Do Graphics Matter?

It’s an interesting question, when you think about it. The intuitive answer is “yes, of course they matter.” But is that really true? Do they matter as much as we think?

In an article on CVG, Adrian Chmielarz, founder of Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly, says he and his company “really don’t care that much” about graphics...

[Why o why]

others...No

Better graphics help improve some games and hinder others. Im a graphics man myself. Of course i want gameplay to match but its why i purchased a hd console + plasma. I do notice that graphics is a bit of a taboo subject for many here on N4G...sad, guess you only sing when your winning;)

[T9X69]

On N4G gameplay means nothing, its all about the graphics. I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy PLAYING my games and not just staring at them.

[Why o why]

says who...YOU? There are many great games that combine the 2..God of war 3, Uncharted, mass effect 2, Dead space so why shouldnt we pine for graphics on top of good gameplay, which should be a standard component of any game. The want for technical/graphical excellence has been here since forever. I remember when gears and bioshock were the toast of the graphical games and they were rightly lorded because they were amazing titles when they were released. Now it seems wanting excellent graphics is something that ps3 fans get attacked for (yeah, ive seen it)

Just look at the last games that were supposedly better than x or y and look at how many who used to make comments like yours 'come out' and lord and project onto an unfinished product. Seen it way too many times. Point is most of us would love great graphics on the games it makes sense to have great graphics on. I want it all. Its why i paid what i paid for my whole setup. Its why i upgraded from the last gen consoles. It also shows that the devs have put the work in. Im all for that. If at any point the improvement of graphics cause the detriment of gameplay then its obviously not worth it

[blitz0623]

lol troll

exactly what the first guy said. for some games graphics are impt, like action-adventure games because they give a better experience. but for sandbox/open world games like gta/infamous/assassins creed personally I don't look for amazing graphics.

[xYLeinen]

Don't share your honest opinion mate. You're on N4G, and honesty is "Disagrees".

I'm down to 2 bubbles for that :(

[Bigpappy]

Next stupid question.

[Elwenil]

To me, it's a complete package. The gameplay, the story, the graphics, the fun, the whole thing. If a certain part of a game is so much better than the norm, then yeah, I can overlook something else that's not up to par. People spend way too much time picking this crap apart all the time.

[Corepred4]

what an idiot. lol last i checked when i PLAY a game i have to STARE at the screen. other than blinking, lol. what the are people supposed to while they play a game other than stare at the game? look out the window?

[Lykon]

I agree with you t9x69 , you may have been broadly generalising and got a lot of disagrees, but as soon as a multiplat is released this site is flooded with bland news stories comparing screen shots down to the last pixel. Graphics are the main area in which the fan boy war is fought and the majority of news stories here are fan boy related. i agreed and bubbled you up, but hey it's just an internet site.

[Biggest]

Think about what graphics are. They aren't a still photo. They aren't screen shots. They are a visual representation of user input. The fanboy war may have introduced the "OMG JAGGIES!" topic to us all. But actual game graphics are so much more than just pretty models. As graphics evolve, the games themselves evolve. Most of you are stuck in fanboy mode and think graphics are only there to show your consoles power. That is not even close to reality. Go back to the early games that weren't Pong or Pac-Man types. An early ancestor of Uncharted 2 is Pitfall. Do you think the game developers didn't think about scaling walls and swinging across a suspended rail car? I've had an imagination since I can remember. I am sure they did as well. But the graphical limitations of the time wouldn't allow what we see today. Not caring about graphics is the same as not caring about evolution in gaming. The better the graphics, the more we get to experience. Graphics matter.

[morganfell]

When you are not the graphics leader then they no longer matter. Microsoft themselves have taken the position that HD is inconsequential. Their public pronouncement of 3D follows a similar vein. When you lack disc space for hi res textures and raw processing power to utilize them, then it makes sense to shy away from pushing the point of render ability.

