Why so much about graphics?

Lately in the world of video games, graphicshave become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

In my opinion graphics are insanely important, it doesn't matter how amazing the story or the gameplay is, if the graphics are lacking the illusion is completely gone.

Think of it like a movie, if you see a goof then it takes you out of the movie. That's how I feel when I see bad graphics.

Besides, isn't that why we all own a next generation console? Because we want good graphics?

There are some great games from the past that don't have the greatest graphics. They're fun to play every now and then, but why would you want your new games looking like that? If technology can make realistic graphics it should be demanded. Why pay $60.00 for a new game and settle for an inferior engine.

Because graphics sell hdtvs, with the new addition of 1080p it's the only way of stabalizing the economy, by selling huge amounts of tvs. That's why subliminal advertising has made us addicted to graphics.

Actually no, the only reason I have next gen consoles is so I can play new games. The ps2 won't have much life left and everyone knows is. Gamecube is already dead as with the xbox. The systems we all own now are not even next gen anymore. So no the only reason I have new consoles is so I can play new video games.

The thing that I just don't understand is why do people care that much and literally refuse to play a fantastic game because of the graphics. Gameplay and story matter so much more and that why the industry is going downhill. Its all about looks now and that leaves most games a bit shallow. Graphics are meant to enhance the experiences not make it.

As for the movie thing, I watched a movie once were the lip syncing didn't even match up and the video wasn't the best but it is one of the better moviesI have seen. It was a great story and that is what I wish gaming was still about.

I care about the gameplay most because of the graphics are great and the gameplay and controls are terrible that's not going to make me want to play the game. I think main character in certain games has to be interesting to keep me interested in the story.

Lately in the world of video games, graphicshave become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

Rekashal

because we live in a visual world.

Alot of people don't want to admit graphics are important for fear of sounding shallow.

But I think we all need to face the fact that whether we realise it or not, graphics are a huge part of why we all play games. It's what makes us for the most part upgrade to newer consoles.

Graphics aren't everything, look at the DS, it's probably the most popular choice for gaming on the planet (I love mine). But when it comes to a home console hooked up to my tv, I expect the best graphics possible.

It's not just lately TC, it's been like that every generation. I don't know why you think it would be any different now.

To me, the most important thing is a balance of all the elements of a video game. Now from what you mentioned OP are some examples of the ignorant who wont buy a great gae because of the graphics, ok thats understandable and I agree, what I won't agree though is about graphics not being much of importance.

Imagine this, the PS1 has been with us for about 5 years, then Sony presents the PS2 in 2000.... Lets just assume everyone agreed that graphics aren't important in a game, if that were the case then, the PS2 would practically have the same exact graphics as the PS1 and it's games would be sold at full price while the PS1 games are coming down. Does that mindstate even make sense?

Heeeeeell no.

if it was like that we would have the PS3 with the same PS1 graphics because of what I just gave you as an example. It would of been such a disaster not seeing any evolution visually from video games, because that is the beauty of gaming during these years, noticing the evolution grow into somthing much more better. Don't get me wrong now, we all should thank those who have created those great 8 bit games back 20+ years ago, if it weren't for their success, we probably wouldn't have experienced all the great games we played.

So to finish off my long post, graphics are just as important as to every other element in making a great game, and I know deep within your mind you can see that as well.

my 2 cents.

First off, MagicQuebec, (sorry if I spelled it wrong and if your from Canada, hows it going eh?:P) I understand were you come from. In my future I would love to do animation on games, or be a journalist for them. Of course the graphics do matter. I won't deny that fact, but I just feel since the current gen came out, gameplay and story have taken a back seat to them. There are games that strike the balance like the Uncharted series, but when you look at say Madden or any other sports game that EA makes. The only difference year to year is the graphics. Everyone just goes "YES it is the same game but it looks fractionally better!" Killzone was another example of this. The graphics were fantastic, some of the best to date, but the gameplay suffered. It was a good game, but don't you feel all the effort they put into the graphics could have been used to make the game that much better?

For the guy with the light blue text, (sorry I forgot your name) I said in a previous post that graphics are meant to enchance the experience, not be the experience. If the technology is there to make it look better then why not. I am more talking about when the obvious emphasis on the graphics takes away from the gameplay. I definantly want my games to look good, butI would rather play a better game even if I have to deal with a graphics scale back.

Amfsm, yes it was like that in the past, but it is no were near as prevalent as it is in this generation.

Actually no, the only reason I have next gen consoles is so I can play new games.

Rekashal

That's a huge bunch of BS. You bought a current generation console and the improved graphics didn't matter one bit to you? Sorry, you're not talking to idiots here.

With better technology I expect better graphics. If a game has bad graphics Im going to just assume they didnt really care or put much effort in the game.

So your telling me what I bought my consoles for? Why don't you stop being so ignorant and maybe realize someone has a different opinion than you. I do like my graphics as I said, but graphics are not the thing that I care most about. They are like 6th on the list. It is not BS. If someone wants to play the new games, they have to buy the new systems. FACT. I don't even use an HDTV, don't you think that if i cared that much I would buy one? Leave the thread, like honestly all I wanted was discussion and you come in here and say I am lying? Who are you to tell me what my opinion is.

