Is Sonic CD Art? Your Vote Could Make It So!

You know I like gaming, but would you say it is art? For instance would you consider Sonic CD as “art”.

Well, you may have heard of the Smithsonian American Art museum? From March 16th to September 30th 2012 they are going to be holding an celebration of video games as art and you have the opportunity to vote for your favourite video games to represent across five distinct eras which includes SEGA and Sonic titles – such as the aforementioned Sonic CD.

If you go to http://www.artofvideogames.org/ you can sign up easy enough, though voting is something of an adventure in itself at the moment – also choose wisely, once you’ve voted for your game in the console/category that’s it! Only one vote per three games.

The SEGA related line-up is as follows:

ERA 1 70s-80s: ColecoVision

Target Genre: Carnival, Zaxxon, Buck Rogers: Planet Of Zoom

ERA 2 – 1980-89: SEGA Master System

Action – Shinobi, Mickey Mouse in the Land of Illusion, Marble Madness

Adventure – Phantasy Star, Heroes Of The Lance, Ultima IV: Quest For The Avatar

Target – Fantasy Zone, After Burner, Missile Defence 3D

Combat/Strategy – Gain Ground, Spy Vs Spy, Rampart

ERA 3 – 1989-1994: SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis

Action – Earthwork Jim, Sonic CD, Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Adventure – Phantasy Star IV, Flashback: The Quest For Identity, Shining Force 2
Target – Gunstar Heroes, Viewpoint, Ranger X
Combat/Strategy: Herzog Zwei, Dune II: Battle For Arrakis, Nobunaga’s Ambition

ERA 4: 1995-2002 – SEGA Dreamcast

Action – Jet Grind/Set Radio, Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi
Adventure – Shenmue, Phantasy Star Online, Skies Of Arcadia
Target – Toy Commander, Typing Of The Dead, Rez
Combat/Strategy: Chu Chu Rocket, Panzer Front, Rhapsody Of Zephyr

SEGA Saturn

Action – NiGHTS into Dreams…, Tomb Raider, Clockwork Night
Adventure – Blazing Dragons, Dark Savior, Panzer Dragoon Saga
Target – Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Black Fire, Wing Arms
Combat/Strategy: Sim City 2000, Blazing Heroes, Command & Conquer

ERA 5: 2003-Present

XBox [Action] – Jet Set Radio Future
XBox [Adventure] – Shenmue II
XBox [Target] – Panzer Dragoon Orta

Voting will remain open until April 7.

I’m a tad disappointed with some of the other selections, you’re not telling me that Total War doesn’t deserve to be in the Modern Windows > Combat/Strategy section for instance. Likewise is the PS3 that devoid of combat/strategy games that Brütal Legend had to go up for selection? The choice between Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask on the N64’s Adventure genre is ludicrous when you consider how many assets are re-used. Likewise, where’s the Atari Jaguar in all of this? Any art related video games exhibition should have Tempest 2000 in by default – what about the Atari ST and the Amiga? Did these not happen or something?

Sigh.

[Via: The Escapist]