Anybody here think graphics are very important?

[GOOL]

Personally, I think it is very important.

There are many games with similar gameplay. Why I choose this one instead of any similar game?

Good design sells.
:cool:
How do you think?

[z0|¥|b1_G-zus]

I'll have to disagree. Personally, graphics are at the bottom of my list when it comes to choosing a game.

I agree 100% that many games share gameplay types (especially when it comes to the iDevices) but that doesn't mean the one with better graphics will implement that gameplay the best.

Think of neverending console wars with Sony and Microsoft. A game is released across both systems with one getting better graphics but slowdowns, clipping, and poor controls while the other suffers in graphics but runs smooth, feels natural, and creates a better atmosphere. Who really wins?

For me, deciding which game to get in any game category comes down to which one plays the best, has the best in game features, and can create an atmosphere. The only way graphics really come into play might be in visual theme (zombies, robots, demons, "doodle", etc.) but even then there are exceptions.

Good graphics never made a bad game not suck.

[raumich]

i see it like the threadstarter. a good design doesn't make a bad game better but i refuse to play games that look like shit, even if they are good. this driving bear simulator is a good example. i hear from everywhere that this game is good but it honestly looks crap so i didn't want to play it. a game must not impress me on the graphics side but it should at least look decent.

[ultimo]

I think gfx do not make the cut for me eithr.
For eg. I prefer Cartoon Wars to Ancient War ANY givn day

[Balu`]

If graphics would be very important, Gameloft games wouldn't be this crappy.

[Mathieu914]

Graphics are important, it liKe the cover page of a book.

[johnwayne]

depends...a racing game, shooter or fighting game needs definately good graphics, without them i would't even consider a free-download.

but games like tower-defense, poker etc. don't need that superb graphics, but are ofcourse appreciated.

i wish the developers would do more openGl 2.0 enhancments and not just 1 effect, gameloft is allready going the right way in this case.

[Gravity Jim]

It doesn't matter whether you THINK graphics are important or not. To the larger audience, they are. Good looking apps are easier to sell.

[Acidbottle]

i tend to disagree to a point.

only shallow people consider gfx as a priority over gameplay, although an ugly game with great gameplay will be overlooked by the masses, am sure.

[Scottlarsen]

i tend to disagree to a point.

only shallow people consider gfx as a priority over gameplay, although an ugly game with great gameplay will be overlooked by the masses, am sure.

We are talking about graphics not women.:)

[Stroffolino]

For the average person going to the appstore, graphics trumps almost everything. Things other people have mentioned that they consider more important: smooth framerate, no bugs, solid gameplay - you can't evaluate those firsthand unless you've already downloaded the game. Heck, lite versions aside, a game could gave the most wonderful soundtrack in the world, but that'll have zero impact on the average person casually shopping the appstore.

That being said, if a game gets slammed left and right in user ratings, even the prettiest game will eventually nosedive down the charts.

The one exception appears to be "stickman" games. Triniti somehow manages to make stickman games look sexy, but there are plenty of other developers with stickmen games that look crude yet sell well. I don't understand their appeal.

[madmud101]

Graphics are not high on my list of things I like in a game. However, having said that I do like smooth, polished games with good graphics that is nice to play.

I HATE pixelated games (sorry Hook Champ fans) but for me they are just bad!

Mad

[gelas_plastik]

i tend to agree with johnwayne ..

graphics are definitely one factor to look at for certain type of games but not all .. FPS, racing games for example had to have good graphics as any details that can be seen on the screen will actually contribute to a much enjoyable gameplay .. by graphics, I think it's not only about quality, also the overall presentation of the games to your eyes .. things like framerate, style etc ..

[slighmd]

graphics is not on the very top of my list but is somewhere there. eyecandy is nice, but i hope the devs would make use of Open GL 2.0 more

[sam the lion]

good visuals may enrich the global experience and actually affect the gameplay.
It very much depends on the specific game we are talking about. Some games are very good even with simple graphics.

[Osmiral]

Good graphics aren't a neccesity, I mean I would rather not stare at something that looked absolutely horrid. but, really for me, graphics are not very important for me. I like games that have great gameplay, and original ideas. Good graphics certainly add to the game, but as a whole, they play a very very small part in if I choose to get a certain game.

