Gaming and Art, Inspiration and Inspired

Art and gaming are very different disciplines, but both exist within the realms of popular culture and influence each other. Many games are inspired by art and considered to be a form of interactive art, and many artworks have been inspired by the experience of gaming.

As separate creative disciplines, the creation of art and games has never been that different; they merely exist in different spaces and use different mediums. As newer generations grow older and members of them become artists and game designers, we can see that both fields inspire each other. 

We know that art mirrors life, and gaming is a big part of the lives of many people, so it has its place being represented in art. When it comes to gaming, there are some renowned games that take their players through emotional journeys that inspire feelings and touch their lives in the same way that art can. 

This article will explore the relationship between these two fields as they inspire and reflect on each other, as well as touch on the idea that games can be art, and look at how gaming platforms use art to improve the experience of their players.

How online gaming platforms use art to enhance player experience

Art is all around us in our lives and can be found in even the simplest of things. It is used to improve the environments we live and move in, and so it is in online gaming spaces as well. The online gaming worlds of MMORPGs, MOBAs and even online casinos all use art to improve the experience of their players.

The way that the interface of a game is designed is, as long as it's well made, usually based on artistic principles. You would no doubt agree that intelligent use of visual design elements can help to naturally guide the way that players use online platforms and even how they feel when certain things happen. As a simple example, the themes that the games take on at the best bitcoin casinos, as recommended by affiliate sites, are all created in order to whisk the players away on the wings of imagination and to add different layers of experience to the casino games they are playing.

In online multiplayer gaming, the skins and avatars that players control are painstakingly created by teams of talented digital artists with specific themes in mind. These character models are often designed with multiple layers of meaning embedded in every line and pixel of their creation. These characters and their skins are typically not related to the mechanics of a game like Fortnite, for example, but rather are avenues for playing expression and identity, which are crucial elements of art.

We hope that you agree that the usage of art in online gaming spaces isn't just a trick to pull players' attention. We think that art exists in these spaces as a core tenet of what they are and what people love about them. Art incorporated as the building blocks of these online gaming spaces helps players to find meaning and connect with the worlds that they play in.

Art inspires games

Gaming has always been inspired by art, well maybe you would say that Pacman drew little inspiration from art, but as gaming as an industry has matured, there have been countless examples of games with themes and storylines taken straight from the pages of ancient mythology, paintings, statues and stories. 

Game designers want to make games that relate to the things they enjoy and that have inspired them, and often enough, those things are pieces of art. A perfect example of this is the Assassin's Creed series. Every entry in the series is set at a different historical period and a core mechanic is the traversal of famous architecture and landmarks. As your character climbs and assassinates their way through these time periods, the player finds themselves immersed in the culture and art of those times.

Smaller gaming ventures often skip the 'inspired by' descriptor and move straight towards being art in their own right. There are a large number of games that are built from the ground up around surrealist or abstract ideas of color and shape representation, and which use those ideas to bring their players on journeys relating to loss and madness and take you on an emotional journey.

Games inspire art

As we said earlier, art mirrors life. With gaming being such a powerful and important part of many people's lives, it's no wonder that art is created that reflects that importance. From the pixel art of the earliest retro games to iconic characters and moments from gaming's greats, gaming has the mirror of art held up to it often.

In particular, the field of pop art has seen many pieces inspired by the worlds of gaming. With bold colors, interactive video elements and exaggerated forms, this artistic field is perfect for representing the larger-than-life characters like Link and Lara Croft from the annals of gaming history. Artists like Takashi Murakami work in an artistic space that thrives on blending the lines between high and low art and are more than happy to incorporate video game cultural aesthetics into their work.

The soundtracks of many of the more popular games of the last 3 decades have also found a place in the culture beyond simply the backing to an adventure. Games like Halo and Elden Ring have had their soundtracks scored by orchestras and performed in large, sold-out concert halls. While this might be bending our own definition of being 'inspired by' gaming, you can't deny the artistry inherent in these soundtracks.

Conclusion

Just like any other creative field that touches people's lives, gaming has inspired many artworks and has been inspired by many pieces of art. With the ability to evoke emotions and take players on journeys of self-discovery, many people are beginning to accept that gaming can be, at its best, another medium through which to deliver art. 

Art will always inspire and be inspired by the things around us that we care about, and gaming is on that list for many people.