It sometimes feels as though the debate surrounding games as art is forever stuck in a cyclical mire. For every game that indicates some transcendent shift toward the artistic, several more insist on dragging it, kicking and screaming, back to disposable hobby territory. Though this cycle may seem frustratingly rote, maybe the process of advancement toward art form can better be observed through the processes of development, rather than the final (and singular) output of any given development cycle. As I write this, Batman: Arkham Origins is sneaking its way into stores, and no doubt, many millions of PS3s and X360s. With it though comes not just the excitement of a new installment in a beloved franchise, but also trepidation carried by the widely acknowledged shift...
