Earlier much futile thought had been devoted to the question of whether photography is an art. The primary question – whether the very invention of photography had not transformed the entire nature of art – was not raised. Soon the film theoreticians asked the same ill-considered question with regard to the film. But the difficulties which photography caused traditional aesthetics were mere child’s play as compared to those raised by the film.

– Walter Benjamin, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (emphasis added)

And have we asked that question about games yet, or are we too busy debating with film critics?