Do Graphics Make the Game?

Certain companies have been prioritizing graphics over content. Could this lead to a bigger problem for the future of the gaming industry?

[chrisx]

gameplay makes the game. gameplay > graphics, any day anytime. that said graphics are the next best thing.

[SegaGamer]

Gameplay is always what makes the game. If the gameplay sucks, then the game sucks.

[ApocalypseShadow]

I was about to come here and post the same thing: "gameplay" makes the game. I'm glad there are others thinking the same thing. When I'm playing pancake games or in VR, the first thing I think about is the gameplay.

Graphics do help. But if it isn't FUN, you won't be playing that game long.

[parris]

Personally I disagree, story > gameplay > graphics.

A good story can keep me interested in a game even when the graphics or gameplay aren't as good. Gameplay is next games are definitely improved by fun or unique gameplay. Graphics are not really important at all, you can give me pixel graphics as long as the game tells a good story and is fun to play. Which is why I love classic gaming and old adventure games.

And I still read books and enjoy film neither of which have graphics or gameplay.

[Neonridr]

the fact remains, that graphics are probably the least important.

[ApocalypseShadow]

I see what you're saying parris. But there wasn't really a story when I grew up playing. Pong had no story. Defender and Asteroids; no story. Donkey Kong on colecovision, no story. Super Mario,contra, castlevania, mega man, etc. No story. Just a Synopsis.

Only when I played games like ninja gaiden on nintendo was there a story. Tetris for example, has no story. I love stories. But it was never the push. Good gameplay was the push to keep playing.

And in VR, I'm playing super hot. No story. Crazy fun game. But raw data has a story. But if it didn't, it's still a killer fun game from Survios. Both with basic graphics. So I'm still thinking gameplay>story>graphics.

But man. Skyrim VR? Too much story. So many books to read. But amazing. Being a Mage and using move controllers while having a bow. Crazy.

[steven83r]

@Apocalypse Shadow
You can't bring up games from the 70s. Those games were not made to look that way because they were going for a certain style. They were that simple graphically because that's all that tech was capable of. In the end it's the graphics that get your attention and the story draws you in. What's the point of the evolution of technology if we're not going to take advantage of it. Who needs PS5 when you can just get an Atari 2600 or NES and play old games. Hell Release a new 8bit console, Charge $300 and the developers will make 8bit games with great stories for $60. Guarantee you don't buy it.

[andibandit]

.

[capjacksparrow]

I'm with you, that's why I lean toward games like The Last of Us, God of War, and Bioshock when looking at my favorite. A lot of people are for gameplay over story, but I get tired of good gameplay eventually if there isn't a good story to go along with it (never beat Bloodborne, sorry!!! I don't like to have to decipher my story).

[vork77]

that why people are hating on fallout 76 because it looks bad should stop

[Dragonscale]

Its not just because the graphics look bad though. Everything looks bad pretty much lol.

[steven83r]

Well they need to go hand in hand today. GTA, The Witcher, Skyrim and more would not have the gamer as immersed or emotionally vested if the games were 8bit. That's just a fact. When it starts to look more "real" it starts to draw you in more. Besides what the hell is all this about graphics over story? Since when can't you not have both? Uncharted. TLOU, Shenmue (for its time) and so many more proved you can look great and have good gameplay.

[bnaked]

Only thing that matters is coherence. Every element of a game must come together to give a coherent whole. What's most important depends on what the game wants to be...

[OhReginald]

i think balance is key. great gameplay and great graphics is what I like. Games from Kojima usually have this balance im talking about.

[sampsonon]

seems some people, nintendo fans, don't like good graphics. i wonder why,

[WelkinCole]

Well it helps a lot no doubt. Many many highly rated games have really good graphics as well which helps with the games atmosphere.

Gameplay obviously is more important but graphics like story and sound and other aspects of the game are also very important

[zachyBROosevelt]

No

[Bane35]

To most people graphics do matter

[Rude-ro]

They would like to pretend to..,
But graphics never hold a gamers attention nor do graphics only games do well per sales and attachment history.

[RevXM]

Do graphics make the game?

Gameplay actually makes the game, but Graphics makes it a video game.
No graphics = No video game. there you go.

On a serious note, one thing alone in a videogame usually wouldnt stand all that well on its own and if it had to be anything it is the gameplay or aspect of playability.
A game is a package deal and a game could be lacking in one or multiple departments and still be an enjoyable game, but it sorely depends on how severely it lacks in which departements.

Story could be ass but the game has engaging elements so you keep playing. if the game is downright horrendous looking thats not good either but some games have other redeeming qualities.
If the gameplay is bad or the game is downright broken then why bother.

