Call my cynical, but I think it's worthless arguing with Ebert because I don't think he gives two flying fish about whether or not games are art. He just wants to prove his market worth by generating a "controversy" which generates hits, and proves that he's still "important" even to the 18-24 male demographic (which all gamers fit into, naturally). All a critic has to sell is his opinion, and if no one cares about his opinion there goes his business.

I also think debating what Is or Is Not art at this point is slightly idiotic, unless of course it's from a legal view. We've had Dada, Found Art, Pop Art, Video Art and installation pieces. Art is pretty much anything and everything at this point, so debating "What Is Art?" is like debating "Who Is the Real Shakespeare?" or "Why Has Telltale Abandoned Point n'Click?!" The "debate" has been long over, and whether or not Ebert likes it, games count just as much as anything else.

Maybe the Traditional Art world (Man I love using capital letters! Does it show?) has not "officially" sanctioned video games yet, but that's because we haven't yet had the video game equivalent of Takashi Murakami's Superflat movement to make them. I'm sure it'll happen, though, and probably soon, and it'll probably be 8-bit, because it can't be the latest technology (outdated too soon) and referencing an earlier work is what post-modern does best! Also, it has to be simple to play (so Traditionalists won't feel intimidated) and boring, because nothing says "Art" like being totally uninteresting to 90% of the population.

Don't get me wrong; I think it's important that video games be classified as Art so they can be protected under the same laws as porn. But otherwise I think the argument is a waste of time. Will better games be made if people approach them as "art" rather than "games"? I doubt it. There are many smart, talented people working in the video game industry, and it is an entertainment industry, just like the film and art industry. You don't get into the entertainment industry if you're not motivated, if you don't have any ideas. So you have a group of smart, talented, motivated people full of ideas who are working their butts off; do you really think they aren't already trying to make the best games they can?