Feels like pretty much any day I spend any amount of time on GameFAQs or any other gaming forum of any sort, I'll run into a good dozen comments blaming the "fall of gaming" on people who only care about graphics. And it's not like that's a new development, it was already prominent back in 2000/2001 when I first started discussing games on the internet. Thing is, wracking my brain I can remember maybe a handful of times I've ever seen someone say that graphics are the most important part of a game to them. It's certainly not even 1% of the amount of complaining about this mindset that I see in any given month. I'm sure these people must exist in some numbers, and the trends in mainstream gaming development do seem to suggest that they're out there, but I have to wonder how some people can have so much personal animosity against them when their viewpoint is so rarely ever spoken. Do I simply travel in the wrong circles to see it, or is it really not nearly the big deal some people make of it?
--
Mistake you're making - overlooking the fact that we might not want to be saved.
it's a sentiment that's generally seen among casual fans who like shiny things. the hardcore fans are expected to care most about gameplay while the casuals are expected to care most about graphics. just is another extension of that really.
--
The future must protect the clone's past. "Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.
I wouldn't really say good graphics are "ruining games" but I don't really see much value in ridiculous graphics like being able to see a guy sweating.
I actually have some friends who are graphics whores. Most of them are also convinced that FPSes are pretty much are the only good gaming genre, and the only exception to that is Halo.
I will claim that in this last gen, there are far less people who like a game only because it looks good, or even mostly because it looks good. There is always something else about the game that they like better.
In addition, I think this last gen has had way more success with making graphics add to the game than any previous gen. Some games are just so beautiful. To have people say "graphics don't matter" is kind of ridiculous.
-- _foolmo_ 'and out of the blue and completely unprovoked came foolmo and his insult' - Anagram
I care about graphics when we're talking about the style of the art.
For example, VVVVVV puts me off with its overly simplistic visuals. I'm not a huge fan of crazy-hard platformers in the first place, but given a choice between that and, say, Super Meat Boy, I'd pick the one that at least doesn't give me an eye-strain headache.
the only real argument i could think of for graphics negatively affecting the industry is in games costing more and more to develop with all the extra shinies. It makes it harder for game studios with lesser budgets to compete.
--
There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out
From: Punch_Sideiron | #014 I care about graphics when we're talking about the style of the art.
For example, VVVVVV puts me off with its overly simplistic visuals. I'm not a huge fan of crazy-hard platformers in the first place, but given a choice between that and, say, Super Meat Boy, I'd pick the one that at least doesn't give me an eye-strain headache.
you can turn off backgrounds and screen effects in the options menu, you know >_>
-- thelefty for analysis crew 2008 imo -tranny I have a third degree burn in flame-o-nomics -Sir Chris
Killzone 2 is a bad case of super graphics being detrimental to gameplay!
augh why the hell do they think we want to see people's hands covering 90% of the screen when you jump. I don't care if it looks good, it's god damn annoying. the whole damn game is clunky as hell for that matter, easily the worst shooter I've ever played.
LeonhartFour posted... Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 have some of the most beautiful graphics of the gen.
You know, I don't even play too many games that were released after 1999 so I can't really talk too much...but from what I've seen I'm tempted to agree...
I think one day in mid-2009, my parents claimed that people get addicted to games because of their graphics, mostly due to seeing how good the graphics were on our then-new PSP. They haven't said anything about this since, but again, I mostly play older games.
There's a difference between "good graphics" and "good art design" though.
I mean plenty of people who "don't care about graphics" still complain about modern games that are relentlessly brown & grey. Meanwhile plenty of games don't have the best graphics but still have great art design, and that holds up even when the visuals become dated.