I look at it like this. Yes, there are TONS of games that are fantastic but don't have very good graphics. However, most, if not all of those games, are older games. There is no reason, NO REASON, for a modern game costing $60 to not have good graphics. If Bioware can create a fantastic story and still have amazing graphics, then why can't everyone else? In the current generation of consoles, graphics tend to show whether or not the game will be good or not. Look at Darkest of Days. That game was horrible and graphics were crap. However, it doesn't work the opposite way. A game can have great graphics and still suck. Now, if I were to play an Arcade game, then it'd be different since those are created with a smaller team, smaller budget, and less time. As someone working towards a 3d animation major, I don't see why every developer who spends about 2+ years developing a game can't have at least GOOD graphics. They don't have to be amazing, but it should at least look good.

You sir, know exactly what I am talking about. Average graphics with incredible gameplay and story will beat a graphical beast anyday.

In case you didn't notice while playing all of your games, graphics are just important as gameplay.

How are they even close? Would I rather stare at the graphics going "o0o0o0o pretty 0o0o0o" or doI want toplay the game? I would play a game that has better gameplay over graphics any day. I still go back and play all my old games because they are awesome. My all time favorite game is probably Banjo Kaz for the N64. I still playit regularly.

Again graphics are meant to ENHANCE the experience, they are not meant to BE the experience.

How are they even close? Would I rather stare at the graphics going "o0o0o0o pretty 0o0o0o" or doI want toplay the game? I would play a game that has better gameplay over graphics any day. I still go back and play all my old games because they are awesome. My all time favorite game is probably Banjo Kaz for the N64. I still playit regularly.

Again graphics are meant to ENHANCE the experience, they are not meant to BE the experience.

Rekashal

Dude. Graphics are the experience.

A videogame without graphics is a text-based game (no pictures; nothing to look at).

A videogame without gameplay is watching an animated film.

The word video is Latin for "I see" and a game is a leisure activity.

You can't have one without the other, or you can't call it a videogame.

I don't know about you, but videogames' graphics and gameplay have come a long way since the N64 era. But if you enjoy playing Banjo Kazooie on your N64, that's cool. By all means go ahead and enjoy it.

don't care about graphics but it is always nice to sit down and rock a game that is crazy fun and the visuals are sick.

i mean you spend about $300 for a sys or more and bout $1000 or more for HD tv's and sound systems.

so i mean most folks would expect the highest to come out of their purchases. like those high ego'ed characters and alot of you know who you are lol.

"OMG son look at this f*&kin game look at the graphics listen you hear that sound!" and meanwhile here it is a junk game like terminator salvation on there and all you can do is give a blank stare and turn back around.

lulz.

Lately in the world of video games, graphics have become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

Rekashal

Lately in the world of video games, graphicshave become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

Rekashal

That is so ridiculous, on so many different levels, that I don't even know where to begin...

This is why we care about graphics:

http://kotaku.com/5483372/nsfw-heavy-rain-glitch-brings-playable-accidental-nudity?skyline=true&s=i

:p :D

anyone who says they dont care about graphics is lying. to me graphics are almost as important as gameplay. to some people, graphics is more important than gameplay. just look at how popular Crysis is. the gameplay sucks but people still praise it.

Graphics could really catch some attention...

well.. my say - nowadays that's a normal thing people look into besides gameplay and story because of next gen playstations and 360s.., what i mean is gamers who played lots of games and systems in the past expect games to look very good now.. i don't blame them/myself because gaming is revolving now and experimenting/discovering things.. in the past it's simple- play ANY game to have fun that's it! BUT now with critics/reviewers and the internet present, it's a complicated industry now to please everybody. lots of gamers now go judging a book by it's cover. it's just sad.

I just want to play games that do a good job of bringing the experience into the room. Sometimes the better graphics a game has the easier it is for people to immerse themselves into the videogame. I knew MAG didn't have the best graphics but I still got it cause it draws you into an actual warzone by actually having 256 players in the matches. Disgaea is another example that shows that graphics aren't everything. It probably has one of the funniest stories ever.

Hey i have actually been on a retro gaming binge atm (i go on them every now and again), and i must say. I see the dated graphics, obviously as it is a video game. But the game is still fun regardless. In particular im talking about Medal of Honer (the original for ps1) and Twisted Metal 2. Both are insanely fun, very accesible and playable games. I am also a graphics whore at heart. I love my games on my ps3 to look pretty. However, there is a complete difference when going retro i feel. Play the best games of their own individual generation, in which the graphics WERE great, and the gameplay WAS great, and you will have a new found (or old found) appreciation. I expect ps1 games to look like ps1 games, i expect ps2 games to look like ps2 games, and i expect ps3 games to look like a ps3 game (MAG, Uncharted 2, Killzone, GT5, Resistance 2; they all look different and/or better or worse, but they still look like a ps3 game with great graphics)

[QUOTE="Rekashal"]

Lately in the world of video games, graphicshave become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

magicquebec

Alot of people don't want to admit graphics are important for fear of sounding shallow.

