Rank these video game elements in order of personal importance to you.

Concept

Controls

Entertainment

Gameplay

Graphics

Playability

Presentation

Replay Value

Sound

Story

I would rank them:

1. Gameplay

2. Entertainment

3. Concept

4. Playability

5. Controls

6. Replay Value

7. Graphics

8. Sound

9. Presentation

10. Story

I've never really cared much for story in video games. If I want a good story, I read a book. I play games for the gameplay. In RPGs, my main draw is the exploration and the combat system, not what the story is about or what the character's motives are or why they do what they do. I do follow the story in games closely, but it really is an insignificant factor for me when determining the quality of a game.

It's all about the gameplay for me. How entertaining a game is for me is at a very close second, I gotta be having fun, but usually great gameplay equals fun. Concept is also very important to me because I have to be interested in the game conceptually to get the most out of it. Playability and controls are both very important, and also very different. Playability basically covers game mechanics and how they flow together, which is very important, and controls are exactly that, how responsive and intuitive are the controls for the game, all very important. In terms of graphics, sound and presentation, they all take a back seat to replay value for me. I thoroughly enjoy retro gaming, and can easily bust out the SNES and game exclusively on that for weeks. I am much more concerned about audio, visual and presentational direction rather than the actual technical aspect of it. An SNES game can look great with the proper art direction, sound great with the proper audio direction etc. I base it all relatively to the generation.

That's a big list so I'll just say what's important to me.

Gameplay first. Everything else is secondary. And immersion is dead last for me. However, it's nice if a game has good graphics, sound, story, replay etc. But gameplay is most important to me.

And honestly I hate it when people call games "experiences."

1. Graphics

2. Sound

3. Story

4. Presentation

5. Controls

6. Replay Value

7. Concept

8. Playability

9. Entertainment

10. Gameplay

I am from System Wars, hear my roar

I think some of your list can be compressed, so generally for me it's:

-Gameplay (including controls and fun)

-Story (including presentation and concept)

-Graphics (including presentation)

-Replayability (including Multiplayer)

-Sound

2. Concept

1. Controls

2. Entertainment

1. Gameplay

1. Graphics

1. Playability

1. Presentation

1. Replay Value

1. Sound

2. Story

1. Gameplay

2. Story

3. Playability

4. Concept

5. Entertainment

6. Presentation

7. Sound

8. graphics

9. controls

10. replay value

Anyone else who thinks 'wtf' when reading these priorities from others... (no offence intended :) )

1. Gameplay

2. Graphics

3. Entertainment

4. Presentation

5. Sound

6. Story

7. Replay value

8. Playability

9. Controls

10. Concept

* The ones bolded are most important to me.

controls are the most important.you can have the best story and graphics ever......if the controls are busted it's worthless.

Dephends on the genre, but in general

1. Entertainment
2. Gameplay
3. Concept
4. Playability
5. Replay Value
6. Controls
7. Story
8. Sound
9. Graphics
10. Presentation

Civ 5 is generally considered to be the most well presentated in the series. Yet part of the reason I ended up hating that game was because of the presentation itself, though the main reason was that it was inferior to Civ 4 in almost every aspect. Worst TBS I have played in a long while.

1. Gameplay

2. Entertainment

3. Replay Value

4. Controls

5. Playability

6. Presentation

7. Story

8. Sound

9. Graphics

10. Concept

I guess I put Playability with Controls, but I don't really understand what you mean by that.

EDIT: General list but it really depends on what kind of game it is.

1. Gameplay

1. Entertainment

2. Graphics

2. Presentation

3. Story

3. Concept

4. Replay Value

5. Controls

5. Playability

6. Sound

What exactly is playability?mrmusicman247

Tied at #1 are.....

Concept

Controls

Entertainment

Gameplay

Graphics

Playability

Presentation

Replay Value

Sound

Story

Oh hey, that's everything!

I don't understand why we can't just look at a game and say, "Here's a game. It's good!" Why do we have to break everything down?

If the story sucks that could relate to entertainment and concept as well as replayability for some.

If the sound sucks it could relate to replayability or presentation.

If the presentation sucks it could be because of bad graphics and sound.

If the controls suck it could lead to bad gameplay which would, doh! replayability.

If the concept alone sucks it just isn't worth playing.

