Minecraft Awarded GameCity Videogame Arts Prize
Minecraft was awarded GameCity videogame art prize Leo Kelion Technology reporter
29 October 2011
Minecraft has won a brand new award for arts in computer games.
The GameCity videogame culture festival concluded in Nottingham and the prize was announced.
Mojang is a Swedish company independent of the title, developed the title. In an open environment players are required to construct objects from blocks.
The game was chosen over other releases including Valve's Portal 2, Southend Interactive's Ilomilo as well as Game Freak's Pokemon Black.
"It's an honor to be compared to those games," said Markus Persson Mojang's co-founder.
"Winning this award helps make Minecraft the best game you can play."
Nearly four million users have purchased the game on the internet, despite the fact that it is still in beta. The game is scheduled for a formal release next month.
"It just wasn't like any other... it felt like it had an expanding life of its own. It had an organic nature," one of the judges, Ed Hall, told the BBC.
"It's simplistic and addictive, and there's an element of beauty in what you're doing."
Culturally confident
GameCity's director, Iain Simons, said the company was "delighted" by the decision.
His festival is now in its sixth anniversary. He says he's observed a rise in the number of gamers' average age and more women attracting to the festival throughout the years.
He added, "There is a much larger constituency of people who play games."
"They have become more mainstream and have been more confident in their culture and this prize, and the festival, is largely about examining that confidence."
The phenomenon is attributed to the growth of smartphones. The popularity of sophisticated games that are now possible thanks to smartphones today is largely due to the growth in smartphone use.
Modern computer processors and graphics chips undoubtedly offer developers a bigger palette to choose from. However, Mr Simon does not think these advances make any difference to the designers their status as artists.
"I believe that technology is an untruth. What technology is driving is the ability for games to appear more real. He said that it was possible to appear like an AAA blockbuster.
"I don't think that is an element that makes them art. We wouldn't be crying at Bambi. It's not about photography."
The judges in the contest seem to be in agreement and admit they chose the most basic looking title on offer.
The jury was comprised of 13 people, including Dr Who actress Frances Barber, Labour MP Tom Watson and the artistic director of London's Southbank centre, Jude Kelly.
Enhancing life
Minecraft's merits were not immediately accepted by everyone. Spletne Nitin Sawhney (composer) was also on the panel and was critical of the music.
However, neither the design of the game or its music proved fatal to its chances.
"[We askedwhether there was a game that we believed was head and shoulder above the other? Was there merit in the game in enhancing your the quality of life and enjoyment, beyond playing the game itself? Can it change your perception of the world better?" said Mr. Hall.
"Could a computer game be seen as something that shouldn't be sneered at in the future?"
Minecraft has the classic elements of gaming, including monsters roaming at night and the opportunity to battle online multiplayer battles.
It was chosen due to its ability to inspire gamers and its mood.
"It's the broadest definition of art that you can get," said Mr Hall.
Computer games are definitely artistic. There are images and storylines that entice you, concepts that boggle your mind for hours, and a total package that will keep you returning for days."
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