Thatgamecompany (the game design company that released flOw for PSN) is releasing another title called Flower. You can check it out here. I unfortunately have yet to own a PS3 but the renderings up on the site are absolutely stunning. Lately, there has been much debate on whether or not a video game can be art. Rod Humble, Jason Rohr (Rohr actually critiques some of Humble’s works on his site here) and others have really started thinking about the debate with an art historical/art critical mind. This debate is something I have a lot of opinion over and would like to look into more, especially since I never see any mention of linking games to the types of works done by neo-avant-garde artists, works that relied almost entirely on audience interactions (that were, dare I say, even scripted). The avant-garde and their naked gesticulations and perplexing ideals aside, Flower to me, is a tactical example of a more Objectivist or Romantic Realist genre. It recreates life and represents it, but from an artist’s persepective. The fantasy it potentially allows the player to endure is understandable and identifiable, but it quantifies (or qualifies??) an abstract idea of human connectedness/yearning for pastoral landscapes. Thanks a lot Flower (note sarcasm) for yet again making me want to buy a PS3, something I really cannot afford at the moment. But also… thanks for pushing a few boundaries and creating an entirely different interaction and experience that could be both soothing and rewarding for all types of players.
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