The Interactive Canvas, a book on the artistic merit of games

If you enjoy your games, it's probably not a stretch for you to think of games as art, but what makes them so? And what goes into them? A new book hopes to discuss this with some of the industry's most acclaimed creative developers.

Author Matthew Sainsbury has launched a Kickstarter for The Interactive Canvas: Gaming Artists, a deluxe hardcover book which will explore the artistic merit of the medium.

The project already has some big industry names attached to contribute their thoughts, including Jonathan Blow (Braid, The Witness), American McGee (American McGee's Alice), Dan Pinchbeck of The Chinese Room (Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs) and Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, of CD Projekt Red (The Witcher). The author also hints at other contributors to be revealed if the project is successful.

Different reward tiers offer digital or physical versions of the book (or both), limited edition signed copies, and the chance to contribute to its direction yourself.

The campaign will run until February 8.