That post just made my day. The multitude of ways it can be analyzed, and all fun. Do you have any examples? Because I can't literally think of ONE cover that would fit either of the possible descriptions.Johnny Novgorod said:
Poll: Gaming aesthetics, when are they a turn-off/-on?
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FXAA based antialiasing that can't be disabled infuriate me. It's a little uncommon, but I've come across it a few times. Sometimes I can correct it somewhat with a Sweetfx preset, but it's usually a bit of a pain in the ass. I really don't get why more games don't use SMAA instead.
I've never bought a game for the aesthetics, but I've certainly not bought a game because of them.
Ya I'd second that. To be honest, the cover barely registers in my brain. It's like I just automatically filter it out so that I don't even take notice of the thing.Johnny Novgorod said:
JRPGs in general. Atelier, Eternal Sonata, Fairy Fencer, Hyperdimension. Google "PS3 loli game" for a smattering of examples.ManutheBloodedge said:
Ah, ok, I see what you mean. You know, since I posted this, I remebered some game covers I own that would fall into this category. It is more widespread than I thought I suppose. But I am curious, how do you determine wether or not the loli is magical just from the cover? Or are non-magic lolis ok? Sorry for prying, it is just so weirdly specific that I got curious.Johnny Novgorod said:
"Magical" in the mahou shoujo sense of the word. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_girlManutheBloodedge said:
Yes, I know what you mean, but how can you determine wether or not a loli on the cover fulfills the criteria, for example, if she can transform or not (which normally would be considered pretty integral for the concept)? And again, would non-magical lolis be ok? If you don't mind me asking, I just find it interesting that you singled out this specific trope, and not anime or underage-looking girls in general.Johnny Novgorod said:
I'll admit that it was a heavy reason behind buying Skyshine's Bedlam. I loved the Mad Max look it had.
The gameplay is...decent. Not really blowing my mind, but I don't feel cheated.
The gameplay is...decent. Not really blowing my mind, but I don't feel cheated.
What leaves me disinterested. Dull drab environments accompanied by photo realism. It leaves no impression. It just feels like a sterile cold product maid for well...I'll stop there.
What draws me in. Art style, distinct visuals, stuff that stimulates my imagination and has an actual artistic vision. Ie - Deus Ex Human Rev, Bioshock Infinite, Dishonored, Fable.
This why I actually still like the visuals of the older 3D games, they had to compromise a lot due to the tech of the time and get creative with how they could do things.
Mind you I'm not saying the character models were entirely intentional and weren't a product of compromise. But for example a game like Silent Hill I can still very much enjoy because the vague odd looking models help with the atmosphere of Silent Hill. Silent Hill should have this surreal like art style too it so it works for me.
What draws me in. Art style, distinct visuals, stuff that stimulates my imagination and has an actual artistic vision. Ie - Deus Ex Human Rev, Bioshock Infinite, Dishonored, Fable.
This why I actually still like the visuals of the older 3D games, they had to compromise a lot due to the tech of the time and get creative with how they could do things.
Mind you I'm not saying the character models were entirely intentional and weren't a product of compromise. But for example a game like Silent Hill I can still very much enjoy because the vague odd looking models help with the atmosphere of Silent Hill. Silent Hill should have this surreal like art style too it so it works for me.
Agreed. I do like some cel-shaded games, like Wind Waker, but I still preferred the aesthetics of the games before. I also had a random rant about the graphics of Tell Tale games with them looking like they're not sure if they wanted to be realistic or cartoony, since they have both but inhibit those qualities with odd or incomplete design elements. Such as the black lines that show wrinkles that sometimes look like scars or pen marks, or how their eyes come out comically while their characters skin and hair is textured for realism.Silentpony said:
Also don't like how some anime looking games give everything this soft, bright, bland tone on everything. Almost all the games that are made in RPG Maker looks as tasteless, and it's a shame no one enhances it to look more 'mean'.
And then there are games like The Division where every set and design makes me feel like it has nothing interesting to offer, just that it's trying to be photo realistic.
I don't remember ever shying away from a game, because of aesthetics, but cell-shading gets on my nerves when it's too overt and sticks out instead of blending in. Back when City of Heroes was alive, one of the many reasons I couldn't make the switch to Champions Online was the way that game looked (and sounded).ManutheBloodedge said:
I do have a friend who outright rejects games with the "WoW" aesthetic. I'm not crazy about it either, but it doesn't bother me.
I do think, however, that a good aesthetic can make up for a lot of mechanical issues. It's a visual medium and if it impresses or, better, helps increase immersion, it can be a deal-maker.
You are missing out on great games though. Can't speak for others but at least Atelier games do something unique. They have the best crafting systems that games have to offer. Basically, the gameplay is good. Everything else? Not my cup of tea, but it doesn't really matter. Good games aren't defined by art style.Johnny Novgorod said:
Edit: On topic:
Art style is NEVER made me not play a game. What makes games good is the gameplay. It's simple as that. If the gameplay is good, I'll play it. Art style or story be damned.
