Quote:

 

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves came out exactly eight months ago, and since then, it has become the PS3’s fastest selling exclusive title. Rightfully so too; the game has received critical praise from entire gaming industry.

From great story-telling to topnotch narration, Naughty Dog got everything right with that game. So much so that EA sees the title as a “beacon of hope” for the industry.

In a question posed to the publisher by Fast Company, concerning Roger Ebert’s comments, when he uttered that gaming is not and will never be art, Nick Earl, Senior VP and Group GM, Electronic Arts said:

“I think Uncharted 2 is one of the most incredible, flawless entertainment experiences that I have played in my entire career,” he said. “If he played that game, he would be able to get through it as a non-gamer, because you can’t help but get through it. It is just so beautifully delivered–the dialogue, the story, the acting is world class.”

“It will match up against any movie, in my opinion. I give them tremendous credit for what they did in that game.”

He added: “To me that is a beacon of hope for the industry, especially my group. I think it is art. It is absolutely art.

“You may have different opinions along the way,” he continued, “[but] in the end you can’t argue that is a wonderful experience that makes you feel so emotionally connected–I think that’s what art is all about. I can tell you we have such aspirations here to match that quality. I think we are not going to rest until we match that in every franchise.”

“It’s not just Uncharted. We are seeing a very strong macro-trend towards epic moments inside of a game. Call of Duty does it very effectively in their games. You feel like you are part of something absolutely magnificent. And it doesn’t require you doing a 17-button combo to pull that off.

There are magnificent moments in Street Fighter when it was in the arcade, but you had to hit six buttons to do it. What we’re learning is that if you go out to a broader audience you have to be able to deliver something magnificent regardless of your skill as a gamer.”

Well, what do you have to say about that Mr. Ebert? I reckon, videogames are art in every sense of the word. Art that’s even more difficult to bring to life than movies, since all the characters must be created, whereas with movies, human beings readily play their roles, naturally.

RabidChoco

Jun 27 2010, 12:11 PM

...There is a problem with this.
Ebert is a movie critic. Not a video game critic.
Why does the gaming industry feel it has to answer to a movie critic now?

RabidChoco

Jun 27 2010, 12:11 PM

...There is a problem with this.
Ebert is a movie critic. Not a video game critic.
Why does the gaming industry feel it has to answer to a movie critic now?