Who cares about graphics?

Since when does great graphics make a game with good gameplay worse?

aroxx_ab

[QUOTE="MadVybz"]

[QUOTE="farrell2k"] Bullcrap! Your imagination is what makes it immersive and enjoyable. farrell2k

I'm sorry, but no.

Immersion relies heavily on how a game is presented and how it looks. If a game looks like ass, it's practically impossible to become immersed.

If a game say like Halo: ODST looked like Halo: CE, the whole immersive feel of being truly alone in the dark would be gone entirely.

Books are completely different. For one, books are not an interactive medium. Meaning that the imagery and sense of atmosphere you get from reading them aren't of your own creation, but simply the writer manipulating his words to create them for you. If your imagination played any part in creating the atmosphere of a book, it's more than likely that it would be completely different from the writer intended it to be, since no two minds think alike.

Video games are no different, only that you are in an interactive medium. Meaning that you can actually see with your own eyeballs what the creator has given you, and you are actually involved with what's happening, which is where the graphics play an important role. If you play through something with the graphical prowess of say Uncharted, it is far easier to become immersed as opposed to a game that looks half decent. ('Half decent' put charitably.) Sure, earlier in the ages of 3D immersion was easily attainable, due to the fact that it was what we made do with. Going from something that actually looks and feels a lot more like an actual world and then going back to something from the late 90s isn't going to be the same. Back in the day, I was simply horrified by Resident Evil 2, and it wasn't even because I was just a kid. I loved zombies as a kid. But at the time it was far more immersive because it was the best that could be given. Now that the bar has been raised, immersion is lost as you go further back down.

Being able to actually see and experience what the creator has given you first hand opposed to having to use literacy techniques to create the experience are two very different things.

Actually, graphics DO matter in games. But not in the way most posters on these boards believe. It is NOT about some scale from from 1-10 that all games can be compared and a definitive winner be conclusively be determined. Because in actuality there is no universal gaugue for what makes graphics good. It's not about the poly-count, amount of normal mapping, resolution, or any numeric quantifier, but rather it always comes down to the more important factor...

Art direction. Art direction. Art direction. ART DIRECTION!!

Yes, I say this every time on the subject of graphics. This is a visual medium, so the graphics really are an art form, which numbers are unable to quantify. The reason I was saying graphics do matter is because they are the visual medium that drives the story. This is what sets the mood, atmosphere, tone, ambience and emotion in a game. Art direction is what creates the mystery and wonder in exploration games, the visceral frenetic pace of action games, the suspense and tension in survival horror games, and so on. It's the art direction that determines how colorful a game should be, how well lit it is or heavily shadowed, and of course, the particular styIe of character renderings. Just because the technology is there, doesn't mean it should always be implemented in the same way. The entire field of games has plenty of room to run the full spectrum, from cartoony to realistic, and the industry is made the better for having the variety.

Saying "gameplay >>> graphics" is a misconception. Its just not true at all. Graphics are an integral part of the gameplay. While it's true that photorealism isn't the be-all end-all, it's the art direction and again how it sets tone, atmosphere, ambience and emotion which contributes to the playrs interactivity with the world the game developers created.

[QUOTE="MadVybz"]Video games on the other hand, do not require any use of imagination when playing them. farrell2k

I see you read the post that my brother hastily wrote while I wasn't at my computer. :roll:

Oh well. At least I bothered backing up what I said, while you haven't.

[QUOTE="felipebo"]

[QUOTE="ActicEdge"]

I have a Wii, I care about graphics. I'm not going to buy piss poor looking games. I'm going to buy stuff with effort thrown into, nice looking games by the systems standards.

ActicEdge

I also have a Wii, but once you go HD, you never go back

I find that sad. That's just me though.

That kinda is true. I mean ever since I got my PS3 I hardly even touch my Wii with the exception of Rock Band with friends. Seriously as a console itself, I think the Wii was more like a bridge to hold you over until the 360/PS3 seem more logical to buy for the average joe.

[QUOTE="MadVybz"]

[QUOTE="farrell2k"] Bullcrap! Your imagination is what makes it immersive and enjoyable. farrell2k

I'm sorry, but no.

Immersion relies heavily on how a game is presented and how it looks. If a game looks like ass, it's practically impossible to become immersed.

If a game say like Halo: ODST looked like Halo: CE, the whole immersive feel of being truly alone in the dark would be gone entirely.

A book isn't a video game, you have no control over the story or what happens, therefore all that you can do is imagine. With video games, you are given the ability to advance the plot and in return there are graphics that display your journey/progress.

Isn't gameplay far more important?

monkeytoes61

Gameplay isn't more important than graphics and graphics are not more important than gameplay.

They are both equally important and you cannot have one without the other.

[QUOTE="farrell2k"][QUOTE="MadVybz"]

I'm sorry, but no.

Immersion relies heavily on how a game is presented and how it looks. If a game looks like ass, it's practically impossible to become immersed.

