In the whole argument over whether or not video games are art, one issue that often goes overlooked is whether or not the industry truly wants that burden.  A recent Associated Press story covering war games says the industry doesn’t want to get too serious for the fear they might seem too frivolous to cover serious matters.  They have a legitimate concern.

Consider that comic books generally can get away with more silliness and pointlessness simply because, in general, they don’t take themselves too seriously.  That’s not to discredit the work of serious comic artists, but Spider-Man is still mostly about being a superhero, and not about making great social statements (even if it does now and then).  Films, on the other hand, take themselves all too seriously.  Even comic book films are often dismissed as being "too silly," when it would seem that’s exactly what they are supposed to be.

Compare that to video games, where almost the entire catalog of any given system is comic book territory.  Sure, there is some seriousness to Halo, but nothing really above the pulp novel level.  Its story is nowhere near the level of art, nor is it what most players are looking for.  But the AP has a point, what about war games?  How can you make games like Army of Two and Call of Duty 4 without inviting questions about the serious nature of the medium?

The short answer is that you can’t.  That’s why the gaming medium is quickly entering murky waters.  Years ago the comic book industry basically split itself in two.  There’s still the superhero comics that little kids and some adults read, but there’s also the very adult graphic novels such as Maus, that really only adults read.  There is some overlap, but not complete.

One can envision a day when the game industry looks very similar.  Lots of Mario and Sonic titles for the mass audience, but a deeper and darker set of games made for a very different audience.  Games such as Bioshock hint at this future, but they remain very much somewhere near the middle.  For now, that seems the place the gaming industry is most comfortable.

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