Video games are art, but not fine art
<
(3 of 3)
Video games do not measure up to great artworks
No video game can be compared to the greatest works of art in history. One would be hard-pressed to find a single video game which has the same cultural impact as da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, etc.
<
(1 of 3)
Next argument >
The Argument
Video games may be art, but there is not one example of a video game which matches up with the fine works of art which have inspired millions for generations: Van Gogh, da Vinci, Monet, Picasso. The list goes on.
Video games have not been around long enough to promote the kind of cultural impact which fine works of art have acquired. This is why that "perfect masterpiece" has not yet been created; video games as an art form are still in their infancy. This isn't to say that there aren't beautiful and inspiriting games out there, but the magnum opus has not yet reared its head.[1]
Counter arguments
Whether there is a video game which matches up to the greatest art in history is a matter of opinion, not a hard fact. There are plenty of contenders in the video game world which one must experience to appreciate. One can't simply look at a video game and decide whether or not it's up to snuff with the masterworks of Monet; one must play the game as intended to appreciate the art as it was intended to be appreciated.
There are video games that boast sublime artwork which mimics real life, or is abstract and thought-provoking. Video game scores exist which are composed by brilliant composers such as Nobuo Uematsu or Yasunori Mitsuda, who are revered in the gaming world for their outstanding soundtracks. Stories are told which unfold in innovative and unique ways. To say that video games have not reached a level of fine art is to write them off as art altogether; one cannot separate the two and call it "art but not fine art." Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to many beholders, there are games which rival the greats and even surpass them.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] There isn't a single example of a video game which matches up with the greatest works of art.
[P2] Video games are art, but they are not fine art.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] Art is subjective. Whether or not a video game matches up to the greatest artworks in history is up to the beholder.
[Rejecting P2] Video games are fine art if the person playing the game sees it that way.