Is realism important in a game?

[richasr]

A lot of times recently, i've read people's opinions or reviews on games where a big let-down has been the lack of realism. Now i'm just wondering what you people here at the Escapsit think about this issue.

I think a computer game is an escape from reality, therefore shouldnt replicate it too much. Like for instance, in Metal Gear Solid 3, accidentally crawling into an electrified fence, would you like an electric shock to work it's way through the controller and into your hands? No, but that's going too far obviously.

I'm talking about in Oblivion, being able to carry so many different items, yet, due to a silly statistic in the inventory, if you picked up a quill and met that maximum number, you'd be stuck there frozen when previously you could run and jump with ease.

Hopefully you understand what I'm trying to get across, but is realism important for you? or is it merely an added bonus to an already fun game, or even further, is it something you dont want in a computer game?

 

[Puppeteer Putin]

No. I agree, the whole purpose is to enjoy yourself and I find I can do that if I enter a completely different universe, rather than a change of location. e.g. I find the sims is fun for awhile but it bores me after a couple of play throughs.

I do see this obsession with realism however. If something seems a lot more real, then it tends to be a lot easier to engage with as it's bound to the familiar, therefore easier understanding of the subject matter and thus a broader install base.

That or they want to show off what they can do with their "uber rigs".

 

[Piemaster]

Realism is good for some styles of games (such as war games) and bad for others. I don't think there are any games that sacrifice game play for realism out there though.

 

[Puppeteer Putin]

Realism is good for some styles of games (such as war games) and bad for others. I don't think there are any games that sacrifice game play for realism out there though.

Well new ideas and experiences tend to be showcased using highly specialized artistic settings, like independent games. There aren't many realistic games that implore one to really use their imagination... None that I can think of, please correct me if I am teh wrongz.

Except Fluid, that is quite cool.

 

[Axolotl]

It depends entirely upon the game. Unrealistic elements in say ArmA would ruin it.

On the other hand introducing realistic elements into say Rachet and Clank would also ruin those games.

 

[ioxles]

It depends on the game, obviously.
If the game is visually realistic trying to draw the player into a believable world then a certain amount of realism in the gameplay is expected (to which surreal or impossible elements could subsequently be introduced).

realism is important to insofar as how well it works with the game as a whole, if it serves no purpose other than a selling point on the back of the box then it's lost its meaning.

 

[Phase_9]

Realism isn't important. Gameplay is. if only wannabe gamers would stop saying that realism is the height of gaming.

 

[Dechef]

Lack of realism only annoys me when things really don't make sense, like in your Oblivion example. Otherwise it's not important. I mean, holding a huge fireball in your hand for 3 seconds, then hurling it at a knight in loads of heavy armor, but he gets hurt and you don't... not exactly realistic, but it's needed.

 

[Baron von Awesomehat]

realism doesn't matter one way or another, as long as it's entertaining

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

Pretty sure there has already been a thread for this. Ah well.

But realism is only important to a game if its trying to be somewhat realistic.
At the end of the day, gameplay and story line are the only things i care about.

 

[moose49408]

I depends on what you're going for. If you're trying to create a world that is very similar to ours, but with a few minor differences (such as a zombie apocalypse: the zombies themselves are about as far as you can get from realism, but making everything else extremely realistic is what makes the game feel scary) then realism in certain places is very important. But, if you're going for a rich fantasy world (such as Morrowind, the Shivering Isles, WOW, NWN2, etc...) then no, it isn't.

 

[Not Lord Atkin]

without even reading the main topic, the answer for the question that the title asks is NO.
when I play a game, relaism is something I don't seek. There is a whole lot of realism in the REAL world, and I don't like playing things I can do in real life.

And then, realism and fun are oposites. If a developer wants game to be fun to play, they need to sacrifice a bit of realism.
Take assassin's creed. If it was a bit more real, it would turn annoying and frustrating. althoughthey wanted their game to be based on reality, they just had to make some sacrifices to make the game playable.

but then there is brothers in arms, and the only game I know where realism is actually a good thing.

 

[Jandau]

Realism is important in realistic games. If it's a game trying to be a historically accurate depiction of Medieval warfare, then realism would be appreciated. Of course, SOME liberties will always have to be taken for the sake of gameplay, but games aiming for realism cut these down to a minimum.

What IS important for ANY game, no matter the genre is CONSISTENCY. If the game takes place in a universe where foxes sport butterfly wings and people fart fire after eating bananas that's fine with me, I just expect to see every damn fox with butterfly wings and if my char eats a banana I expect to get my rear-mounted flamethrower.

 

[Endangered Puma]

I think it's not really realism but fitting into character. You can spend millions of dollars to make a warthog shimmer as it rolled through a puddle. Great it looks nice. But saying that Master Chief just rolls through hundreds of world with out an expression but badass is less believe-able. You can have guns that shoot hamsters although if the character isn't cracking up trying to shoot aliens with it your game isn't good. Sad thing is many times it's just bad because you hit an uncanny valley though...

 

[Vlane]

No it's not important. Games don't need to be realisitic to fulfill their purpose (beeing fun).

Actually I think that realism takes all the fun away in a game (GTA IV anyone?).

I could quote Yahtzee here and I will:

The history of gaming technology has been one long quest to total realism, but now where on the verge of it I'm seeing that it's probably not worth the effort.

And you know what? He's right. If you make games too realistic they aren't fun.

 

[Arehexes]

Lack of realism only annoys me when things really don't make sense, like in your Oblivion example. Otherwise it's not important. I mean, holding a huge fireball in your hand for 3 seconds, then hurling it at a knight in loads of heavy armor, but he gets hurt and you don't... not exactly realistic, but it's needed.

Yet Oblivion is a fantasy game so the laws of nature don't really apply. If they did you wouldn't be able to make a fire ball.

 

[Erana]

What about J-Man's I don't "get" simulation [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.82666] thread?

I guess, since this specifically refers to games...
But I think a game should do what it intends to do well.
Portal was so great partly because it didn't try to tackle anything that would trigger an, "uncanny valley" feeling, nor any graphical holes in the realism.

 

[WendelI]

It is in some games... For example Eve online, Even dough today we don't have battle cruisers everything handles like a sack of bricks underwater... exactly how space ships should move . But that doesn't always mean it is fun. but some simulators such as eve or aircraft sims are good for:

-The fantasy
-Military training

But when it comes to entertainment it is different... it becomes something of preference. I personally like the sack of bricks that are the ships in EVE but Yahtzee doesn't seem to agree... it is more of a personal look I say.