Are awesome graphics really that important?

Kjsten

  • Posts: 65
I was on Kongregate today and one thing struck me. There are tons of games, mostly in the same old genres, and with incredible graphics. I would think serious gamers who play lots of Flash/Mobile games would shy away from that. Kind of like I've heard pro golfers stay away from golf courses with tons of hills, funky holes, and things they generally consider "gimmicks".  I think I saw two or three variations of Tetris with cutesy graphics for example. And numerous platform games that are basically the same exact game with different wonderful graphics.

Thoughts?

rob1221

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There is a lot of competition, so games with good graphics stand out among the games that don't.

Blob

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Visual aesthetics can be invaluable, they provide mood and atmosphere, they're certainly not a gimmick, but they can also deceive the less observant about the type and quality of game they're playing. If a game is getting undeserved praise it's not the graphics so much as it is a gullible/shallow community.

Mineat

  • Posts: 376
I think every job in the game industry has a good reward to be proud of at a certain point, so anything saying about pro > newbie is just like anything in general. There is no same thing until it is the same 100% and over. I am an entry-level graphics designer and I design flash, but mostly people choose greater technology and a stereotype about it, over people like me knowing we can learn newer things than both. But I still do my best. And it is one reward I'll never miss.

irock

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  • Posts: 2891
You need to believe that every aspect of a game is important.

Graphics are quite important in creating a sense of realism in the world of your game. Look at Bioshock Infinite / Uncharted 3 both are amazing games as they both have powerful graphics along with an amazing story and gameplay but Crysis 3 having surreal graphics wasn't so much fun ( In my opinion ).

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Blob

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Impressionism and style are far more important than realism and fidelity to the tasteful eye.

JasonIrby

  • Posts: 290

I think that great graphics can help a good game achieve its potential.
I think crappy graphics can hold a good game back.
I don't think that great graphics can make a bad game good.

-Jason
 

Mineat

  • Posts: 376
You need to believe that every aspect of a game is important.
Sure. In development.

Kjsten

  • Posts: 65
I don't think that great graphics can make a bad game good.
-Jason
I guess that's what I'm getting at. It seems like there are a lot of bad games, or at least bad in the sense of 'same old thing', AND they try to make them appear great by having great graphics and animated splash screens and so on. I think that's called putting lipstick on a pig.

And then there are games like Minecraft that purposefully has crap graphics but is incredible once you get into it and see the depth of the game.

dtrungle

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I wouldn't say Minecraft has crap graphics, it's way better than the stuff I can produce.

irock

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I think Minecraft is pretty ugly with the default texture pack.

Luyren

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As long as your graphic style is consistent, you can get away with anything, methinks.
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Photon

  • Posts: 2691
Well, let's be honest. If graphics didn't matter, why not just cut to the chase and make all graphics just be finely distinguished boxes? :P

I do think graphics are important. Really, the style of your graphics, audio, and atmosphere working together is a great part of what forges your game. It'd probably be ridiculous to see an HD-skinned video game with 8-bit music, for instance. Is it possible to pull off? Maybe, but it wouldn't be something you'd just haphazardly throw together, to be sure. Stuff has to cooperate, and the direction you take with your graphics or any other aspect of the game plays a great deal into how your game works and feels.
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Hectate

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Well, let's be honest. If graphics didn't matter, why not just cut to the chase and make all graphics just be finely distinguished boxes? :P
But they are already! We just use lots and lots of tiny boxes in all different colors. :)
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