The fact is graphics do matter for many titles. Not all, but many. Graphics pair directly on immersion for numerous titles and in several cases, graphics are game play. Stealth titles that rely heavily on light and shadow, or other similar visual keys rely heavily on graphics.

[UltraNova]

Here let me ask you a question in the same context,

Does the horsepower of a car's engine matter?

If you are a 60 year old Grandpa don't bother answering :p

[deadreckoning666]

Depends on the game.

For example, you can't expect an open world game to have the same graphical quality as a linear game.

@sackgirl73-

Ummm..GOTY to who exactly? My GOTY for 2009 was KZ2. I just got Uncharted 2 a couple days ago.

@Karum- I didn't have Uncharted 2 in 2009. Therefore, its impossible for it to be my GOTY.

[Karum]

KZ2 not a bad choice for GOTY.

Uncharted 2 though, very deserving winner of the title.

[BattleAxe]

As the years go on, I expect both great graphics and great gameplay, otherwise I would still be playing Socom on my PS2.

[SOAD]

If Sony hadn't released a PS3, you would still be playing PS2 games.

Sony said it themselves. They said, and I'm using their words, their job is to provide people with products that they didn't think they needed until they saw them.

[DigitalAnalog]

Hence the 10 year life cycle.

-End statement

[Dee_91]

im having deja vu cuz i swear i just saw an article like this a few days sgo

[ABizzel1]

Graphics are only there to enhance the experience. They don't make or break the game. I enjoy gameplay most of all, but looking good doesn't hurt either. Just ask Warhawk & Left 4 Dead 1, not the best looking games, but easily in my top 5 of most played games this gen.

Add Uncharted, LBP, and Resistance FOM to that list.

[Upbeat]

ofc they do, when newer games have better quailty of visuals it means that the industry is moving forward and making things more realistic.

but then again games are games and do u want them to be realistic ?

[sid4gamerfreak]

yes of course it matters.

Seriously, does anyone wanna play las gen games after experiencing crysis, uncharted 2, god of war 3, etc..

[NYPunkster]

correction... for PS3 users yes, xbox users no. :P

[ClownBelt]

I love great graphics. Before it was all about the gameplay, but when I tried playing older games, I just couldn't get into it anymore.

[matthewschrager]

I think that's because older games no longer pass the 'crap threshold.' 10 year old games might have looked great 10 years ago, but they look abysmal today compared to everything else, and that distracts us.

A better way to look at it is: do you enjoy playing games with mediocre graphics by MODERN standards?

[NecrumSlavery]

I still think Oddworld Abe's Oddysee and Exoddus hold graphically and technically to today's standards. It's a game that only needs a slight polish to stand up with today. The graphics style of scenery of Trine and Shadow Complex are similiar to classic Oddworld. And of course the gameplay is just stellar, the story is amazing and the entire design behind it is ingenious.

[no_more_heroes]

and I will definitely coo over nice graphics, but I don't need them. "I Wanna be the Guy" says hello.

[xino]

if you still feel that graphics doesn't not matter, then you are not a real gamer:/

[MadMan00]

WOW, you are an idiot real gamers don't care about graphics more like hardcore nerds and new school gamers. You're supposed to care about the things that actually affect the game play like Story, battle mechanics, movement, etc.

Now please GTFO and go back to GameFAQ, thanks.

[xino]

tell me fake gamer, without graphics, how would Uncharted 2 become a great resonant game eh?

without graphics, how would Resident Evil 4 feel so awesome in aiming? I mean you aim the vital points of the enemy that causes direct damage, with a sh* graphics, how the fark will feel the impact realism to the damage?

It's like saying killing ninjas in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 with purple mist is better than killing ninjas in Ninja Gaidne 2 with blood. Since blood makes it feel more realistic.

Without graphics, how would d00m 3 feel scary?

Without graphics how would Half Life 2 feel so realistic?

Without graphics how would games like Heavy Rain feel closer to realism?

gtfo and go play a Wii son!