All aspects of a game should be good. And why should they be good? because at the end of theday we're playing a game, not some mishmash of random pieces. The singular vision trumps all and I hate splitting things up into smaller ratings/preferences.A game should not be rated on individual merits because it should strive to be the best it can be regardless of platform.

1. Gameplay
2. Entertainment
3. Replay Value
4. Playability
5. Controls
6. Story
7. Concept
8. Sound
9. Presentation
10. Graphics

Gameplay is first because once the game goes into the disc tray I'm playing it for fun and enjoyment. Entertainment follows because if the gameplay is good, then I'm entertained. If I'm entertained well enough, there's gotta be something in the game to make me come back and play again - Replay Value.

Playability, I'm guessing this goes for multiplayer/co-op, which is important to me because I'm a social gamer. Controls follows because it's important to have adjustable controls this day and age.

Story and Concept then come into play because after an hour into messing around with a game I'll close my door, cut the lights, turn the phone off, and start playing the game to get into the story.

Sound, Presentation, and Graphics are the last three on the list because they are all things you've seen in the trailers of the game already. I know about the sounds and graphics, I just want my hands on the game and get to the nitty gritty.

am I the only one thinks Entertainment should be the only factor that matters?

you guys are ranking controls too low. if the game doesn't control well/responive/accurate than I highly doubt you would care about the rest.

you guys are ranking controls too low. if the game doesn't control well/responive/accurate than I highly doubt you would care about the rest.

lespaul1919

1. Gameplay
2. Controls
3. Playability
4. Entertainment
5. Replay Value
6. Sound
7. Graphics
8. Presentation
9. Concept
10. Story

you guys are ranking controls too low. if the game doesn't control well/responive/accurate than I highly doubt you would care about the rest.

lespaul1919

controls are in my top 5, but I agree gameplay and controls should go hand in hand... How can the gameplay be fun if the controls are bad...

like, has anyone played the newest turok? the analog stick controls were so bad I stopped playing after 2 minutes. I never even got to any story or gameplay or anything. If the controls are broken...so is the game.

for me story>>>>all.vitonemesis

I agree.

for me story>>>>all.vitonemesis

even if you weren't able to control your character well enough to progress through the story?

[QUOTE="vitonemesis"]for me story>>>>all.lespaul1919

even if you weren't able to control your character well enough to progress through the story?

if i like the story, YES.

Show me the sum and I'll pick i apart accordingly.

[QUOTE="lespaul1919"]

[QUOTE="vitonemesis"]for me story>>>>all.vitonemesis

even if you weren't able to control your character well enough to progress through the story?

if i like the story, YES.

did you read what I typed? you can't control your character well enough to progress through the story. ie, you would never even experience the story.

[QUOTE="vitonemesis"]

[QUOTE="lespaul1919"]

even if you weren't able to control your character well enough to progress through the story?

lespaul1919

if i like the story, YES.

did you read what I typed? you can't control your character well enough to progress through the story. ie, you would never even experience the story.

'Rank these video game elements in order of personal importan ...'

I think most people know themselves better then you know them, no point in starting argument here even if you intended it in a positive way.

1. Gameplay

2. Story

3. Concept

4. Entertainment

5. Graphics

6. Sound

7. Playability

8. Presentation

9. Replay Value

I think some of your list can be compressed, so generally for me it's:

-Gameplay (including controls and fun)

-Story (including presentation and concept)

-Graphics (including presentation)

-Replayability (including Multiplayer)

-Sound

Alpha-Male22

Story.

Gameplay.

Soundtrack.

Replay Value.

Graphics.

10. Sound (besides voice acting, who cares?)

9. Graphics

7. Controls

6. Concept

5. Playability

4. Replay Value

3. Story

2. Entertainment

1. Gameplay

1. Graphics

2. Sound

3. Story

4. Presentation

5. Controls

6. Replay Value

7. Concept

8. Playability

9. Entertainment

10. Gameplay

I am from System Wars, hear my roar

skinny_man_69

that sounds more like an Autocad presentation then a game

Tied at #1 are.....

Concept

Controls

Entertainment

Gameplay

Graphics

Playability

Presentation

Replay Value

Sound

Story

Oh hey, that's everything!

I don't understand why we can't just look at a game and say, "Here's a game. It's good!" Why do we have to break everything down?

If the story sucks that could relate to entertainment and concept as well as replayability for some.

If the sound sucks it could relate to replayability or presentation.

