The main problem I have with the "games are art" argument...

[Pyro as Bill]

kowenicki said:

Pyro as Bill said:

kowenicki said:

RolStoppable said:

By the way, I am getting really sick of games like Flower being made out to be more than they actually are. Just because there's wind blowing and a minimal soundtrack and vast open spaces to explore and a slow pace doesn't mean that the game you are playing is art.

hear hear!!  There is def something of the emporers new clothes about Flower. 

But you may get a backlash for this one.

Flower is as much an experience as it is a game. The freedom of movement makes the game feel as relaxing as a gently wafting breeze. It's a tiny, beautiful, elegantly designed piece of software that I feel richer for having played and is more immersive than many feature-driven titles dare to dream. Never before has a game moved me so strongly, never before has a game made my day better, never before has a game affected my view on life.

Flower is a shock to the gamer's system because it reminds us that games aren't about fanboy allegiances, media hype, and quarterly earnings. Good games-like good art-can simply be food for the soul. Flower is the kind of soulful nourishment we need more of.

Beautifully written.  I disagree with almost every word.

Those aren't my words. They're a selection from all the sites that rated flower 90+.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/flower/critic-reviews

My point was, it allowed the press to feel all artsy and superior. If those were my words it would look something more like...

Wii Sports Resort's Airsports is as much an experience as it is a game. The freedom of movement makes the game feel as relaxing as a gently wafting breeze. It's a tiny, beautiful, elegantly designed piece of software that I feel richer for having played and is more immersive than many feature-driven titles dare to dream. Never before has a game moved me so strongly, never before has a game made my day better, never before has a game affected my view on life.

Wii Sports Resort's Airsports is a shock to the gamer's system because it reminds us that games aren't about fanboy allegiances, media hype, and quarterly earnings. Good games-like good art-can simply be food for the soul. Motion plus controls are the kind of soulful nourishment we need more of.