Video Games and Art

According to Wikipedia, 'Art' is defined as 'the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect.'

By this definition, Video games are art. I can think of many games I have played that have seen sensually, emotionally, and intellectually stimulating (as an example of each: Osmos, Braid, and Deus Ex). In fact, I would argue that the very point of a video game is to provide stimulation and entertainment to the subject, and by this virtue alone, would qualify as an art form.


The problem, however, arises with some of the narrower definitions of art, especially so-called 'true art'. Under these rules (at least according to what i've heard), True Art is only that which serves no purpose other than to be Art. Such a piece has no justification, no meaning, beyond 'Because Art'.

To me, at least, these are the most pointless of all creations. Most pieces of art have some sort of justifiability, beit emotional or intillectual stimulation, creating something that is aesthetically pleasing, expressing a message, or conveying meaning. Indeed, most everything that has been created by humanity is driven by purpose or justification. To create something that has no justification other than 'Because Art' is to create something that is ultimately without purpose.

An thus, we get to the real issue.
Can video games be art? Yes, in the same way that a movie of a book can be art, they stimulate the subject. Simply because they are interactive does not exclude them from this.
Can a video game be True Art? No. To qualify as True art, a game would have no pupose other than its own existence as art, which means it would have no other qualities. Games, by their very nature, are designed to be interactive, and entertain or otherwise engage it's subject. This alone gives them a purpose, a justification other than simply being art.

In fact, would a True Art Game even BE a game at all?