If the presentation sucks it could be because of bad graphics and sound.

If the controls suck it could lead to bad gameplay which would, doh! replayability.

If the concept alone sucks it just isn't worth playing.

All aspects of a game should be good. And why should they be good? because at the end of theday we're playing a game, not some mishmash of random pieces. The singular vision trumps all and I hate splitting things up into smaller ratings/preferences.A game should not be rated on individual merits because it should strive to be the best it can be regardless of platform.

NeonNinja

because a games value is broken down all the time and according to many threads on SW -Graphics is more valuable hence all the "teh graphics king" threads.

Notice however when properly analyse it gameplay is above graphics and often the times it is at the top or a few notches above.

1. Gameplay
2. Playability
3. Controls
4. Entertainment
5. Concept
6. Presentation
7. Replay Value
8. Sound/graphics
9. Story

1. Gameplay
2. Playability
3. Controls
4. Entertainment
5. Concept
6. Presentation
7. Replay Value
8. Sound/graphics
9. Story

SilverChimera

I rest my case.

Sure we can have the Ohhh and the Aahhhss.. but in the end

Gameplay is often above graphics.

1. Gameplay
2. Playability
3. Controls
4. Entertainment
5. Concept
6. Presentation
7. Replay Value
8. Sound/graphics
9. Story

SilverChimera

Concept

Controls

Entertainment

Gameplay

Graphics

Playability

Presentation

Replay Value

Sound

Story

I would rank them:

1. Gameplay

2. Entertainment

3. Concept

4. Playability

5. Controls

6. Replay Value

7. Graphics

8. Sound

9. Presentation

10. Story

I've never really cared much for story in video games. If I want a good story, I read a book. I play games for the gameplay. In RPGs, my main draw is the exploration and the combat system, not what the story is about or what the character's motives are or why they do what they do. I do follow the story in games closely, but it really is an insignificant factor for me when determining the quality of a game.

It's all about the gameplay for me. How entertaining a game is for me is at a very close second, I gotta be having fun, but usually great gameplay equals fun. Concept is also very important to me because I have to be interested in the game conceptually to get the most out of it. Playability and controls are both very important, and also very different. Playability basically covers game mechanics and how they flow together, which is very important, and controls are exactly that, how responsive and intuitive are the controls for the game, all very important. In terms of graphics, sound and presentation, they all take a back seat to replay value for me. I thoroughly enjoy retro gaming, and can easily bust out the SNES and game exclusively on that for weeks. I am much more concerned about audio, visual and presentational direction rather than the actual technical aspect of it. An SNES game can look great with the proper art direction, sound great with the proper audio direction etc. I base it all relatively to the generation.

arkephonic

Concept 7

Controls 6

Entertainment

Gameplay 3

Graphics 2

Playability 9

Presentation 4

Replay Value 5

Sound 8

Story 1

1. Concept

2. Gameplay

3. Playability

4. Controls

5. Entertainment (Entertainment may aswell be something you get when you combine them all together)

6. Graphics

7. Presentation

8. Sound

2. to last Story (depends on what type of game it is)

10. Replay Value

i consider them all important, but if i had to rank them it would be something like this.

1. Entertainment (If i'm not entertained i'm not playing)

2. Concept (I love new experiences and ideas and I have noticed that the videogames that I most enjoy have novel mechanics and are of very niche genres)

3. Gameplay (I don't need to say much here, this is the meat of video games)

4. Presentation (Isn't this like the combination of graphics, sound and concept? or maybe I don't quite understand.)

5. Replay Value ( Most of my favorite games have endless replay value thanks to the combination of all the above)

6.Controls (I don't like to think about what i have on my hands, I'd rather think about what i have on my screen)

7. Graphics (It works at making a better presentation that for sure for some games more than others)

8. Sound ( It can make a game better but after playing some DOS games and NES games muted because of the crappy sound I have gotten to enjoy them better, still just like graphics above it works when the game's presentation need it)

9. Playability ( A lot of the most unpopular and underrated games I have played these past few years have been near impossible to play because of bugs, crashes, and busted controllers and things like that but thanks to perserverarion I have enjoyed some really awesome hidden gems that i would consider a crime to have ever skipped on purpose if i paid attention to this)

10. Story ( Games can be great vehicles for storytelling but there's a lot of genres that don't need a story at all and most often a crappy story [like most games have] can make them worse just for being there)