The Evolution of Video Gaming as Art History

The Impact of Video Games on Society

It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that video games took off as an industry. Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Nintendo’s Game & Watch signalled the beginning of a new era of video games. These and many other games have evolved and influenced culture, art, and entertainment.

Back in the day, computer magazines frequently published code so that readers could copy it and acquire a free game. I recall typing out lines and lines of code for a free game that would run on my father’s Commodore Vic-20. The Vic-20 was the first computer of any description to sell one million units, but more importantly, ours had the 3.5K RAM expansion pack! To put that in context, the smartphone in our pocket has thousands upon thousands of times the power.

However, I was always a little disappointed that the result fell short of the beautiful artist illustrations or cover art that accompanied the code. Lines and lines of text, numbers, symbols and signs that did not make any sense to me.

I remember reading about how future games would become more photorealistic, which was something I could only dream of at the time.

Nonetheless, video games enable us to express ourselves, tell stories, and capture a specific moment in time. For example, Rockstar Games’ 1997 release of Grand Theft Auto is widely regarded as ushering in a gaming revolution. 

The game offered a bitingly critical look at contemporary American life; some regard it as one of the most important and influential titles of all time. Despite being banned in a number of countries and heavily criticized by many groups for its portrayal of negative emotion and violence, it is widely regarded as a game changer and social commentary.

Oscar Wilde once wrote that “Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.” Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS) series, on the other hand, influenced a new generation of skaters. People who had never skated before were soon sharing their favorite “trick” button combinations. Not only that, but a group of skateboarding enthusiasts recreated the video game series in real life.

It is no secret that video games are an important part of our culture and, for many people, have become a way of life.

The Popularity of Retro Video Games

Retro video games are a popular phenomenon, with many gamers nowadays reliving the glory days of gaming through collectible consoles and beloved older games. Some of these games are exclusive to older consoles, but some are being remastered for newer consoles.

Small single-board computers, such as the Raspberry Pi, can run retro game emulation software. This allows individuals without the appropriate hardware and software the accessibility to experience gaming history and indulge their nostalgia.

The popularity of retro video games has been steadily on the rise for the past few years. Not only because of nostalgia and aesthetics, but also because the majority of people who grew up playing these games now have disposable income. Many retro video game stores offer many second hand bargains and increasingly valuable rare items for the serious collectors alike.

Video gaming history is an interesting subject because it tells us about how far gaming has come in such a short span of time. It also tells us about how digital games are different from their predecessors and how they are influencing our culture in various ways.

Nostalgic aesthetics make old consoles more appealing to players because they evoke childhood memories. Video arcades also contribute to this nostalgic aesthetic as they remind players of the old days when video gaming was not so accessible at home.

The Resurgence of Pixel Art

Pixel art is a type of digital art created with graphical software in which images are constructed entirely from pixels. Pixel art is particularly relevant in the world of video games, as 24% of the best-selling games of all time employ this art style.

It is commonly associated with low-resolution graphics from 8-bit and 16-bit era computers and arcade video game consoles. Pixel art is distinguished by its low overall colour count. Pixel art as a medium is similar to early video game graphics, which were created by devices that could only output a limited number of pixel colours such as LED displays and graphing calculators.

Furthermore, many pixel artists believe that using a large number of colours, especially when they are relatively similar in value, is superfluous in most cases and detracts from the overall cleanliness of the image, making it appear messier.

Even though technological limitations have since been overcome, pixel artists and game studios continue to use the art form.

The past few years have seen a resurgence of pixel art in video games, and it is not hard to see why. There is something about the limitations of working with limited colours and pixels that makes projects much more interesting and creative. Pixel art is enjoying a sort of newfound popularity, with many modern games using retro aesthetics and themes.

When I first saw Minecraft, I could not believe how popular it was, in terms of its graphics, I thought it was going backwards. However, devoid of any visual nostalgia, pixel art was something completely new to the next generation of gamers.

By watching my daughter play, I realised how sophisticated the game was, and it reminded me of playing with Lego when I was younger. In the future, I expect we will see some very creative, spatially aware architects and urban planners.

Remakes

The original The Last of Us was published on the PlayStation 3 in 2013 and then remastered a year later for the PlayStation 4. Less than a decade after its initial release, the game is being remade with the new title “The Last of Us: Part I” for the PlayStation 5. This will help to market the franchise to a new audience as it moves to television as a planned HBO series.

Why Are Video Games Becoming More Than Just Nostalgia?

The video gaming industry is huge and has become an important part of our culture. In the last few years, the revenues of the video game industry have been larger than the film industry.

For some, video games have evolved from a pastime activity to a lifestyle, from YouTubers to professional e-sports players. The number of people playing video games on a daily basis is increasing, with the average gamer playing for six hours each week. Furthermore, non-traditional gamers like women and older people becoming more and more prevalent.

Since the release of Pong in 1972, video games have come a long way. Initially, they were just a way to escape reality and forget about life for a while, but they have evolved into much more. They are an art form, a business, and even a tool for education.

Second-hand Nostalgia from Cultural Memory

The term “nostalgia” comes from the Greek word nostos, meaning “return home,” and algia, meaning “pain.” In the past, nostalgia was used to describe a physical illness. However, in the late 18th century, nostalgia was redefined as a psychological condition.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion usually associated with memories of family, friends, or life events that evoke feelings of happiness and comfort in people. Furthermore, restorative nostalgia sees the past as a place of truth rather than longing. Reflective nostalgia, on the other hand, considers questions of belonging and heritage while avoiding the ambiguities of modern society.

In contrast, second-hand nostalgia occurs when someone who has not experienced something personally, feels nostalgic for it. Often, this is only because they have heard about or seen it before. 

This type of nostalgia can be found in video games, where people feel nostalgic for something they have never experienced themselves. Such as, playing an old arcade game, or feeling nostalgic for late-20th-century video gaming culture.

However, these emotions can also be a powerful marketing tool that can be used to get people to buy products. From the early days of arcades, when games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders were released, to the modern era of video gaming consoles. Additionally, the media mediate memories for the millennium generation via shows like Stranger Things.

As time goes on, the video gaming industry will continue to use nostalgia as a way to keep consumers interested in their products.