Video Games is not only the next big art form, it is also becoming the inspiration for other art forms (movies, music). Like someone else above stated, all you need to do is look at Shadow of Colossus, Bioshock, Gears of War, to see the amazing display of art. The video game engines are getting better and better which allows the video game artists to explore and create anything they can think of.

In terms of art to put on a wall, I would highly recommend I am 8 Bit, Etsy, and Into the Pixel to see how video games can influence other forms of art.

When you look at the credits of a mainstream video game, who makes it? Not 1 person, not even 10. Hundreds of people make video games now. These are collaborations like movies and television shows are now. I don't think you can consider video games "The Next Big Art Form" unless you would consider a TV show or a Movie an art form. Directing a movie is an art form; writing for a television show is an artform; painting polygons is an art form; but I do not think a video game as a whole is an art form. It is made up of hundreds of different techniques and technologies combined. Having worked on a number of small games myself I can confirm that it definitely takes a lot of work and artistic creativity to make a game, but in the end it is all about the money.

Video games/interactive media are the next big artform! When it bridges generation gaps (the Wii, arguably the best example to date) and becomes referenced with regularity in other media (oh gosh way too many to mention - did you see the new Pontiac ad's nod to Spy Hunter?), I would have to say that it is a valid art form. If it becomes accepted in casual conversation, its hard to deny that it has really become pervasive: do you know anyone who would be confused over the comment "that looks video-gamey" ?

And so many emotional connections to be found in fine examples of the art form: ICO's emphatic connection between the protagonist and the damsel in distress becomes something truly visceral for a player. Like a symphony or dance, it must be expereinced in order for one to understand the effect it may have: you could describe bethoveen's 5th, but you couldn't understand its emotive impact unless you heard it.

Sure its heavily HEAVILY tied to economic factors of profit by massive publishers. So is the music and film industry. And all three have smaller indie artists creating the really revolutionary and "Artsy" pieces.

We can accept the creativity that video game artists bring to our lives, however this discussion brings us to the "what is Art" question. As a painter I feel that merchandising and connecting paint to canvas based on inspiration are apples and oranges. The purpose of gaming is economics. I must paint even if no one is looking.

They aren't the next big art form, they've been the next big art form since Halo (for xbox) was born. Interactive marketing within games isnt' even all that new anymore...the next "big thing" with video games will be traveling tournaments. Kids (and adults) want to show off their skills in public forums AND have the opportunity to win cash and prizes...just a thought... g.

I generally agree with the comment. If not "THE" then "A" new art form.

When one considers both the creative and social aspects of, for example, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band and the introduction of the Wii as an indication of new approaches to gaming, I see the potential for come coming new form. Hey, I'm a 47 yr old non-gamer, and I can see it. Why can't you? LOL

The fact that some games are mindless time wasters does not mean videogames as a whole are not a viable artform. That is like saying all films are junk because of mindless action films or all books are trash because of romance novels. Maybe most videogames aren't there yet, but there are some real pieces of interactive art out there: Shadow of the Colossus, Portal, Bioshock, and even Katamari Damacy. Videogames as an artform can only grow in the next decade.

creators of video games are artists, i don't contest that. next big thing? no way, maybe the big thing of the moment, but not going to take over the art scene like the art deco movement or pop art. video games can be interactive like art, but also hours of brain cell killing mindlessness (ok, maybe to some people art is also mindless), but from the viewers perspective, one has the potential to waste so much more time interacting with video games, then a degas at the met.