Poll: Do high end graphics take more than they give?

[Electrogecko]

I've always said that aesthetic design is much more important than graphical detail. Certain games on the Wii are better to look at than CoD or GoW ever are. One misconception a lot of people have is thinking that good graphics means ultra-realism. The goal of developers shouldn't be to make a game look as realistic as possible. Video games can look BETTER than realistic. The Windwaker is one of my top 5 picks for best graphics of all time.
Some people will complain about graphics in a game like Minecraft, then go play Megaman 9 on their PS3. The 2 recent Megaman games are a counterpoint that I constantly use against graphics- They've had catchy music, colorful character models and environments, precision controls and platforming, and are extremely challenging, which makes them very gratifying experiences. Not to mention they both sold like crazy.
After a certain point, games run out of room for improvement in the techno-visual department, and we are at that point right now. High-end graphics may be nice to have, but in the end, they add next to nothing to most games and are a huge waste of consumer and developer cost.

 

[topwomble]

My favourite game is Fallout 3.
So i guess that tells you where i am on the poll.

 

[Valkyrie101]

What if i don't like minecraft because playing with legos just isn't fun to me?

Then that's not the graphics you have an issue with, it's the gameplay.

 

[War Penguin]

I really don't care about the graphics in a game, I just care about gameplay. I've met too many people who will refuse to play a game because of it's bad graphics. Hell, even if it's a last gen game, they won't play because of the graphics. Granted, if a game I like has good graphics, I won't complain. I'll think it's pretty nice to have. But I want something more than good visuals. Graphics don't make the game, gameplay makes the game.

 

[Jamman54]

Personally, I think that good graphics are an amazing thing, but heck, we don't need to go too far. I was happy for the graphics in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion... Do we really need it to be better than this? Sure oblivion has flaws, but its graphics are simple, and you can tell what is going on.

...Examples....

 

[Ampersand]

One of my favorite games is text based.

 

[RabbiiFrystofsk]

It's the sad and honest truth that graphics have become a main priority in todays industry. I'm not going to be hypocritical and say i don't look at graphics, but i don't consider them the be all and end all of a game. At the end of the day a game that has engrossing and re-play worthy gameplay will always trump a game that looks flashy. It's a bonus when a game looks gorgeous and is fun to play, for example Red Dead Redemption.

 

[Ampersand]

Third, in many ways, high end graphics actually take away from the aesthetic beauty of a game.

That's just not true at all.

Excellent point, well made.
Although he may have been refering to simpler games like limbo or braid.

 

[Worgen]

What if i don't like minecraft because playing with legos just isn't fun to me?

then your lying or your some sort of alien in human skin since all humans love legos, ITS A PROVEN FACT

 

[hawkeye52]

i generally perfer high end graphic games but not to the expense of gameplay. i mean i play dwarf fortress and minecraft

 

[Mechsoap]

graphic doesn't matter as much as gameplay, graphic mostly show how much spare time the studio had...

 

[Viewtiful Dan]

I don't care about graphics as long as its fun to play and eveything isn't gray amd brown.

 

[martin's a madman]

Well, I would play a game without high-end graphics because that doesn't equate to good graphics.

One of my favorite games is text based.

Is it a nice font?

Brilliant.

 

[JaysonM]

I'm all up for good gameplay, but there are alot of games out there where you really do want to immerse yourself (think red dead redemption).

I think people make the mistake of thinking "good graphics means 3D" but that's where Sonic went wrong. They thought since 3D was made available that they had to jump to it. Of course, they should give the graphics an upgrade, even to 2.5D (which they are doing) but it doesn't mean you have to change the gameplay mechanics to comply with the dimensions you are using.

+1 rep for the new donkey kong coming out I say =D

 

[Wintermoot]

graphics arent THAT necesary if I can download a updated graphics pack for a old game I would gladly do it but I wouldnt mind it if a game has bad graphics

 

[SturmDolch]

I'll post what I posted in the comments on Shamus' article:

"We usually play it between (or if we're sneaky, in) classes at University and I'll tell you something... This isn't a game for the average consumer. I always get random people stopping and staring at my laptop and saying "What kind of game is that??" "Why would you play something that looks like that!?" "Why are you playing an 8-bit game?" "That game looks like SHIT!" "/sarcasm NICE GAME". It gets very annoying. I'm surprised this guy is still selling them like hotcakes."

I don't mind the graphics in the game. They fit the game. But everyone walking past says it looks retarded. And to be honest, if I didn't get to play it for free first during the free weekend, I wouldn't have been interested in it from pictures alone.