Graphics vs Gameplay... what matters to YOU the most?

In light of the sharp divide between graphics and gameplay, even starker than usual thanks to the difference between the HD consoles and the Wii, the old question has come up again. So what maters to you more when you're playing games? Graphics? Gameplay? Story? Presentation? Or fun factor? Vote!

Story is on top of my list.

Gameplay IMO.

Story and gameplay, followed by graphics.

Gameplay. I still enjoy playing Halo 1 sometimes, regardless of graphics

I'm sorry, but it's just flat-out unfair to have gameplay on that list, let alone fun-factor.

Gameplay = The core of every game. It doesn't matter how good anything else is if Gameplay is broken. Without gameplay, one could hardly call it a game.

Fun-Factor = The sum of a games parts.

Obviously FF > G > All that other stuff. There is no debate here.

gameplay and overall fun factor, not suprising coming from a Nintendo fan huh?

nobody's voted for graphics yet... interesting...

I'm sorry, but it's just flat-out unfair to gameplay on that list, let alone fun-factor. Gameplay = The core of every game. It doesn't matter how good anything else is if Gameplay is broken. Without gameplay, one could hardly call it a game. Head_of_games

Gameplay. Brutal Legend and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are my top 2. A game can look great and play like crap (Lair, GT5: P, etc). Gameplay comes first. Graphics are just an added layer of icing on an already delicious cake.

Out of all of the things the fun-factor encompasses, Gameplay of course.

It's not simple enough to call out a single factor.

one aspect of a game can easily elevate it aboved it's flaws while it can also utterly tank it despite it's strengths.

Um, guys, why is gameplay winning? Fun-Factor is all that stuff put together, therefore it must win. Are we excluding it because it's so unfair to include it?Head_of_games

i dunno, sometimes a game can be technically perfect but still not very fun... like the newer NFS games... or it can be technically flawed but still very fun... like Phantom Hourglass... I think they are both independent of each other

Um, guys, why is gameplay winning? Fun-Factor is all that stuff put together, therefore it must win. Are we excluding it because it's so unfair to include it?Head_of_games

Um, guys, why is gameplay winning? Fun-Factor is all that stuff put together, therefore it must win. Are we excluding it because it's so unfair to include it?Head_of_games

It's the combination. No game is great with only one of those things.

It's not simple enough to call out a single factor.

one aspect of a game can easily elevate it aboved it's flaws while it can also utterly tank it despite it's strengths.

Filthybastrd

It's the combination. No game is great with only one of those things.

heretrix

for me story and gameplay are the most important.

The only reason graphics are talked about so much here is because you can measure the quality of them. Gameplay/Fun-factory is completely subjective. It requires less of an argument when debating graphics, because almost everything about them, aside from art-style are simple facts.DeathScape666

Graphics for me.

EDIT: the title makes no sense...

Graphics

Story

Gameplay

[QUOTE="DeathScape666"]The only reason graphics are talked about so much here is because you can measure the quality of them. Gameplay/Fun-factory is completely subjective. It requires less of an argument when debating graphics, because almost everything about them, aside from art-style are simple facts.mitu123

[QUOTE="Filthybastrd"]

It's not simple enough to call out a single factor.

one aspect of a game can easily elevate it aboved it's flaws while it can also utterly tank it despite it's strengths.

Head_of_games

Really? I for one find Bioshock to be a way better game than COD4 for example.... And I hardly think anyone thinks it has better gameplay.

[QUOTE="DeathScape666"]The only reason graphics are talked about so much here is because you can measure the quality of them. Gameplay/Fun-factory is completely subjective. It requires less of an argument when debating graphics, because almost everything about them, aside from art-style are simple facts.mitu123

[QUOTE="heretrix"]

It's the combination. No game is great with only one of those things.

Head_of_games

You are judging the old games by today's standards which is pretty silly.

[QUOTE="mitu123"][QUOTE="DeathScape666"]The only reason graphics are talked about so much here is because you can measure the quality of them. Gameplay/Fun-factory is completely subjective. It requires less of an argument when debating graphics, because almost everything about them, aside from art-style are simple facts.DeathScape666

It's the combination. No game is great with only one of those things.

@heratix But by todays standards(save for that which was impossible) they are still incredibly fun games, and are selling quite well on the VC. These games prove that good graphics and story are not fundamental to a game.

@filthy Well, that can be argued. The point is, both of them have great gameplay, but you prefer one story to the other. At the core of every game is the gameplay, and everything else just helps to make the game better. Super Mario Galaxy is proof of that.

@heratix But by todays standards(save for that which was impossible) they are still incredibly fun games, and are selling quite well on the VC. These games prove that good graphics and story are not fundamental to a game.

Head_of_games

gameplay then story then graphics

[QUOTE="Head_of_games"]

@heratix But by todays standards(save for that which was impossible) they are still incredibly fun games, and are selling quite well on the VC. These games prove that good graphics and story are not fundamental to a game.

heretrix

Hmm, which is better, Goldeneye or the latest generic shooter? We all know the answer and also know which one has inferior graphics.

[QUOTE="heretrix"]

[QUOTE="Head_of_games"]

@heratix But by todays standards(save for that which was impossible) they are still incredibly fun games, and are selling quite well on the VC. These games prove that good graphics and story are not fundamental to a game.

Head_of_games

Fun

games like zombie shooter 2 have simple gameplay, no storyand bad graphicsbut arereally fun

personly i like every thing in one big packege :P

Why is it always a choice in SW? We have debates like we have to choose one or the other. Is that really necessary? Anyway, I want to play something with decent gameplay since my favourite genres and series generally aren't very cinematic/story driven.

gameplay.. and i need the graphics to be clean, if a game is blocky and ugly, i dont wanna play it or if i dont like the art style. I cant play fallout 3 because i HATE the art style, the setting and the overall look of the game, the gameplay is probably awesome but i really cant stand to look or listen to that game

Fun Facor and Gameplay kind of go hand in hand. I think Lasting Appeal is another big factor when enjoying a game. Graphics and, to a greater extent, story are complete afterthoughts

I'm stuck between story and presentation.

What draws you into a game is its story and how well it is presented, in the case of RPGs the game play is mostly a rehash, all that matters is it has been done well. Of course what passes as RPGs today is achievement/stat grinders for jack of all trades players into button mashing.

When I think about it I'm not really that bothered about innovation in game play, what passes as innovation today is gimmicky motion sensors and different implementations of quick time events. When it comes to depth today's games are getting increasingly shallow, developers are looking at what they can cut to reduce costs. God knows how shallow the next TES game is going to be, though I did recently hear Bethesda is developing the auto aim equivalent for actually playing a game...

I do have a minimum in regard to graphics, but really it is about a game looking good rather than being advanced.

Gameplay (Which includes Control, physics, funfactor, and Framerate.) They all three go together. 2nd is Sound, third is Story, then 4th is Graphics.

You need both th have a great game, but still Gameplay > Graphics however without good graphics (like absolutley horrible artsyle or just emarassing visuals) I might even give that gameplay a chance as it is a red flag that the game probably isn't any good. That applies to this generation only, I look at older games from retroperspective and I'm ussualy like "Woah, considering this game was made back in 1993, these visuals are pretty good" kinda thing.