Video Game Difficulty and Interactive Storytelling

This could be a dissertation in its own right, but I'm going to keep it simple.

Hopefully not too simple.

Games are fun. Well, they're supposed to be.

There's been some debate about "interactive storytelling" vs. traditional video games, but "traditional" makes it sound like this has been going on for hundreds of years. Video games are still a new medium, and our definitions are just that: new.

Pretending that we have it all figured out at this point is foolhardy.

I personally believe a game is supposed to be difficult if you have something to overcome, and it becomes enjoyable in your achievement. Even rail-based shooting games are fun if you feel you spent your time overcoming some obstacle. Star Fox is fun (except when I lose) and it's the finest rail-based shooter I have played.

So what about Telltale's stories? Are they video games?

Do you enjoy yourself while playing with an audio/visual interactive medium?

Then yes. Heck, I know I don't have it all figured out (least of all my definition of art) but at least I kind of know what a video game is!