Debate over: Video games now officially art
Are games art? Yes. They are. Don't argue! It's the law.
Well, not law, but governmental definition - Forbes reports that the US National Endowment for the Arts has expended the definition of its jurisdiciton to include video games.
"Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); media created for theatrical release; performance programs; artistic segments for use within an existing series; multi-part webisodes; installations; and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more."
The new definition comes into play in 2012, and will allow game developers to apply for grants of up to $200,000, alongside the more traditional artists listed above.
The National Endowment for the Arts was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the US government, and provides grant money for individual projects as well as initiatives.
Thanks, Ripten.