Video Games As Inspiration

I think generally, alot of the public consider video games as a malevolent distraction for today's youth. To be fair, if you don't play (and therefore understand) video games, your only insight into the gaming world has probably been through other people who don't play games on the news clamouring for the latest controversial title to be banned, either that or maybe your brother, son or boyfriend is addicted to Call Of Duty and as a result is a cranky geek for 90% of the day and you therefore, quite understandably despise gaming in any form. However the games industry is now making more money than the film industry and with the arrival of more powerful machines with more realistic graphics (xbox 360, PS3) and the massively popular family orientated nintendo consoles (wii and ds), it is now an increasingly important form of entertainment and is starting to be taken more seriously as creative medium.

Games, like films, are art directed and in development, alot of thought is put into the design of the visuals. As with other forms of media subject to mass consumption, games are increasingly becoming part of our visual culture. Already retro games like pac-man and space invaders are parodied in the simpsons & family guy, their images adorn t-shirts and their influence is evident in a wide array of contemporary graphics (especially in gig and club night posters which often use the pac man typeface as an index of 80's style design).

There are also many current games notable for their distinctive visual styles. Two that I have recently played and thought were particularly memorable in terms of visuals are Canabalt, which you can view and play free online (it is probably the most simple and addictive game you will ever play) and Little Big Planet, a colourful, dreamlike platform adventure which you can play if you are privileged enough to own a PSP or PS3. Check out a trailer for the game here.