[SarcasticGamer]

I just upgraded my 3g into a 3gs for one reason and one reason alone. You guys know my answer to this ;)

[LordGek]

Graphics are just one factor and not usually the most important to me...but nothing irks my ire more than a game that looks like it is using clip art or so blatantly stolen artwork from some other game as it just makes the whole project hobbled together in a hurry.

[MidianGTX]

For me, graphics on the iPhone are slightly more important than they are on other consoles. Generally, I like good graphics, but that doesn't mean they have to be the most up-to-date technologically advanced graphics, 8-bit stuff pleases me just as much provided it's done right. Gameplay will always be the major factor though, it's just nice to have both.

Anyway I figure they're slightly more important on the iPhone due to the number of similar games we get. There are a ton of games on the App Store that play very similarly to one another... so it makes sense to get the one that's most pleasing to the eye. I tend to play slower-paced, relaxing games on my iPod, so preferably I want something pretty-looking and calming that I can stare at for long periods of time.

[GOOL]

i tend to agree with johnwayne ..

graphics are definitely one factor to look at for certain type of games but not all .. FPS, racing games for example had to have good graphics as any details that can be seen on the screen will actually contribute to a much enjoyable gameplay .. by graphics, I think it's not only about quality, also the overall presentation of the games to your eyes .. things like framerate, style etc ..
I agree with gelas_plastik; " overall presentation of the games " is more important then single eye-catching graphic.
And good graphic don't have to be complicated, it sould be simple,clear and above all, matchs the game.
It is not design for design, but design for the game.

[MasterChief3624]

In regular gaming, I never care about graphics. This holds true with the iPhone for the most part.

However, I definitely avoid playing any games that look like they could be ports of actual cell phone games. If a game has the graphics of a cell phone game, and it's really blatant, I don't want it getting near my iPhone. I don't want it to be degraded like that :p

The one exception I've made is de Blob. It definitely feels like a cell phone game, straight-ported to the iPhone, but something about it makes it feel not so cheap. At least, not as cheap as the countless other cell-phone like games on the iPhone :o

[jamesroy]

I was saying, graphics don't have to be the absolute greatest of the greatest to be good. It's more about art style and direction. When I said "sub par" I meant visuals that are so far below the standards for the times, of what a system is capable of - such as very low poly count, lack of normal mapping, no dynamic shadows or HDR at all, extremely poor textures, and such. So while War Hawk wasn't the very best of what PS3 has to offer, it's not so horrendously outdated in visuals either as to look like like a PS2 game. It's not sub par in that refards and is "good looking enough", just as GTA4 is.

[MikaMobile]

I love this subject!

I think that while graphics can't make up for lousy gameplay, they should not be dismissed as mere icing on the cake. Art, animation, sound and music are all tightly woven into the overall experience, and if neglected can make an otherwise interesting game lack flavor.

In the end, its all about how satisfying the game is to play, and satisfaction can come from many sources - responsive controls, punchy sound effects, or stylish animation can all make your input feel like more than just simply tapping on a piece of glass. And beyond just visceral reaction to our input, it can also add a deeper context to the players actions.

Context can be vital, and can turn an otherwise simple collection of rules into a game with more personality, and this isn't only true of video games - I like to use board games as an example of this. Would Monopoly have the same appeal if you were exchanging generic "points" for "plastic cubes" instead of "money" to "build luxury hotels"?

So in short, I don't think it matters how many polygons or shaders it takes to represent what's on screen, as long as it is effective, readable, and has some kind of personality behind it.

[frendil]

graphics definitely add to a game but the core gameplay is more important, pokemon for example doesn't have the greatest graphics but the gameplay is good enough to make up for that, but graphics certainly help.

[Random_Guy]

Good graphics is a plus, but it's not important.

[brof]

of course graphics are important. What I don't like about many, many iPhone games is that they all have this same cartoony look.. it appears like many devs are using the same graphic tools. ;)

If I would have to estimate, then I would say 70 % of the games look all the same to me... they look good, ok, but not distinct... they are almost impersonal.

I guess, that's why it is called mainstream, right?

[Random_Guy]

So you're saying that you only buy games from Gameloft, EA, ngmoco:) and Chillingo?