Poll: Do you need graphics?

[Zweiblumen]

Well, to me it only matters when the graphics (or lack thereof) don't impact the gameplay in a negative manner (see the L4kD game posted, it's fun but the 2D view penalizes the gamplay somewhat).

That said, I usually don't give a shit, at all, unless I've played the game with the graphics settings higher (for example I played call of duty 2 on my old computer, it looked like shit and I had low FPS, but it didn't bother me at all, now I run it perfectly smoothly with everything maxed, very hard to play it without the graphics settings all relatively high).

So far I've played one game where I could simply not see anything out of the graphics, but that was a ZX spectrum game (though played on an emulator). Was a text-based adventure, so it didn't really come down on the gameplay.

So yeah, though I don't give a shit about graphics they can make a game more enjoyable, but as long as the lack of quality doesn't come down on gameplay I really don't care.

 

[WayOutThere]

for me it goes

1)gameplay
2)story
3)graphics

I'll go back a ways and play old games. The furthest I've gone back so far would be Indigo Prophecy for the PS2. That's where things start to get iffy for me.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Do you NEED graphics? No, that's why text games exist.

But do you need them for the kind of games we play? Yes, as we need to be able to discern one object from another. However they don't need to be eyeball searing, good graphics are a bonus, not a requirement. The first port of gaming that we are familiar with should always be interactivity and fun factor (if applicable), and visual fidelity second.

I'd say you need good art direction before you need good graphics.

 

[edisnoom]

Depends
One of my favorite games is psychonauts which doesn't have good graphics.
Sometimes bad graphics help give the game a better atmosphere

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Yes. As much as people pretend to be above all those graphics whores, graphics are important. Obviously not as important as gameplay or story but still pretty damn important.

This. While graphics don't play a huge part in my enjoyment of video games, it sure as hell helps when a game looks as good as MGS4 or Uncharted.

Think of games like the Conduit. That game was...eh okay, I guess, but the graphics were downright terrible and they said it would look just as good as Uncharted.

Really? Lets compare:

This is Uncharted:

[spoiler/][img/]http://files.playstatic.com/ps3/uncharted-drakes-fortune/e3-uncharted-drakes-fortune-screenshot-2.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

and this is The Conduit:

[spoiler/][img/]http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/conduit_screen001.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

See the difference? It looks like a fucking N64 game. The Conduit looks fucking terrible and it brings down the quality of the game.

...But that's not what The Conduit looks like.

Spoiler

That is. Those were pre-alpha shots of the game, not the final build.

And they said it was going to look as good as Uncharted? Source?

 

[SamuelT]

Depends. In a very plot-driven game the facial animations and such should be near-perfect, else it'll feel very off. But in a very fast-paced shooter, the graphics don't have to be anything more than adequate.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Starcraft is still a good game. So no. There are plenty of shiny games that I don't like and still like some not so shiny games.

 

[Agarth]

1. I don't care how good a game's graphics are.
2. What the hell is with all the "your opinion of graphics" thread.
3. Every now and then I'll play a game with bad graphic up the ass and out the mouth.

 

[Mozared]

Depends for me as well. I have no problems playing games like Warcraft 2 or Heroes (of Might & Magic) 3, though I'm getting annoyed by the fact that the graphics in WoW are by now outdated. It really depends on the game - if there's plenty of eyecandy in it, I want the eyecandy to look good. If it's a relatively simple game, I don't mind.

 

[funguy2121]

No!

 

[Flames66]

Need to stop focussing on the graphics. Gameplay is more important so focus on the AI and story. I don't play console games and I will not upgrade my PC whenever a new graphics engine comes out.

 

[ElTigreSantiago]

Normally I would say hell yes, but then you would call me a liar when I say Fallout 3 is my favorite game of all time.

 

[nolongerhere]

Yep. Graphics contribute to the atmosphere. Atmosphere is important. Not as important as gameplay, but definately important. If it looks good, it's a more enjoyable experience.

 

[Calhoun347]

No, If it's a really old-school game, not at all. If it's say 2002-2005 stuff, Theres normally high-res texture packs available (PC gamer here). But they aren't required, not by a long shot. Still, Games released in the here and now should adhere to a reasonable standard.

 

[Gontear]

For me graphics is a measure of how much time and effort the developers put into the game, and art direction is the melody that puts all the notes in place. "Good graphics" by my standards is the game looking like it belongs to the generation it actually belongs to, and "good art direction" is making the graphics, no matter what the resolution, look like a masterpiece.

That being said, i wouldn't give games with bad graphics and art direction the time of day. For me this translates to the developers banking everything on the million-dollar gameplay idea that someone was lucky enough to think up during the weekly brainstorming meeting. It's like someone said, "I just thought of the greatest gameplay idea ever, I don't need to work hard on the technical stuff."

However, this doesn't mean that a game with good graphics is actually a good game. It just means they put time and effort into the technical aspects of the presentation. The gameplay may be cliche or a rip off of every other game out there, but at least they tried to make the game look good.

I don't know, maybe that's just me. Just my two cents.

 

[Pimppeter2]

No, I prefer a good story (even over gameplay)

But of course its not like a game shouldn't have good graphics if it can.

 

[Chipperz]

Last time I checked, Warcraft 2 and Starcraft were amazing games, as were Doom, Deus Ex, Unreal and Unreal Tournament (the first one, at least), Morrowind...

All look like wet arse, all play like the sports car of gaming.

On the other hand, Crysis was shit. Take from that what you will...