But I think we all need to face the fact that whether we realise it or not, graphics are a huge part of why we all play games. It's what makes us for the most part upgrade to newer consoles.

Graphics aren't everything, look at the DS, it's probably the most popular choice for gaming on the planet (I love mine). But when it comes to a home console hooked up to my tv, I expect the best graphics possible.

Conjuration

A better example, uncharted is a great game, but without the graphic it can turn into mario 1. Think about it.

I know is not about graphic, butgraphic also means everything. What was the last time you see a AA title without good visual?

That being said, graphic prove how much time the creater put into the game to make a quality game.

we live in 2010 and I don't want to stick to the past, the better the graphics, the better my eyes are spoiled

]iv been a gamer sense the nes and i can tell you that graphics has always been important to many gamers and a hot topic for discussion. its only this gen that people have fallen in to some kind of fad with claiming graphics are not important or game play over graphics like they think that makes them some how enlightened, when in fact it just makes them sound like pompous trend chasers. before this gen the concept that graphics and game play should be weighed against each other was hardly ever brought up. If so in so does not care about how there games look then thats fine, but for me, seeing as i spend 100% of my game time LOOKING at the game and the fact that the vast majority of every part of game play is done in correlation to the graphics "you cant jump from one ledge to another if you cant see it ect" then i want what i see to look as good as it can. plus with better graphics capabilty you can have more items,objects and characters on screen, you can have larger levels ectthat directly can effect game play.

Wild_Card

Let me tell you whats wrong with that statement. Yes you do spend all your time looking at the game, because human beings primary sense is sight. However, unlike say a movie, if you put in Uncharted 2, put the controller down and just look at it...nothings gonna happen. All the graphical prowess in the world could never trump the interaction necessary to see those visuals. There would be no collapsing bridge in UC2 or shootouts on a train without interaction. You spend 100% of the time looking at the game, but 120% of the time playing it. Take a couple of examples, I often hear people say Bioshock is one of the best games this gen but it didn't have the best visuals, while I hear alot of people talk about how GTA IV was a technical marvel, but the game sucked. Two games, one with sub par visuals, the other with above average visuals, the one with sub par visuals is praised as one of the best games ever, the other is not. Why? Because visuals are non existent without interaction, and if that interaction is terrible or sub par, the visuals will not help the total package. In the end, gameplay is always more important than visuals. This isn't opinion, its absolute fact, because you cant just watch a game.

You spend 100% of the time looking at the game, but 120% of the time playing it.

Sepewrath

Try playing bayonetta, with all it's cinematics. MGS, uncharted, just about every game there are times when the control is useless while you watch the action.

I remember when Donkey kong country came out and people flipped over how good it looked. If I'm not wrong, early opinions of the freaking atari commented about how good it looked. It's always been about graphics, this isn't a new trend.

Starfox 64 is a fun game, but there's at least 1 or 2 games released since then that are just a little better....

i finished Mass Effect 2 recently and spent all weekend playing xcom terror from the deep from start finish (havent played it in years!!!!). it was made years back and has isometric VGA style graphics, but the gameplay is AMAZING STILL!

[QUOTE="Rekashal"]

Lately in the world of video games, graphics have become increasing more "important" to people. My personal opinion is who cares what the graphics look. Last night I was playing Star Fox 64 at a buddies and had a blast. Some people in today's world would refuse to play it because the graphics are bad and outdated.

Why has graphics become that important to people? Doesn't the gameplay matter more?

Discuss?

Wild_Card

Graphics matter for the type of game in question. The graphics enable better gameplay and a more dynamic experiance.

If we had the most basic grpahics then we would be playing pong right now. Same with the transitions form 2D to 3D it enables more types of games to be made. Now it's all about the detail then interativity. Sure RPGs and stuff like that don't really benift from better graphics gameplay wise but thats not what I am talking about.

So yes graphics do matter, unless your favourite game is pacman then no graphics in the world will make it better (gameplay wise).

ill be honest i like graphics but they arent going to sell the game to me. granted i do find it odd when a game comes out with subpar graphics but if the game plays well enough it wont bug me one bit. honestly i wish more games focused on playing well first than looking pretty.kayne2000

This is the best post so far in this thread. :)

For me games are still all about gameplay and/or story.

I enjoyed Saints Row 2 more than Uncharted 1 & 2 despite the latter having superior graphics. I also enjoyed Way of the Samurai 3 more than Darksiders.

I would still rather play again a great PS1 or PS2 game than a PS3 game that is just graphics.

But of course, nothing can beat a combination of great gameplay, great story, and great graphics.

Because if a game doesn't look good it can't be good obviously.

Graphics are certainly nice, but gameplay is the most important part of a game for me.

blame me for the graphics craze since 1982 (the year i started playing video games on sinclair zx spectrum)... :PMondasM

just to make u feel old, 4 more years later and i was born (86!) and 3 more years to we got a NES!!! wooooooo glory days baby!