If a game say like Halo: ODST looked like Halo: CE, the whole immersive feel of being truly alone in the dark would be gone entirely.

shakmaster13

A book isn't a video game, you have no control over the story or what happens, therefore all that you can do is imagine. With video games, you are given the ability to advance the plot and in return there are graphics that display your journey/progress.

Didn't you hear? He's 'out'. He merely states something without backing it up, reads a post that wasn't written by me (and very badly written, add to that) and he leaves declaring himself the winner. Sounds like SW material to me.

Graphics and Control are both important for Games.

If the game has awesome Graphics but terrible Control then it's a bad game. If the game has Great Control but has Horrible Graphics it'll be greatly under appreciated.

If the Game has both the Graphics AND Control it's deemed as a good game.

and no HD has nothing to do with it.

Actually, graphics DO matter in games. But not in the way most posters on these boards believe. It is NOT about some scale from from 1-10 that all games can be compared and a definitive winner be conclusively be determined. Because in actuality there is no universal gaugue for what makes graphics good. It's not about the poly-count, amount of normal mapping, resolution, or any numeric quantifier, but rather it always comes down to the more important factor...

Art direction. Art direction. Art direction. ART DIRECTION!!

Yes, I say this every time on the subject of graphics. This is a visual medium, so the graphics really are an art form, which numbers are unable to quantify. The reason I was saying graphics do matter is because they are the visual medium that drives the story. This is what sets the mood, atmosphere, tone, ambience and emotion in a game. Art direction is what creates the mystery and wonder in exploration games, the visceral frenetic pace of action games, the suspense and tension in survival horror games, and so on. It's the art direction that determines how colorful a game should be, how well lit it is or heavily shadowed, and of course, the particular styIe of character renderings. Just because the technology is there, doesn't mean it should always be implemented in the same way. The entire field of games has plenty of room to run the full spectrum, from cartoony to realistic, and the industry is made the better for having the variety.

Saying "gameplay >>> graphics" is a misconception. Its just not true at all. Graphics are an integral part of the gameplay. While it's true that photorealism isn't the be-all end-all, it's the art direction and again how it sets tone, atmosphere, ambience and emotion which contributes to the playrs interactivity with the world the game developers created.

AdobeArtist

I don't necessarily care if they are badrandomwiiplayer

It gives you the immersion factor. In all honesty, does direction in movies matter, if the actors and script are awesome. For sure. The movie will not be as awesome. The same thing with graphics. Artistic and technical choices make some games better. Diablo 2, super mario bros, halo ce, etc all have simple mechanics but music and the enviroment design also make it fun.

Isn't gameplay far more important?

monkeytoes61

i care about graphics

it helps me enjoy the games i play more

i hate buying games with dated graphics, its not necessarily a deal breaker but i take it into affect

Graphics are like handjobs. It's awful if it's the only thing you get, and you absolutely can have a great time with out them; but you appreciate them when they're part of the whole package.

_BlueDuck_

You think you'd have more fun with a text-based RPG than something that has visuals of some kind?

They are absolutely both very important, but ultimately gameplay trumps visuals if it has to come down to it. Sacrificing either is a shame, but an ugly game that plays flawlessly is still worth a 50 or 60 dollar purchase, where as a stunning looking game that never makes you want to pick upyour controller and turn you system on....well that kind of speaks for itself doesn't it?

when i think graphics, i think of the overall design of something and its construction not just raw power too make something lookshiny- and in that respect, graphics are more important.

I care about this generations graphical standards but any further progression is pointless to me. I don't care for teh photo realistic graphix. I mean the likes of Crysis on ultra high omega settings, who cares. Uncharted 2 looks just as good on the eyes.

These threads makes me little angry, why do some people think only one thing matters for example only gameplay...

I care about graphics as well, guess what i also care about sound, story, art-style and atmosphere, controls, frame-rates, length, price, kiddy, bugs

A game can have best gameplay ever seen but if rest thing is bad the game will suck anyway

Graphics make the game look more real, which helps with the immersion factor, thus making the game more enjoyable.

Duxsox56

Disgaea says no. I do not care about graphics TO AN EXTENT.

It also depends on the type of game i'm playing.

I love good graphics. Still gameplay is even more important to me

Gameplay is more important, but better graphics are always a good thing.

Isn't gameplay far more important?

monkeytoes61

so if someone released a game with graphics like the original PAC-MAN, and it was a fully priced $60 HD Multi-console game, and it turned out to have decent gameplay mechanics, you would get it? an HD game that looked like PAC-MAN? c'mon, of course graphics matter, just not quite as much. Plus, nowadays, there seems to be a direct correlation between graphics and quality. notice how many Wii games suck, and most games that are projected to be good on PS3 and X360 are at the very least decent?

I don't, which is why I can still play and have fun with Smash bros 64 today. I just bought Torchlight yesterday for $5 and it's a pretty fun game that doesn't have cutting edge graphics. In fact, I'm having more fun playing that game than I did playing Crysis.

Good art direction can help to enhance the gameplay and improve the immersiveness/atmosphere. People downplay graphics too much on these forums.

I don't necessarily care if they are bad, but I do appreciate good graphics.

randomwiiplayer