Video games are one of the most influential contemporary media, shaping not only leisure but also cultural and political narratives. They have already found their way into the collections of art museums around the world, and now - into the MO Museum, which presented the first video game exhibition in Lithuania, "GamePlay".
In the opening discussion, exhibition curators Agnė Kuprytė and Laura Schmidt, game critic Artūras Rumiancevas, health sociologist Dr. Benediktas Gelūnas, and Nordcurrent Marketing Manager Ada Mockutė-Jaime shared why video games are still rarely seen through the prism of art, how they can be both an escape and a challenge, and how to treat them responsibly – both for ourselves and when raising a new generation of gamers.
Exploring unique perspectives
A video game exhibition at an art museum in Lithuania is a new phenomenon, but games are becoming increasingly common in the collections of art museums around the world. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Pompidou Center in Paris, and others have them in their collections.
"One of the aims of the exhibition was to reveal the potential of this medium, to introduce it to people who feel completely alien to the world of games. We also wanted to show how games can differ from the beliefs or negative connotations that some people may have from the past," says MO Museum curator Agnė Kuprytė.
The exhibition "GamePlay" organized by the MO Museum in collaboration with the Media Art Center (ZKM) in Karlsruhe presents games by independent developers and artists that are distinctly different from the publications of major game studios. According to the exhibition's co-curator and ZKM representative Laura Schmidt, the latter have much less freedom for innovative forms of expression.
"Independent game developers have the often financially costly, but in a sense privileged, freedom to explore the possibilities of games - what they exist, what boundaries or rules can be broken, how to change established practices," says L. Schmidt.
Game is a way of telling stories
The journey of games from pirated discs on the market to a museum hall in Lithuania is long and interesting. This is something that game critic and curator of BLON and GameOn game programs Artūras Rumiancevas experienced very personally. He started writing game reviews more than two decades ago and sought to present their broad context.
"At that time, the Internet in Lithuania was still just a source of information, not intended for games - we still bought them at markets and kiosks. We couldn't write about the latest games, because they were simply not available. Besides, many of our readers only dreamed of game consoles."
"When introducing games, we had to provide a lot of context and stories so that people would be interested in reading the magazine even without playing. That approach has stayed with me to this day," says one of the pioneers of game reviews in Lithuania.
Today, games are a part of many people's daily lives, with enormous potential for creative expression and ideas. Unlike traditional forms of media, video games allow people to actively engage in experiencing the various stories they tell.
"Of course, films or books can also involve us in various social situations or dilemmas, but in video games we have the opportunity to change those situations, to interact with them much more actively. This is a great opportunity to be in new circumstances for us, to experience stories or lives that we would not know otherwise," emphasizes L. Schmidt.
Building strong communities
Among the most important aspects of video games, which are important to more than three billion people who actively play games around the world, is the creation of communities. Ada Mockutė-Jaime, Marketing Manager of Nordcurrent, the largest game studio in Lithuania and a partner of the GamePlay exhibition, says she was surprised by the size, closeness, and unique rules of gaming communities.
"It may seem that games are just button-mashing, especially in mobile games, but a huge part of the impact of games is the communities created by people. Their members devote a lot of time, resources, and creativity to forming a unique world where connections, rules, and the exchange of ideas are born," shares A. Mockutė-Jaime.
According to a Nordcurrent representative, games are an escape from the complex, demanding daily life for many people, a way to relax. However, the gaming community does not bypass the value and social issues that are important in everyday life - this is characteristic not only of games from independent developers, but also of commercial products.
"Although a recent study commissioned by Nordcurrent in Lithuania showed that about 60 percent of people agree that games are not just entertainment, it would be difficult to deny that for many people they are primarily a means of relaxation and communication. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balance between social, educational content and entertainment value," emphasizes A Mockutė-Jaime.
Game worlds – both refuge and challenge
The alternative worlds offered by video games, the opportunity to escape from everyday life, and try out different life scenarios are often not viewed only positively – for many people, games are associated with detachment from reality and developed addictions. Health sociologist Dr. Benediktas Gelūnas emphasizes that the situation is not so unambiguous.
"Entertainment, engagement, aesthetic and narrative value, social opportunities, escape from everyday life in a good sense - these are naturally positive features of games that attract players. However, large game companies use them as weapons to make games as addictive as possible."
"This uses elements of gambling, limited-time events, rewards, competition, and many other techniques that are well-known in this industry. So, some aspects of games are enjoyable and positive, while others are much more problematic," says B. Gelūnas.
How to play safely?
But how do you distinguish which games provide a meaningful experience and which can have negative consequences? This question often arises for parents whose children are involved in the world of games. When choosing games, B. Gelūnas emphasizes the importance of education and upbringing, noting that numerous studies show that neither strict prohibitions nor granting absolute freedom are effective parental tactics.
"What works is both obvious and complex - the key is the relationship between parents and children, as well as understanding how games work and what they can involve. Social integration, various alternatives, and having a life outside the screen are much more important in maintaining healthy habits than extremely careful selection of games," the scientist says.
A. Rumiancevas agrees with him, emphasizing that it is important not only to educate children about safe play, but also to take an interest in the content of the games themselves, gain knowledge, and evaluate which ones are most suitable for children based on their own experience.
"People rarely read books together - we usually do it individually, and then talk about them. I would suggest applying the same logic to games - it's worth just talking about them, observing them a little, joining in on the game here and there, discovering what you like and find interesting, and sharing it with your children. I think that's the only advice that works," A. Rumiancevas reflects.
The exhibition "GamePlay" at the MO Museum is open until November 16.
