Before digging into deeper subjects, it is important to begin the conversation with a basic understanding of why video games even matter at all. Why should those who do not play video games often, or at all, even care what video games have to say about religion, spirituality, life, or God?
The strong reliance of video games on computer technology long hindered their ability to be a powerful form of artistic expression. The color palette, animations, length, sound, and other features were limited by the very means of presenting games to the player.
As technology has advanced, greater artistic freedom has been given to those who make games. When a game today has the pixelated graphics and beeping sounds of arcade titles, it is an intentional art style rather than a technology barrier. Though many gamers are often clamoring for graphical realism, games offer many diverse artistic directions. The Playstation 3 game Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (pictured above), for example, shows the beautiful art style of Japanese animators from the famed Studio Ghibli. The graphics of the game look like they were taken right out of Japanese anime, the difference being that the player is an active participant in this animated world rather than a passive viewer.
In 2012 the Smithsonian American Art Museum ran one of the first exhibits dedicated to the art of video games, and there will likely be many more like it. As the medium continues to evolve, it will become more and more often recognized as a unique form of interactive art.
The best selling video game of 2013, Grand Theft Auto V, generated 1 billion dollars in retail sales in three days. That's $1 billion, with a "b." The highest grossing film of all time, Avatar, took 17 days to hit the $1 billion mark.
According to the NPD research group, in 2013 US gamers spent an astounding $15.39 billion on video games. To put that number in perspective: the US/Canada box office brought in $10.9 billion for 2013, and the US music industry revenue was $7 billion for the same year. Americans collectively spent more money on video games in 2013 than they did on music or going to the cinema!
These numbers are probably going to surprise a lot of readers. Most people are unaware of just how large the industry has become in the last several decades. Breaking down these enormous numbers reveals just how diverse video games have become. Some play games on their phone or tablet in order to pass the time while they're bored. Many play games almost as a competitive sport, both casually and even professionally in some cases. And for some people games are much more: they are a hobby, an art, a way to explore fantastic new worlds and experience great stories.
No matter what kind of gamer or game is being played, the reality is that the way people spend their time and money is an expression of what they value. The vast economic powerhouse that the game industry has become is an expression of just how much and how many people value video games.
As art, games are able to express and facilitate human emotion and thought in a unique and interactive environment unlike any other medium. As an industry, games are a powerhouse that demands attention, illustrating their cultural importance by the massive amounts of money people are willing to spend on them.
These are just two reasons why video games should be taken seriously. In part two, we will explore some others, forming a foundation for a serious conversation about video games and God.