This is the conclusion of respected games developer (and creator of indie favourite, Braid), Jonathan Blow, as revealed in this article in The Atlantic magazine. The article itself is interesting, featuring interviews with Blow himself – who has, in the past, been labelled somewhat pretentious (you can decide for yourself after reading the Atlantic piece) – and actually offers a more balanced take on the “video games as art” debate than the introductory blurb might suggest. The article also serves as a rather eloquent piece of promotional material for Blow’s upcoming exploration/puzzle game, The Witness…

In response to the arguments put forth in the article, however, The Brainy Gamer has undertaken to produce a catalogue of “smart games”, comprising those titles that meet Blow’s own criteria for being “artistic or intellectually sophisticated”. The catalogue is off to a great start (and looks as though it will provide some excellent ideas for my own work…), but is actively seeking user contributions. If you can think of a game that might meet the above requirements, head on over to the catalogue to submit it.