Introduction
AOVG Update Notes...
- New homepage art added.
- New Awards feature article posted.
- The Legend of Zelda and Bomberman profiles added to Retro section.
- New story added to Memories section.
- More focused Trends section updated with "Crosshair Affair"
- Many new reviews added including GoldenEye 007, Final Fantasy 7 and more.
What can we say? Since the site was last updated, we received over 4,000 hits which is pretty good for a
site that wasn't even updated. For that, we must truly apologize to all the users who kept coming and writing. Its was the emails
that inspired us to continue, despite wanting to perhaps discontinue the site. This update is dedicated to
those readers who kept our spirits up. Thank you! (^_^)
The Trends section has also received a major overhaul and will be less news-like and be more about artistic trends found in
elements like sound, graphics or gameplay. More dates will also be posted though out to help users get to new material quicker.
We also must apologize for never writing the second part of the "Way of Martial Arts Gaming" feature. It was much more of a daunting
task then we imagined and it will be written as soon as we have an oppurtunity. Again, we
apologize for those who kept expecting it. Until then, there will be other features posted.
What is the "Art" of Videogames?
Often, any discussion about art is
difficult. Defining the boundaries of the subject is nearly impossible.
Many things can be considered as art, whether it's good or bad. Trying to
define the word in one statement wouldn't do the topic any justice. With
that in mind, this Web site is devoted to the discussion and analysis of
the pinnacle of Videogames. Chi Kong Lui, the founder, chose the name
Videogames very consciously. He didn't want to use industry buzz
words like 'interactive entertainment' or 'electronic gaming'
because that would imply that games have achieved a status in culture and
that isn't true yet. He felt that games of today are a part of low culture
and a far cry from being considered fine art. Videogames are still
more about having fun, as opposed to expressive communication in an
intellectual sense. The medium is only about twenty years old, which is
extremely young for any form of communication. Still, every now and then
there have been a few sparks in the industry that have elevated Videogames
a few steps higher on the cultural level. This Web site pays tribute to
those who strive to be so much more than just Videogames; breaking
boundaries and deserving to be called art.
What you won't find here...
- Image Galleries -- Art is not only about pretty pictures that
look aesthetically pleasing. Art is more about intelligence and the pursuit
of knowledge. While you may find an occasional picture to help illustrate
ideas, you won't find any FTP archives containing gigabytes worth of images.
- FAQs, Strategy Guides and Cheats -- We'll leave this job to the
big boys like EGM or Gamepro. The focus of this Web site lies elsewhere.
- News -- We'd rather leave this to job to the guys who do it best,
like Next Generation, but there is an artistic
trends section which will be
updated frequently. See below for a full description of the section.
What you will find here...
- Feature Article -- This is
a frequently updated article that will mainly be about major issues in the
Videogame industry.
- Retrospective Timeline -- This
is a time line that will talk about landmark games which have had a
historical impact on the industry as a whole. If you want to find out why
certain games are important, here's the place. The Retro area also has a sub-section
called 'Memories' where users can read and share fond stories about videogames.
- Trends -- This section is
about recent creative and artistic trends in the industry that may or may not indicate some sort
of historical significance in the future. It's sort of a weather forecast
for Videogames. Few magazines will talk about this kind of information
because they are more concerned with extremely current news as opposed to
making predictions. This section addresses that missing factor.
- Reviews -- These reviews of
games will differ from other reviews because they will take a more
artistically critical approach.
- Links -- This section will
not only be a collection of links to good Web sites that focus on
Videogames on a different level, but there will also be a list of other
resources like books and magazines which I feel are essential reading for
anyone who considers him or herself a scholar on the subject of Videogames.
Comments & Contributions...
If you have any questions, comments, criticisms,
or suggestions, please e-mail them to aovg@aol.com.
All the information here is free knowledge that anyone can access so long as they are open minded.
'Hit counters' don't measure the quality of a site. So, if you think we're doing a good job, feel you
have learned something, or would just like to discuss videogames on an intellectual level,
please e-mail us; we would appreciate it.
The homepage is also accepting literary contributions on a freelance
basis. Currently, everything is written by a few writers and covering games can be a bit daunting
at times. You don't have to worry about making a commitment so if you have a good
idea for a feature article and would like to write a piece, please e-mail us
about it. Maybe if you've spotted a trend that you think deserves notice or
played a game that you'd love to review, you'll let us know. Our only requirement
is that you have a philosophy about games that is similar to the site. You don't
have to agree with everything written, but you should try to understand the
mentality. So, after you have read through most of the site and still think
you have what it takes to write for the homepage, then e-mail us at
aovg@aol.com. Remember,
this is all NON-PROFIT! We are not paying anyone for their writing. Those looking for a
chance to intellectually express themselves about games, this is it!
Awards & Accolades
[ Intro |
Feature |
Retro |
Trends |
Reviews |
Links ]
Have any Comments or Suggestions?
Would you like to write for this web site?
All copyrighted images and names are trademarks of their respective copyright holders.
All original work © 1998 Chi Kong Lui