[DigitalAnalog]

35+ Million PS3 Owners & 40+ Million 360 owners upgraded from the PS2, XBOX & Gamecube.

THEY DO!

-End statement

[despair]

Graphics are very important, they can improve and expand on an already great game, no one can deny that metroid, zelda, mario etc. would be better if they had the power of ps3 or x360, not saying to change their art style or gameplay just the overall quality of the models, textures, AA, shadows etc.

[pippoppow]

Overall system power coupled with graphics can improve games by offering more things to do in bigger worlds with more things going on at once. You can usually see the difference each gen but I think it comes down to how well things blend together.

If a game has ok graphics but everything else if great then I'd choose it over a vastly better looking game lacking in other departments. This is why I'd pick many older games over the current ones. Many of the games today try to get by on just looks but then many younger gamers seem to gravitate and obsess over graphics the most unfortunately.

[alphakennybody]

At this day and age, you'd be an idiot to think graphics still doesn't matter.It adds a great level of immersion that makes the game even more worth playing.

[theonlylolking]

Graphics immerse you into the game. You probably wont be as into some games if they look bad. Just think if heavy rain looked like super mario 64 would you still have that same felling of realism and immersion? NO, same with Uncharted 2 and others.

Graphics are just as important as gameplay.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

I didn't buy my HDTV, HD Console, GPU for nothing.

Graphics matters as for Gameplay also matters.

[DKell]

Assassin's Creed 2 was ruined for me because of the god awful textures and low pixel counts. Im sorry but under no circumstances should a sequel take a big step backwards in visuals. Don't believe me? Pop in the first AC after playing the second for a little while. It's embarrassing really

[DJKGBYF]

It depends more on the type of game it is, some types need better graphics than others. But you can't rely on graphics alone to make a good game.

[Arnon]

Graphics are important, but I honestly would choose amazing gameplay over amazing graphics. There are very few exceptions where I believe the graphics and gameplay are both excellent such as Crysis, God of War 3, and a few others.

[SpoonyRedMage]

To me it's a case of not what you have but how you use it. I think the part of graphics that means the most to me is consistency, each element needs to be believable in the world.

I think art style is much more important than tech though.

[Pandamobile]

There's a delicate balance that needs to be achieved between graphics and gameplay.

[tunaks1]

duh its teh only thing that matters!
oh and screw colors!

[Nelson M]

If you own a PS3 then of Course Graphics Matter
Why Would'nt they ?
What with all the Great Looking Exclusive the PS3 Serve's up
And
If you own a Xbox then of Course Graphics Dont Matter
Why Would They ?
What with all the Average Looking Exclusive's the Xbox Serve's up

[iamgoatman]

If graphics REALLY matter to you, you'd be playing on a PC.

[claterz]

That's true, but if the PS3 is capable of great graphics, then why shouldn't we expect games to look good? If a PS3 exclusive doesn't look good then it's because the developers haven't made the most of what is available.

[Biggest]

How can you play PS3 games on a PC?

[Sarcasm]

There has to be both.

IMO, Final Fantasy 3 (FFVI) on SNES had AMAZING graphics for it's time. And not only that, but it had the content and gameplay to go with it.

So there are those noteworthy titles in each generation that has that perfect blend of both, and those are the games we truly remember.

[PirateThom]

I'd say graphics matter, it's all about improvement or there would be no reason to keep upgrading. It then goes to the opposite side, where some people think people because people do care about graphics, they don't care about gameplay, but the two aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both.

[EvilBlackCat]

graphics matter OF COURSE

BUT!!!

not as much of Gameplay and Story

There is a lot of game that have beautiful graphics but when you put your hands on them and pay attention to the plot of the story... geeeezz i just quit on them.

"You can have both. "

Of course but developers pay attention to what "gamers" want and the problem is that on the web some "gamers" spend more time in the web Praising and overhyping games because of the graphics instead of the gameplay and story every single day and night. And the message they receive is that if you create great graphics people wont care so much about the rest.

All you guys care and discuss is about Graphics WTF happen with gameplay?

