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I was thinking I'd start with a Pyro since it's some what simple.

I've heard, and compressed air to knock away enemy fire.

To the nethers.

That's just so low class.

It does keep it from being taken seriously, but you could say the same of film, as the are still coming out with ___ Movies.

Yes, but that doesn't give the whole medium a pass, they may have pure genius on celluloid, but it's been pumping out schleck that appeals to the lowest common denominator for it's entire history with some gems shining through. There are thousands of trashy romance novels for every Othello, when people talk of great films, they never bring up the sheer volume of crap that is put out there. There is more to art than a message, such as evoking emotion, exploring what you are capable of doing with a medium, and telling a story. While killing things are very present in gaming, that isn't the only thing there. Look to Nintendo, there is killing in their games, but it's almost always either child safe, down played, or dramatic. The only one of there franchise that you can really get joy in killing is Metroid, but it adds to the atmosphere. Metroid lets you feel alone in a hostile, alien environment. Everything could attack, every where a danger, even delving into paranoia. It's very good at it too. It can make you feel these things, and that is one thing that art tries to achieve. There are so many paintings and pieces of music that try to make you feel something, and games can do this too. Mass Effect lets you explore a huge sprawling story, sure it's violent, but it lets you also try to shape and explore characters, relationships and their depths, sometimes to avoid the violence. Yes you shoot people, but that doesn't exclude it from being art in it's own way. And then there are things like Pikmin, which you will grow to care for the little pikmin around you, sometimes so much that it you dread every danger and plan tirelessly to save as many of your little friends as you can. It tells you how much you can care about even one of many little drones. Art isn't just about messages, it's about so much more, it's about anything you want it to be.
Sorry if this comes off as derailed ranting, it mostly is.

But then again I have a very broad definition of art.

Graffitti is easily art, like that Boondocks episode.