Poll: What matters most in a video game?

[Sarmos]

I was having an animated disscusion with a couple of my friends when this question came up.

Me personally, I like any game that draws you into it's story, and keeps you thinking about it long after you've shut it off. Example: Dragon Age Orgins, The Fable games, and Assassins Creed.

My friend Jordan, is much more into how realistic, graphically awesome, and historicaly correct video games must be. He proved his point by bringing up COD Modern Warfare, Battlestations: Pasific, and AION of all things.

My other friend Mike, stated that the gameplay is the most important factor. Games that play well, and have good controls are games that do well. He brought up the Halo games and how well everyone could play them, But at the same time complex control setup games like Heavy Rain.

So fellow Escapists My question I pose to you is this. What is the most important factor that goes into a video game? The story? The realistic graphics? The gameplay? Or is it something else entirely? I want your opinion.

 

[Marter]

Gameplay comes first. If it isn't fun to play, I won't play it.
Story comes second. There usually needs to be some motivation to play it.
Graphics come third. It's nice if it looks good, but it's not all that important.

 

[Voodoomancer]

I'd say depends. The best games have all 3. Then sometimes you buy a game to be told an epic story (although it is sometimes grossly overdone), and sometimes you just want to Blow Shit Up, story not being important.
So there's no real answer.
[/boring answer]

 

[Nossy]

Immersion, which is a combination of all 3 to some extent. If I can't get into a game, it's extremely hard for me to sit down and play through.

 

[MellowFellow]

Story draws me in the most, I feel an engaging story can save a game from being terrible, it can also make good game great.

 

[yankeefan19]

Gameplay all the way. If a game is fun to play, it can make up for those issues. Unfortunately, too many people are graphics whores (Which happens to be the reason that all my friends think i'm retarded for buying darkest of days).

 

[Nomanslander]

Gameplay, with out it it might as well be a movie, and Roger Ebert might as well be right...=(

 

[PDizzle418]

story matters the most to me, if the game doesn't lead me somewhere or give me an objective I don't want to play it. I've forgiven broken games for having a great story.

However I've also played games with no story because it was too damn fun. SO I guess both elements are very important to me.

Video games aren't really supposed to be realistic, as much as they try a truly realistic game would be boring and agravating as you would die often and you wouldn't really get any better, as in your character wouldn't just improve it would take lots of time and be related more directly to your skill.

I'm a history buff so I love history and if they are accurate or are trying to be accurate then yes it needs to be accurate, if they are going for an action and jsut using a historical setting then no, they don't need to be.

good story and good gameplay is a great game.

one or the other makes a good game

like mellow said good gameplay makes a good game but a good game plus a good story is a great game

 

[HontooNoNeko]

Thats a rather odd question I would assume a "game" would have heavy emphasis on "game"play but maybe that's just me? I personally think games are trying to hard to become movies or whatnot a great story is nice but overall that is a secondary goal. If games are based around story first they might as well be called interactive movies.(yes I'm referring to Heavy Rain)

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Bad aspects of a game can be forgiven or ignored if it has a good story. I still play Deus Ex (the original) and FF8. Sure their graphics are dated by todays standards, but they have very compelling stories.

 

[mikerotch]

in my opinion its all about the replay value, the story could be sh*tty as all heck but so long as im entertained by the multiplayer or something i feel like its worth the money i payed for it (CoD:MW2 is a perfect example of this)

 

[Grey_Focks]

I guess I'll go with gameplay, but really the fun factor is my biggest draw. I love a good story, but I won't put up with a game with good story if it isn't fun.

 

[MortalForNow]

The gameplay in general, though the fact that a game is fun or interesting (depending on what type of game it is) usually holds my interest the most. I'll admit it, there have been games where there are one or two flaws that get on my nerves, but the game as a whole is so addictive or intriguing that I just have to keep playing.

 

[SimuLord]

The gameplay. All gaming fun derives from it.

 

[JackyJack]

Mostly the story.

 

[Enigma6667]

I don't see how anyone can "not" choose gameplay. Story and graphics are also important I guess, but if the most unplayable game in the world had a decent story and graphics engine, would you still play it?

 

[LetoTheTyrant]

If the story is good enough I can, and will, forgive the rest if needs be.
But at the same time, if gameplay is really good that will keep me playing (TF2 or L4D for example, graphics are not the best, and no story, but good gameplay).

Story is really what has me coming back and playing games over and over (Kotor, ME, etc. ) but good gameplay can keep me playing a game a long time as well, but I don't come back to said game once I've stopped really.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Thats a rather odd question I would assume a "game" would have heavy emphasis on "game"play but maybe that's just me? I personally think games are trying to hard to become movies or whatnot a great story is nice but overall that is a secondary goal. If games are based around story first they might as well be called interactive movies.(yes I'm referring to Heavy Rain)

see bioware.

unless you dislike there games, otherwise their games sell like hotcakes due to the stories and characters in them.