Poll: The most important aspect of a game

[zenoaugustus]

Recently I have heard many people say "Killzone 2 has such great graphics" and other related things. I'm starting to think that the main attraction to video games is the graphics, not the most important part, the gameplay. I'm sorry, but I could care less at how the graphics are, as long as they are as good as last generation, I'm happy. But the first thing I judge a game on is the gameplay, not the graphics or other stuff. The next thing I rate the game on is story/plot. After that it's character development. Soundtrack is actually behind that, and graphics is last to me.

What is you opinion?
If I missed any "aspect" of video games in this, inform me and I will update the polls.

 

[DragunovHUN]

If I missed any "aspect" of video games in this, inform me and I will update the polls.

Atmosphere please. Also, graphics are unimportant to me. As long as i can make out objects i'm happy, and probably busy enjoying the gameplay and storyline.

 

[plastic_window]

I believe this thread has been done many times before, old chap.

But here's my 2 cents anyway: Gameplay comes first. It is a game. Not a book or a film or a picture. You have to play it.

 

[Avatar Roku]

For me, it's a triumvirate of Gameplay, Character Development, and Plot. I put Gameplay slightly above the others though, as occasionally we all like mindless fun, like say Halo or Gears of War, and then Gameplay is the only important part.

 

[oliveira8]

Gameplay->Plot->Characters->Soundtrack->Box Cover->Graphics

 

[Sundavar]

My favorite games have been God of War and Resident Evil 4.
Do you wanna know why?
BECAUSE I GET TO MAIM PEOPLE!
That is precisely why i bought those video games, because i figured they would be violent and fun and i was greatly rewarded for it.
I hate it when the plot intervenes waaaaay often in the gameplay (like the random sitting around for 5 minutes while your character recovers from ALMOST certain doom - credit to COD:WAW)
But i'm also a fan of the fire emblem games because they are really good at making you think about your moves and adding some strategy to the whole thing.
IMO Gameplay > all

 

[Cylem]

Gameplay. Good graphics or story or characters can make a good game great, but even without those things, people are going to play a game if it's fun. Tetris anyone?

 

[AkJay]

well, there are so much, but for me the top 3 are:

1. Atmosphere
2. Plot
3. Char. like-ableness.

 

[NeedAUserName]

For me, it would be a combo of Gameplay and Plot, but Graphics in third. I want a game thats interesting but handles well. I couldn't care less if it had the best story ever, if it plays badly, then I couldn't care less about it.

 

[Terrortree]

3 things:

1. CREATIVITY!!!!!
2. GOOD STORY!!!!!
3. HUMOR!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sundavar]

Atmosphere? Plotline? LIKEABLE CHARACTERS?
Geez people you're playing a game not watching a movie or reading a book

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Aye, Humor and Atmosphere can make the most Hard Vacuum of bad gameplay worth taking because it is presented well.

 

[waggmd]

Its a three way tie between: gameplay(Portal, and Mario games), soundtrack(Zelda, and Halo), and atmosphere(pikmin, ecco the dolphin, and other artsy games).

 

[Avatar Roku]

Atmosphere? Plotline? LIKEABLE CHARACTERS?
Geez people you're playing a game not watching a movie or reading a book

That doesn't mean we can't like the common elements between the mediums.

I want it to be well-intentioned and loved by its developers. All other things will follow under this. They'll want to make the best story, the best characters, the best graphics and the best gameplay.

Very true. Maybe that's why Valve games tend to turn out so well.

 

[oliveira8]

Atmosphere? Plotline? LIKEABLE CHARACTERS?
Geez people you're playing a game not watching a movie or reading a book

O'rly? In this age kids today spend prolly more time playing video games that reading books or watching movies, might as well come up with good plot/atmosphere/likable characters things.

 

[soren7550]

It goes:
Plot/Character development
Gameplay
Graphics

 

[Simriel]

a mixture of all of these.