It doesn't matter whether it was for a video game, magazine/book cover or so on. If I like it and it inspires me in some way, I'll hang it up.

You don't have to hang it "as art" because it IS art. They are beautiful and I would love to hang all of them.

At first, movies weren't considered art. At first, comic books weren't considered art. Right now, some people who unfortunately happen to be very influential don't consider video games to be art. I'm not worried because dinosaurs die, and human expression continues.

To me, an interactive multimedia experience that can inspire almost any human emotion is the very definition of art, and its component pieces, e.g. conceptual drawings or box covers, also qualify as art.

Once you accept that video games are art, the question becomes, "Would you hang art up in your house?"

To be clear, I'm grateful for this post as its highlights some striking images and beautiful works.

However, the subtitle of "Would You Hang It Up?" is entirely unnecessary and even a little insulting. It's analogous to the racist undertones of saying, "You're a credit to your race." If people should be judged independent of their race, art should be judged independent of its industry.

Curby: as someone who worked in the industry for nearly a decade, I'm not revealing a prejudice toward the video game industry, but merely addressing the existing preconceived and still existing notion that video games are a lesser category of entertainment and expression. Even if I think otherwise, not everyone thinks these illustrations are artwork, because of their commercial gaming nature and it's a valid discussion. I don't think all video game illustrations are artwork, but I would consider plenty so (I'm remarking as someone who created illustrative work for video games throughout the years).

Comparing a discussion of what one would hang in their room as art or what they consider art is not analogous to any racial comparisons, and the analogy is a bit heavy handed in making your point (especially since I'm mostly in agreement). But I agree in time video games will lose the stigma of a lesser art, especially as technology begins to merge many of the elements we already consider classic art.

what does this have to do with race?

I don't think the subtitle is out of line at all. Most of the work showcased was done with Photoshop and when I was studying Graphic Design in 91', a lot of the traditional illustrators would scoff at it because it was done on a computer and say, "It's not REAL artwork". Now, just about every posting for a Graphic Designer/Artist requires Photoshop knowledge so I think the question of, "Has video game art found it's rightful place in the art world", just as computer software has as a tool is a legitimate one.

I love them. These would look gorgeous on my walls, and be right at home with the comic art, and movie stills.

Video game art is great! I don't think I'd go with the featured artwork, but definitely something from the Fallout, Dead Space, or Bio Shock games. The detail on some of the newer games is exquisite, and I would definitely consider them to be a form of art.