And then there is two ways to think about graphics I think.
Quality and fidelity, or aesthetics and style.

Obviously if one element alone is excellent it may not mean the game is good looking to everyone, looks and aesthetics is highly subjective, but a lot of games doesnt have AAA fidelity and quality going for them, but they look good nonetheless to most because of aesthetics and style do have a significant say in this.

Its because of that, that we can say that games that technically are far from lookers still look good to us in some way.
Games like Supermeatboy, hotline miami or Borderlands are games that doesnt explode with AAA quality and fidelity, but they have some style and polish to them and that is fine. aesthetics and art direction is a vizion or a choice, and can make the visuals good even though one or multiple elements of its presentation or technical graphics is on par with, inspired by or straight up lifted from a another era.

Personally I am looking forward to The last night.
Its a game that blends modern 3D graphics with a 2D pixel art style in a beautiful way and it is mezmerizing even though it probably wont be a taxing game to run by a long shot. its stylized, unique, seems polished and well executed ,without (As far as we know) any rough or broken graphics it is still smooth looking even if it is sort of pixel art. the world building and art direction from what I could gather from the trailers, the presentation speaks to me and when I saw it my mind exploded.

[Xaevi]

it's a combination of many things, and all those things evolve with time. the only reason why graphics take center stage at all these events is because it's an easier way to show off all the boring stuff that most don't don't want to hear in detail. so yes graphics do make the game

[AuraAbjure]

Naw the camera does

[Chexs1990]

Good Graphics are only an asset, good gameplay though, is King!

[Neonridr]

Graphics help paint the picture, but gameplay will always be more paramount.

[Playbey0nd]

Gameplay. Story. Then graphics. I liked to be pulled into the world I’m playing in.

[CaptainOmega]

If Fallout 76 played perfectly, would it be a good game? I think graphics are more important than people realize. Remember Battlefield: Modern Combat? or Spyro 1... Imagine if these games were released in 2018.. We'd have a bloody fit.

[bluefox755]

Far from it.

[tiredanddone]

No.

[isarai]

make? no, help? a little. but amazing graphics have never saved a game, meanwhile you could have a game with barely anything resembling a texture and still have people go nuts over it of it's fun.

[steven83r]

Why is this even a discussion? Why must people choose one or the other. We aren't in the 80s. Shitty developers can't handle both but Rockstar and Naughty Dog and more have proven you can have both. I think most of you think Gameplay is story. It's not. Games from the 70s and early 80s didn't have "gameplay" That started when there was actual immersion, interaction in games. Shenmue controls were clunky but graphics, story and gameplay were amazing. Truly immersive. The Order looks amazing but lacked story. So you need all 3 for a great game.

[Vknsnoob]

For me game needs to have good graphic...other wise i dont play it...tell me what game in last five years was a GOTY and had a bad graphics? Witche 3, Last of Us, Zelda?We are talking about graphics now, not story or gameplay. For me graphic is a critical factor. What is the point having and paying beast of a Pc, Ps4pro or Xbox one x if you play just tertris on it. Holy trinity in gaming is GRAPHICS, STORY, GAMEPLAY. Either one of this 3 is lacking I wont play that game.(sorry for bad english hihihi)

[Rangerman1208]

Personally, story and gameplay are what makes a game great. If it has good graphics but barebones/clunky and a lazy or boring story, then it's not a game I would invest many hour in, let alone even playing it again. Games like Unearthing Mars, Gene Rain, Star Ocean 5, and such have suffered issues like this. And while I don't mind playing the game for its story, it really depends if the story isn't so much of a chore. Games like Akiba's Beat and Little With Academia have an interesting (if nothing special) plot but the gameplay is so tedious and monotonous that it makes the game a chore to play through. Exceptions of this are games like Trails where the story and gameplay are amazing even if the graphics are passable at best.

Games like EDF, Metal Gear Rising, Doom, Astrobot (a.k.a. my number 1 favorite PSVR game) and Monster Hunter doesn't have "revolutionary" stories but the gameplay is so fun that it hardly matters. And then you have games like Metal Gear Solid, Persona and The Witcher 3 that greatly balances all.

What I'm trying to say is that, while I don't mind good graphics, they should be at least decent or passable, as long it doesn't detract the experience with bugs, low-poly textures, janky characters modules, etc. Personally, gameplay and story are the top priority.

I know this post was a bit long but I just really wanted to share my thoughts.

[AK91]

Of course not but it certainly is something to behold when you have a game with gameplay AND great graphics.

[Lennoxb63]

Graphics sell the game

[sampsonon]

no, but can make a good game even better.
me personally, I'm a graphics wh_re but if a game is bad it's just bad and not even great graphics can save it.