Games Are Art

Video games can be art, but right now they're usually art in the lesser sense that films and cars can be artful - they are commercial products designed for a purpose. Very few games will sacrifice gameplay or mass appeal to make a point or be more aesthetically pleasing to the designer. Major exceptions include Rez, which was halfway between a game and a trip toy, and MGS2, which practically assaulted the player with poor gameplay elements to further that state of mind the director wanted the player in. source

Its easier as a kid to base purchases on something that "looks" good, your usually spending your parents money. As you get older and have to work to make money and most of that goes towards bills and your own kids, you get a little more picky on the games you buy. Sure I dont let a single review change my mind about buying a game I want, but if it is just getting trashed by everyone who plays it, I might decide to wait on it to drop in price before I buy it. source

I think of it as a visual walkthrough of a book or story. Very much like the pictures that are soemtimes added into the pages but in this you can affect the outcome or directly guide yourself. You can only read as fast as you can effectivly play the game. source

Look at games like Bioshock and Fallout 3 and you'll see the artistic value of words those games created. Then there are games with incredible stories, soundtracks, voice acting and graphics. Games like Max Payne, Mafia, Metal Gear Solid, Assassin's Creed 2 is also a great example. Recreation of Renaissance world in Italy in a form of video game was not an easy task IMO. source

I think games can be considered art, mainly because I don't think everyone agrees on what is art and what isn't. But I consider Okami and Wind Waker art from a visual standpoint and SotC from a atmospheric and gameplay POV. source