Ladies and gentlemen, the question of whether or not games are art has finally been answered. The Smithsonian will launch a new exhibit titled “The Art of Video Games” on March 16, 2012. So somebody be sure to tell Roger Ebert, games have officially been declared art.
According to the museum, the exhibit will be “the first to explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies.” And what games will be chosen to represent gaming as art? The Smithsonian has decided to ask for the public’s help at ArtOfVideoGames.org. The website will offer participants a chance to vote for 80 games from a pool of 240 proposed choices in various categories, divided by era, game type and platform. Voting will be open from February 14 through April 7 and requires a valid email address.
“I want this exhibition to include the collective voice of the video game world, which is not limited to the developers, designers and artists but also the game players,” said the curator of the exhibit, Chris Melissinos. “It is important to me that when gamers visit the exhibition, they find the experiences that most matter to them.”
The results of the voting will be announced in May.
