I think this post might be a bit out there, but I'm sure many of you are aware of Robert Ebert's controversy statements that Video games can't be Art (note the capital A). Well I recommend everyone to read this . It's damn good read and extremely thought provoking on the question of what is actually art and what that means for computer games. I'm not going say any more about it, because I'd spoil the conclusions, just go read it, now!
After reading it and digesting it a bit, I started thinking about roleplaying games. TBH I never actually thought RPGs could be "sublime art" or create an experience of such. Many popular RPGs are celebrations of "kitsch" (as described by Brian Moriarty in that above link). And that's fine and cool. I love my pulp adventures, superhero heroics and zombie bashing as much as the next fan.
But in particular free RPGs are unburdened by commercial pressures (unlike video games). Putting aside status-chasing of sites like theforge, free RPGs are the works of individuals. There is a potential there for these individuals to be genuine artists and to create something that could be deemed by some to be art or to provide an experience of such. We create these games, not to make money (the industry is way too small), not necessarily for popularity (though that's always very nice) but because we want to. We want to create something and hopefully maybe find an audience. I know there is a focus on "productizing" our work with art, layout and PDFs, but I see them as just being the process currently in place and not one everyone has to follow.
On a different note, can an RPG create an experience of art? Something thought provoking, reflective, transformation, etc. I think it might, more so than a video game or other types of games because an RPG can just use the mechanics of a game to create a unique story or experience.
What say ye?