In an interview, game designer Sam Barlow reflects on Roger Ebert's 2012 assertion that video games cannot be considered art due to their mutable nature. Barlow suggests that while Ebert's perspective might feel outdated in 2025, discussions about artistic boundaries remain relevant. He draws an analogy with viewing experiences on platforms like Netflix, highlighting how algorithmically tailored content blurs lines between user interaction and passive consumption. This conversation comes as a precursor to the release of Barlow's documentary on the making of the FMV game Spycraft, emphasizing the evolving landscape of gaming as art.
Barlow discusses how Netflix algorithms tailor viewing experiences to users, making it feel interactive, unlike the fixed nature of most films and television.
In reflecting on Ebert's claim, Barlow articulates how video games' mutable nature challenges traditional definitions of art, underscoring the ongoing debate.
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