Scott Pilgrim and Videogames in Relation to Other Media

Where to begin with all things Scott Pilgrim? The incredible series of graphic novels which inspired an equally incredible film with an incredible soundtrack and created the basis for an incredibly fun side scrolling beat-em up. As a 'case example' Scott Pilgrim wraps up the ways games are represented in other media, and how other media is represented in games in a nice little package, and at the core of that package are videogames.

Videogames are the of the utmost importance when considering all things Scott Pilgrim. Videogame culture is central to the graphic novels, which inspired the movie: Scott Pilgrim vs The World, which contained a soundtrack by Beck and Nigel Godrich among others. Just after the movie was released Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game was released on Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. “Scott Pilgrim: The case example” shows how videogame culture has inspired graphic novels, film, music and games itself. If Scott Pilgrim was a Russian Doll, videogames would be both the small core in the middle and the big outer shell (or a sandwich with videogames being the bread, whichever metaphor works better).

The point is that videogames are extremely important in modern culture, now the games as art debate is for another day but just as literature inspired theatre, which then inspired film, which inspired television; videogames are now a part of that artistic group, and just as television was vilified when it was a young, growing medium, videogames are now vilified as well. It doesn't matter that literature and theatre are considered high culture, whereas television and games are considered low (film straddles both camps), they are still part of the same overarching artistic culture. Just as all films aren't art, all games aren't art either. 'Blockbuster' games, such as Call of Duty or Fifa can't be considered art just as Hot Tub Time Machine and Transformers can't be considered art, but they are all a part of modern culture and to try and separate videogames from other media, in terms of status or accusing them of "corrupting the nations youth", is utterly ridiculous (or in other words batshit insane).

(Ed- Both David and Sam believe that Hot Tub Time Machine should be considered art but the rest of the critical world is against us on this.)