Poll: Are Graphics Really That Important?

[brunothepig]

I'm not saying I don't like the pretty graphics, but I think too much time is being put into that, rather than gameplay. Back on the Playstation, there were much longer games. (on average) The First Spyro game took me ages to complete. When I bought A Hero's Tail on gamecube, it was certainly pretty, compared to number one, and it took all of two days to complete... That's fairly pathetic. Some games are better with good graphics, like Crysis. But I would rather see more time being put into gameplay. In fact, the best example would be the LEGO games lol. I've been playing the batman one, and it's excellent. Obviously low graphics, but so many things to collect, so many characters, and a fairly large story mode as well.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Graphics aren't, visual design is.

 

[Jadak]

Do we really need this exact thread on a weekly basis?

Yes, pretty graphics are nice.

No, they are not a prerequisite for a good game.

 

[evilgrim]

No.
I still prefer Power Stone 2 over Street Fighter 4.
And have you seen the graphics on that?!

As long as it's a great game I'll play it..
I don't care about story or graphics either..

I'll start rambling on about how "Pong" is still the greatest game of all time soon..

But no.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[The DSM]

Not for me, I prefer well developed charcters and story.

 

[Peabob]

Graphics date. Gameplay lasts forever.

 

[LeonLethality]

Graphics date. Gameplay lasts forever.

Seconded.

This is why I can go back to FF6 and still love every playthrough.

 

[Kollega]

Graphics aren't, visual design is.

This. Artists' skill is what matters.

 

[Ryuk2]

I really don't like the new graphics engines.
They should make movement, physics and character details like facial expressions and such. It would be fine if they made Max Payne 2 level graphics, but made it so, that the faces would move realistically.

 

[DoctorNick]

Graphics aren't, visual design is.

This. Artists' skill is what matters.

Agreement here, better thought-out pixels is more important than more-and-shiner pixels.

Ultimately, the visuals are just one part of the game, and I don't mind that a company put a lot of work into said visuals as long as everything else wasn't neglected. Sadly, these days that's not usually the case.

---

For anyone who's interested, my holy trinity of key game components are:

Visuals - (For clarity's sake: I don't mean more pixels and mega-super-bump-mapping, I mean things like art direction and models that aren't motherfucking ugly.)

Gameplay

Story

The pantheon just below that contains things like polish, attention to detail, etc, but the above three are the most important.

---

I know its been discussed to death, but focusing on graphics and nothing else only kills the rest of the game because ultimately visuals are FUCKING EXPENSIVE, and the money spent on them ISN'T being spent on good game play or a decent story.

Not to say that they don't have a place, I sure as fuck don't want all games to turn into Dwarf Fortress or regress to Quake level graphics and complexity but as in most things, balance is important.

 

[Tyrannowalefish_Rex]

Totally. I've recently compared Dawn of War I and II. The gameplay is also different (I like the innovative gameplay without base building of II more), but the graphics make a HUGE difference in how motivating the games are. This doesn't mean that it must be the newest technology. 2D graphics can look as good or better than even the most modern 3D graphics. Baldur's Gate 2 has much more varied areas than Dragon Age, although the graphics of Dragon Age are better, even if you considered BG2 a 3D game.
That sounds a bit tricky, but it's all about style and design: BG2 doesn't look as good but the atmosphere is a hundred times better because each area looks different, whereas in DA all looks kinda the same (though better at that).

Graphics are very important, but it depends on each game's style.

 

[JoonaspEST]

Graphics don't need to be top notch to be good. I mean Dragon Age could be the same good with a year or two older graphics. Do games need graphics? Yes. Graphics in my oppinion should be over the time threshold. For instance in this age all games must have 3D graphics with resonable amount of eye candy(shadows, pixels etc). Makeing a 2D game with sprites now isn't going to take the progression in games anywhere and I'm sure it would fail to meet the customer expectation.

Now does a graphics define a game? No. But good graphics with mediocre to good special effect certanly help the player to feel the game, story, gameplay and all else that game ships with its disc. So It's needed to put up good graphics in order to make a good game without neglecting the gameplay side since then it would shiny egg with rotten core.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Graphics aren't, visual design is.

I like this. Some games are timeless, due to striking art styles that don't care about polygon counts or whatever.

I am sorry, Ocarina of Time, but you have not aged well. But Wind Waker on the other hand...That will always look good.

 

[Wigglyman]

Graphics aren't, visual design is.

I like this. Some games are timeless, due to striking art styles that don't care about polygon counts or whatever.

I am sorry, Ocarina of Time, but you have not aged well. But Wind Waker on the other hand...That will always look good.

Ah went back and played me some Ocarina of Time the other day. Hadn't realised how badly the graphics had dated till you see them for yourself!

Windwaker was a beautiful looking game.

 

[TelHybrid]

In regards to how "pretty" or "realistic" they are... they're only important in terms of setting the mood and feel of the game's setting.

In regards to viewpoint, camera angles, how recognizable objects are and knowing what they do, very very important. These are key parts of gameplay.

Anyone who says graphics aren't important in video games is a total idiot.

 

[TPiddy]

I think there should be certain standards established for a console generation, and most games should try to live up to those standards, graphically. Take Dragon Age, for instance. Not really top-of-the-line, but good enough for the current generation's graphics standards.

 

[Makeshift Koala]

i dont think they do at all... i played deus ex last year too completion (incase you dont know it, the visuals are pretty awhful) but not once did i think about the graphics bringing the game down.. i was just engrossed in the game and never thought for a second about the graphics being terrible compared to, say mass effect or gears of war.