Osmos (Another video game post)
Anyone who frequents this blog probably knows I'm a gamer... I mean the post I made about Video Games as Art probably made it pretty obvious, and actually started one of the most interesting discussions about the subject I've had ever. Going back to that idea, I posited, within the definition of art as something that exists only for itself, art exists only to be art, it is difficult for a game to be art... there will always remain objectives, things to do in a game that make it a game. Not that I didn't suggest the possibility of the medium to deliver art eventually, and I think it can. I'm not sure how, but...
Anyway, I say all of this... and I'm not sure where I'm going with it. I mean, it's been said and done. However, I have spent most of the last few months playing indie games that try to close the gap a bit. Mostly, I'm making this post to say: these games are friggin awesome. I'll just rant about one for now... this isn't a video game blog, so I won't get all crazy about it. But buy it. Seriously.
I was showing the Osmos demo to a friend today (I intend to pick it up this weekend off the internet, it's only $10) and playing the level "force reception" in which you're set in orbit, music playing, slowly absorbing smaller motes, whirling around in a cosmic wheel like so many planetoids, and it occured to me... I could stare at this all day. It's just really, really pretty. Take a look for yourself below, or just get the demo here.
I suppose what I'm getting at is: Indie games are awesome.
Osmos Trailer from hemisphere games on Vimeo.