"Games as art" isn't about pretty pictures. At that point, games are no different from movies. A Tale of Two Brothers is a short puzzle game that uses the contols as a way to directly enrich the story. I consider that game as "games as art" way before considering any of the cinematic AAA games that have come out in recent years.

As one of those "games as art" people I think you've kinda misunderstood the stance - narrative and gameplay are very much part of the art we're talking about. Films as art is well established but aesthetics alone don't make a film great - see the (blue skinned aliens) Avatar films, they look fantastic but everything else is meh. Most of us aren't really interested in the Thomas Kinkade of video games, lol.