Like i was commenting a guy last night... People bash Mirrors Edge because of the graqphics but the mororns dont understand the artistic approach of mirrors Edge Gameplay. The gameplay is freaking awesome and you will see games following his steps just like BRINK.

I mean come on wont you guys love a Killzone merge with what mirrors edge offer?

P O S E R S !

[PlayStation X]

depends what type of game, fps/racing/action games they do other games i couldnt give a fck about it.

[C0MPUT3R]

..................
.
Of course they matter.
.
It creates an immersion level that puts you more into the game.
.
...................

[telekineticmantis]

These are the first moments in gaming when that question is raised. Every gen people would rave or complain about visual quality. You can even see it in the reviews from years ago.

At the beginning of this gen everybody raved about gears of wars graphics and the unreal engine and the 360s graphical supremacy. Then all of a sudden a bald man with cancer shows up on screen preaching to mutants in gas masks. Then all of a sudden people changed their minds. Lets all watch alien vs predator on video cassete and play pong.

I see this hypocritism every week. Are we claiming ownage for call of duty looking better on the 360 or are we saying Killzones graphics mean nothing, I can't keep up.

[Figboy]

there's also a difference between "graphics," and "art design."

the real question is: "Does art design matter?"

for example, Super Mario Galaxy can't technically compete with a game like Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time. that's a fact.

HOWEVER, Super Mario Galaxy is still a beautiful game. why? Art Design.

if a game has great art design, then it will look great.

look at World of Warcraft. the graphics engine is incredibly old by this point, but the game still looks visually pleasing. Blizzard puts emphasis on art design, not graphics.

it's like questioning if film evolving and moving to color mattered.

maybe it's because i've been playing video games since 1985, and i've seen the gaming industry evolve and grow and improve on a generational, even yearly basis.

look at the titles released at the start of this generation, and look at the titles being released NOW.

would you be willing to shell out $60 again for games that look like how they looked back in 2005?

game play and graphics are NOT mutually exclusive. not in a medium that emphasizes BOTH.

there seems to be this misconception that pretty graphics means the developer didn't focus on the game play. again, i grew up in an era where the best visuals were usually coupled with the best games, BECAUSE the developer gave a damn and focuses on BOTH.

Super Mario Bros 3, Chrono Trigger, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 4, and Uncharted 2.

what do they ALL have in common?

at the time of their releases, they were not only praised for their fantastic game play, but for their state of the art visuals at well.

game play and graphics are a marriage. compromise is often required, and a bit of effort from both parties. with the abundance of middleware engines like Unreal Engine 3, the line is a bit more blurred this generation in terms of separating the titles that are both beautiful and fun to play, but a little bit of research clears that up real fast. look for keywords like "rushed development cycle," "movie tie-in," "Activision," and you should be well on your way to being able to discern which titles aren't worth your time.

a little word of mouth doesn't hurt either.

i was iffy about Alan Wake (i wanted it, but didn't want to spend $60), but after hearing from my fellow gamers (not paid reviewers; how worthless are THEY this generation?), i've decided i'll pick it up when i have the cash.

i'm sick of the "game play over graphics" argument, because we are paying for BOTH. we are paying for a unified gaming experience. whether the art design is Patapon or Killzone it doesn't matter as long as it represents the GAME the developers were trying to make. game play is just as vital. i don't put emphasis on one or the other, but i certainly give credit where it's due when a developer is pumping out quality like what we've seen with Uncharted 2, Killzone 2, and inFAMOUS 2.

[Darkfiber]

Man these video game "journalists" have no originality. I swear I see this same article written every five minutes. Jesus. How do they get paid for this?

[M4ndat0ry_1nstall]

Graphics matter to PS3 fans (Like myself) because it's the only thing we were told to (by Sony) care about.

Without graphics the only thing that would justify our purchase would be watching the Dark Knight in 1080p on our Sony Bravia HD TVs.

