Part II

The second issue is much clearer. When it comes to video games as art, the discussion inevitably turns to Will Wright, Sid Meier, Shigeru Miyamoto et al. The constant referencing of these guys is bad because the video game greats are great primarily at one thing: game design (and, in Miyamoto's case, caricature). This is nothing to scoff at. But there should be more to great games than great design -- or rather, there should be more games that are great for other reasons.

Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton, to use two examples I mentioned before, haven't made any great movies. But their unique visual senses have shown new possibilities for movies and influenced much of what came after them. I think Alan Moore and Frank Miller are vastly overrated, but they have brought new ideas and possibilities to the art and writing of comic books. By all means, let's celebrate the gaming greats. What we need is gaming gods who are great at different things.