealing but also lack any redeeming artistic qualities. The speaker contrasts this with games that have a cautionary or elevating message, suggesting that there is a clear distinction between art and mere exploitation of shock value. They also express a general weariness with the direction of the gaming industry, longing for a return to more meaningful and spiritually enriching content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Unreal Engine 5

Unreal Engine 5 is a game engine developed by Epic Games, which is used for creating video games and other interactive content. In the video, the speaker mentions it in the context of advancements in graphics technology but expresses a lack of interest in the latest visual enhancements, suggesting a saturation point or indifference towards the pursuit of realism in games.

💡Loading Screens

Loading screens refer to the temporary on-screen displays that occur while a game is loading data into memory. The speaker uses this term to criticize modern games for still having loading screens despite the advancement in technology, indicating a lack of progress in making games run smoothly without interruptions.

💡Frame Rate

Frame rate is the frequency at which consecutive images called frames appear on a display. The speaker mentions 30 frames per second (fps) and 60 fps as benchmarks for smooth gameplay. The dissatisfaction expressed is with games that run at sub-60 fps on dedicated gaming hardware, which the speaker believes should be capable of higher performance.

💡Dedicated Hardware

Dedicated hardware refers to specialized equipment designed for a specific purpose, such as gaming consoles. The speaker contrasts dedicated gaming consoles with arcade gaming machines from the past, which had no loading screens and ran at a smooth 60 fps, implying that current consoles should offer a similar experience.

💡Realism in Games

Realism in games refers to the degree to which a game attempts to accurately represent the real world. The speaker argues that as games become more realistic, they often become less enjoyable and more 'dense', suggesting that the pursuit of realism can detract from the essence of what makes a game engaging.

💡Video Games as Art

The concept of video games as art is a topic of debate within the gaming community. The speaker is critical of this notion, arguing that current games, with their focus on violence and sexual content, do not qualify as art. Instead, the speaker points to older games as examples of artistic expression in gaming.

💡Game Industry

The game industry encompasses the businesses involved in developing, marketing, and selling video games. The speaker expresses a general disillusionment with the industry, criticizing the treatment of developers and designers, as well as the creative direction of modern games.

💡Journalism in Gaming

Journalism in gaming refers to the reporting and critique of video games by media outlets. The speaker is critical of gaming journalism, suggesting a lack of quality or integrity in how games are covered and reviewed.

💡Fortnite Art Style

The Fortnite art style is characterized by its vibrant colors and cartoonish aesthetics. The speaker mentions this style in the context of a trend towards 'sickening' art styles in games, which they find unappealing and indicative of a decline in the artistic quality of games.

💡Sexy Anime

The term 'sexy anime' is used by the speaker to criticize the sexualization of characters in games, particularly in the context of fantasy settings. This is seen as a negative trend that objectifies characters and detracts from the artistic merit of the games.

💡Torture Porn

Torture porn is a term used to describe media that focuses on graphic violence and suffering for shock value. The speaker uses this term to criticize modern games that emphasize gore and violence, suggesting that they prioritize shock over artistic expression or meaningful storytelling.

Highlights

The speaker is expressing a general disinterest in the current state of video games and the industry.

Unreal Engine 5 is acknowledged as impressive, but the speaker is no longer concerned with graphics or new games.

Criticisms of the game industry include poor treatment of designers, developers, and the quality of games released.

The speaker is particularly critical of game journalism and its practices.

Loading screens and sub-60 frame rates on dedicated hardware are cited as reasons for disinterest in modern games.

A comparison is made between the smooth gameplay of arcade games and the current state of console gaming.

The speaker argues that video games are not realistic and should be considered abstract representations.

The assertion that video games will never be art is made, with a critique of the industry's talent and output.

Games from the early '90s are praised as possibly being considered art forms.

The speaker challenges the idea that modern AAA games are art, using The Witcher 3 as an example.

Bioshock, Half-Life 2, and other older games are mentioned as examples of quality gaming experiences.

The current trend of games focusing on suffering, confusion, and the meaningless is criticized.

The speaker expresses a desire for games that elevate the spirit, rather than those that are ugly or grotesque.

Minecraft is mentioned as a game that offers something different, despite the speaker's personal disinterest.

The speaker predicts that upcoming games will be more focused on punishment and suffering.

A critique of the art style in modern games, comparing it to 'sexy anime' and 'ugliness', is presented.

The speaker distinguishes between cautionary content and that which wallows in its own perversion or ugliness.

The idea that video games are just for entertainment and not art is challenged.

The speaker concludes with a call for games that move beyond the current trends of ugliness and perversion.