I hope this clears things up for those who were unaware :)

[bjornbear]

bullsh!t, you're just another satire of a "typical" PS3 fanboy, but you are wrong.

as a PS3 only owner graphics DON'T matter so as long as the game looks good (artistically) and its got good gameplay, now go make another account.

[M4ndat0ry_1nstall]

I am to a PS3 fan, just check my gamertag. You see how many achievements I have? Level 4.

I know what I'm talking about buddy. Wanna game-share?

Anime rulez

[Spydr07]

Yes, they matter, but only to a degree. Once you're immersed in a game, you get caught up in what's going on in the game. You're not thinking, "Man, those blades of grass look so REAL. It's even the same with movies. High def. doesn't matter once you're into the story. Those of you who've dated a very attractive person know it to be true in relationships, as well. Once you're into them, really into them, you really aren't thinking, "Damn, they're hot. What. An. @ss."

True immersion goes so far beyond visual it's sad. It comes from a level of quality that's felt, not seen.

[fuckitimout]

when I spend $300 - $600 on a console, yep. On a little deeper, graphics always matter. There has to be a visual representation on the screen. That's why it's called VIDEO game. Anyone who says graphics don't matter then they're lying

[bjornbear]

im playing stalker shadow of chernobyl atm on my 2006 MBP, and although i have to use static lighting, everything else is on max, and its playable! it even looks amazing indoors with the flashlight (which is quite surprising)

im loving it and, although i play GOWIII and KZ2 i can still enjoy and get immersed in the world of stalker just as well =)

[telekineticmantis]

I don't think anybody said graphics are the most important, just that it is important. Presentation in general adds to the gameplay, epic music epic visuals help are in making a finely polished masterpiece

[The BS Police]

But not as important as good gameplay, nobody wants to play a great looking game with terrible gameplay, afterall it's the gameplay that brings us back into the game years later.

[sanshatak]

this guy never said that graphics doesnt matter at all,and i agree with this article 4 100 percent.

[Pidolinpinpon]

almost

[Fel08]

It makes the game a little more enjoyable. But it doesn't make an amazing game. I rather play a game with amazing gameplay, and ok graphics, (Super Mario Galaxy 2), than a game with amazing graphics and sucky gameplay.

[AliTheBrit19]

There not everything

Yes, with today being a lot about HD TV's and technology to produce incredible visuals, a lot of people crave them - but I think Plot and Gameplay still comes first, of course theres nothing wrong with GOOD visuals, but not every game can be compared to Crysis or the like.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

all the graphics hype that fanboys invest themselves into... is the reason the hobby has been losing its luster... with the tons of fanboys I always see on this site having a p!ssing contest over graphics... I'd love to sell them gold spray painted s#!t... I bet they'd be blown away! and forget that it was still actually s#!t... but its covered in an appealing color that is associated with wealth/power!

[Paradise Lost]

Graphics are pretty But i look for gameplay.
Look at MAG, the graphics aren't up to par to like Gears of war or Uncharted but the gameplay elements are there.

[Xander-RKoS]

Can we have our cake and eat it to.

Graphics are important for game representation. Surely a game like Uncharted couldn't have been done with SNES or Genesis graphics...But we live in such an era where people want long, pretty, and interesting games, or at least some combination of two of those elements. Imagine how interesting a game could be and how long the story could span if the all the graphical processing powers of a game like Uncharted 2 went into more levels, more weapons, a longer story, etc.

[FalconR289]

Graphic are nice and all but what needs the most focus is gameplay, controlles and story after that then awesome graphics are welcome.

[madpuppy]

It adds to the whole like every aspect of the game.

[NnT3291]

I think it depends on the experience of the games. If Uncharted 2 didnt look great, It wouldnt have been a memorable adventure, like a movie. I personally liked Borderlands a lot, it looked meh imo, but it was actually very fun and addictive, the gameplay was solid

[Phil Mc Crackin]

Sorry xboxers.

[earbus]

Its a nice surprise but not vital.