One good example is Tales of Graces f. I absolutely love it and have played it trough multiple of times and I'm planning to do another run soon. Art style, story and characters though? I hate them. I seriously do. But it doesn't matter when the gameplay is so fun!
Anything overtly anime (be it loli or otherwise) pretty much makes me go "Nope." Other than Souls and Street Fighter, I barely play any Japanese games these days; the animu-ness of most of them is a big nono for me. It's funny, because I was big into anime in the mid 90's, but now I just can't.
Games with chromatic color shy me away. When I got Betrayer I immediately cranked up the color slider. It also put my off of games like Madworld. I respect what they're going for, but Christ do they hurt my eyes.
I'm also typically disappointed by games that use cel-shading. It can look nice, Okami being my favorite example, but in games like Borderlands I merely tolerated it, while I feel other games just cram it in just to be "unique".
I usually prefer a realistic approach, however that can backfire. Sometimes there's just so much visual information on screen, that unless I have a monitor with an absurdly high resolution, I get a headache trying to process it all.
Games that I did buy for their visuals include Slain!, a recent game that has some of the most gorgeous pixel art I've ever seen, but has since come under criticism for woefully inadequate combat. (How do you post gifs, btw? I wanted to show an example but it looks much better in motion.)
I'm also typically disappointed by games that use cel-shading. It can look nice, Okami being my favorite example, but in games like Borderlands I merely tolerated it, while I feel other games just cram it in just to be "unique".
I usually prefer a realistic approach, however that can backfire. Sometimes there's just so much visual information on screen, that unless I have a monitor with an absurdly high resolution, I get a headache trying to process it all.
Games that I did buy for their visuals include Slain!, a recent game that has some of the most gorgeous pixel art I've ever seen, but has since come under criticism for woefully inadequate combat. (How do you post gifs, btw? I wanted to show an example but it looks much better in motion.)
Bikini armor. Whether it's sci-fi, fantasy, I can't stand it. It just immediately screams at me that the people who made that game have no idea what armor does and are just trying to be "sexy". Add extra turn-off points if, in this setting, the male characters get relatively sensible armor but all the female characters are wearing armored thongs or chestplates with windows cut in them.
Maximum turn-off is a supposed warrior-woman wearing high heels. Rest of the outfit could be great, and sensible, but as soon as I see high heels I just throw my arms up and go "Why?!"
Don't get me wrong though, I don't mind armor that's a bit stylized and silly. That's fine. But you gotta at least put in the effort to have it make some kind of sense. It's got to have some sort of logical and stylistic cohesion to the rest of the world that you've established.
Maximum turn-off is a supposed warrior-woman wearing high heels. Rest of the outfit could be great, and sensible, but as soon as I see high heels I just throw my arms up and go "Why?!"
Don't get me wrong though, I don't mind armor that's a bit stylized and silly. That's fine. But you gotta at least put in the effort to have it make some kind of sense. It's got to have some sort of logical and stylistic cohesion to the rest of the world that you've established.
Turn-on: I have bought one game based on graphics alone. But it was more curiosity through how the art-style would work. The game was XIII, which was based on a comic, and the first game I saw with cel-shaded graphics. I was so intrigued to see how this would work in a FPS so I got it. Mildly satisfied with the game, it's not really a purchase I'd regret, however was the only one based on aesthetics. Other games I've bought it has been a significant factor, though never a deciding one. I still play quite old games, and try out quite a few independent titles that don't even catch me in a design or creative sense. Not shortage of fun there.
Turn-off: Generally the aesthetics never quite turn me off completely, though they might be an indication that it's a kind of a game that I simply don't play. Most JRPGs, cute kids games, sports games, etc. I have played at least one of each of those and enjoyed though. The one that is really a turn off and I avoid like a ten foot pole is the MMORPGs which have anime style exaggerated proportion characters and skimpy armor. Funny thing is, it's not the skimpy armor that puts me off, it's the likelihood that it is tied to very average, tedious, grindy shallow gameplay (I actually love bikini armor and busty characters in appropriate *fantasy* setting, hell I nearly bought Dragon's Crown based on it's crazy aesthetic style alone).
Turn-off: Generally the aesthetics never quite turn me off completely, though they might be an indication that it's a kind of a game that I simply don't play. Most JRPGs, cute kids games, sports games, etc. I have played at least one of each of those and enjoyed though. The one that is really a turn off and I avoid like a ten foot pole is the MMORPGs which have anime style exaggerated proportion characters and skimpy armor. Funny thing is, it's not the skimpy armor that puts me off, it's the likelihood that it is tied to very average, tedious, grindy shallow gameplay (I actually love bikini armor and busty characters in appropriate *fantasy* setting, hell I nearly bought Dragon's Crown based on it's crazy aesthetic style alone).
I cant remmeber a case where i disliked a game purely for aesthetics. however aesthetics i do not like usually come coupled with gameplay i do not like so i got that easy cop-out to throw around.
i think RPG maker counts as gameplay given how it has quite specific gameplay style to it.Corey Schaff said: