I think the message is definitely missing from a large number of games. My thesis project attempts to build an interactive experience around a central message/theme, though for the very reasons you described above, I have hesitated to call Telmahre a "game."

Is game even the right word? I suppose the word "film" does not adequately describe modern motion pictures either. I tried to convince a prominent designer at EA that games should be designed around a central theme and he sneered at me, saying that I would change my tune if I had his 10 years of experience (full post on this soon!) So I don't know how exactly it's going to come about--I doubt EA's going to be the one to do it though.

An artist/designer's job is to use his choice of medium to communicate whatever he might care to express. Some may argue that design is for function or business purposes, where Art is for personal. In ones communication they may seek to express any number of things, especially in this (post)post-modern pluralistic era. Ah, there's a word "express".

To express what one thinks or means; the process of making known one's thoughts or feelings; to use mediums to communicate, words, clay, light, pictures, sound, motion; these are all ways to get things out of ourselves, our minds, and in front of others, to communicate ideas with them; how many games have ever done so?

How many video game experiences left you with a new sense of reality?

How many games would you call Art? Good Art changes you, makes you think, and leaves you feeling like the world is anew.

What expression is there in a medium that is the works of many people, which are often driven by the almighty dollar?

Little but the expression of desired sales.

That is not to say that the fantastic talents within the games industry do not hold anything higher than dollars, but as it is right now, the industry is a machine. Driven by product, the illusions of focus groups and marketing numbers; but hey it's a business.

When the medium, which is Video Games, begins to break free from that manufactured mold, and becomes a place where individuals can come to communicate their vision, and are able to, then it will become what we all know it can be.

Heranamous Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, Marcel Duchamp's Toilet 'ready-made'; Orsen Welles’s Citizen Kane, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist, Lucas’s Star Wars (episode IV); these things where done by visionaries carrying out their visions, sometimes by themselves, other times coordinating other's, to fulfill that vision.

There are few that are so fortunate in the gaming industry, or Television, or even Film, to be able to bring their visions to life, before they are killed by the gauntlet of the corporate world.

Modern mass media is awash in disillusionment.

It is us, a new generation of media artists that are called to break free from that mold and prove that Art, communication of the human soul, is possible in today's world of global media.

Video games as Art, expression, visionary communication, have only begun, we are here to usher it forward.
:)

From my experience in EA, designers are trapped by a bunch of "No"s.

As I pitched a very exciting feature to the other designers, they said it's not possible and cost too much to make. As I talked to the programmers and have a sense that is doable, they said but there are so many other things they have to do first. So I have to convince the producer to let the programmers do it first, the producer returned me another "No". It's not their problem with a budget and a time limitation, you have to make choices. I feel in order to let real innovation grow, you need to have the freedom to try different things, at EA this freedom is minimal...

I second that! See my most recent post...

Addiction to my post, I am not saying fun & addicting games are bad. But if all the games are communicating the same message, game is never going to reach the market as wide as film does.

Today's games are mainly focus on a very specific audience group. The rich action in the games today makes the market very similar to the action movies. And we are pretty sure there are people who just never want to see action movies or horro movies. However, there are still other types of movies to back those people up.

You can always find your type of movie. That's why everybody can say movie is one of the greatest art form and entertainment media. Same as books and music.

If video game could not meet the needs from people who want more than actions and fun, video game is still far away from a mature entertainment media.

amen.
you speak the truth.
we'ere stilla very young medium. very imature.
if we are to compare ourselves with another medium, lets say cinema...we're still in the buster keaton era. physical comedy. people getting hurt. really low-brow entertainement. very little message.

but we'll grow up. i like your point of view about beign taken seriiusly as a medium. i always talk about videogames beign taken seriously as ART...but maybe the first step toward becoming a respectable artform is to become a respectable medium.

very good point.