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Film critic Roger Ebert famously said that videogames could never ever be an art form like cinema; the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences disagrees. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, which ends today, the organization showcased 16 works from videogames, selected by jurors from the fine-art world and the game-development world. Shown here, with comments from the judges.
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Advisor
by Ted Backman, Jeremy Bennett, Tristan Reidford
From: Half-Life Episode 3
“I liked what the images are trying to go for, this sense of zero gravity,” says Glenn Phillips, a consulting curator at the Getty Museum.
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Canyon Dwelling
by Tyler West
From: Guild Wars
“The texture on this piece is quite lovely,” says Louis Marchesano, a curator of prints and drawings at the Getty Museum.
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Capitol
by Craig Mullins
From: Fallout 3
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Cavern Suspension
by Tyler West
From: Guild Wars
“The tension of surface, the sense of perspective, and the feeling of movement above are beautifully composed. It’s brilliantly composed to achieve a lot,” the Getty’s Marchesano says. “Without being too ‘clever,’ this piece brings movement into the picture—which is hard to pull off without resorting to cheap tricks.”
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DC Destruction
by Tri Nguyen
From: FRACTURE
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Four Knights
by Richard Anderson
From: Guild Wars
“I love the way it’s monochromatic, and it implies more than it states,” notes Kevin Salatino, a curator of prints and drawings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. “Finely drawn and composed. That glowing light from under the horses is very compelling. It’s minimal, but tells a story.”
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Gate To Karak Eight Peaks
by Jonathan Kirtz
From: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
“This conjures up late 19th-century children’s books,” says L.A.C.M.A.’s Salatino.
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Life Could Be Simple…and a Little Dangerous
by Hao Cui
From: flOw
“Organic feel and organic space, cool contrast between the clearly digital and this organic feel,” says Kiki Wolfkill, an executive producer at Microsoft Game Studios.
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Metropolis
by Stephane Martiniere
From: MK vs. DC
“This was my favorite destroyed-city image,” says the Getty Museum’s Phillips.
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Puzzle World Twilight
by Jay Epperson
From: Untitled
“Nostalgic flavor, instantly recognize it as a side-scroller, heartwarming,” notes Daniel Dociu, chief art director for NCsoft North America.
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Rapunzel
by Tyler Lockett
From: American McGee’s Grimm
“I love this quilt-like texture, with a flat world; it’s enticing. It has a wonderful simplicity and symmetry between balance and form,” says Getty’s Marchesano.
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Rock Venue Poster: Moscow
by Davidicus
From: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
“You’re going to think I’m crazy, but this is one of my favorites,” says L.A.C.M.A.’s Salatino.
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Ship Scroll
by Dean Ashley, Dave Glanister, Rita Linsley, Robert Sutton
From: WipEout HD
“I love that the artist is subtly mimicking a Japanese Scroll Pattern in a very interesting interpretation,” says L.A.C.M.A.’s Salatino.
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Sonic 002
by Nick Thornborrow
From: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
“This reminds me of a rube Goldberg device, very balanced and fascinating,” remarks L.A.C.M.A.’s Salatino.
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The Rat Cage
by Martin Deschambault
From: WET
“The Thinker-like figure is very compelling. Those colors are electric and convey a tense energy,” says L.A.C.M.A.’s Salatino.
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Tyrant
by Kekai Kotaki
From: Guild Wars, Eye of the North
“This reminded me of some mystical creature out of the past. I loved the illustrative brushstrokes,” concludes Getty’s Marchesano.
