Whats better: Graphics or Gameplay?

For me gameplay is the most important aspect of the game. Think about the words and what they mean: Game and Play. They are what makes it a 'game'. Graphics are a visual representation of that game. But they are not vital (although with todays expectations this is arguable). Years back I spent weeks playing a game that described where you were and what was happening by text. The fact that you could not see any graphics did not matter. What happened in the game and the interaction you had with what happened made the game great (i.e. the gameplay). This is just my opinion and how I look at games. Don't get me wrong I also appreciate good looking games but I prefer them to have good game play. Getting both right is difficult these days. But what one person perceives to be a good game can be a rubbish one to other's. So at the end of the day it's down to you what you consider to be good or bad (such is life eh?). I guess I'm showing my age now! P

 

I say 50/50)

 

I say 50/50)

 

[/quote]I don't think many of us would pick up a game at a store if the screenshots on the back don't look good.

 

Even though I think gameplay is what matters most in this day and age a good game should have good looking visuals.

Peace out!

 

i say the gameplay becaue you could have a game with poor graphics but a good gameplay or a game with the best graphics but poor gameplay

 

Graphics or gameplay? Hmm. Both-the two go hand and hand together.

 

both are really important, if u had a game with good graphics but not very good gameplay then it would make the game tidy for the first thew hours an then be boring and the same the oposite the same way. u have to time it right if u look at final fantasy 7 i love the gameplay and graphics on that its my favourite even out of the ps2 graphics and gameplay. if u had 1 and not the other 1 it wouldnt be that good but if u had them both and put them in the right place it would be great, all u have to do is get it at an equal time to put the in so they cancel each other out

 

i think gameplay is most important as long as the graphics are good enough to make gameplay interesting and easy to see. but both are important to have a good game

 

i have 2 games for both xbox and PC.
exactly the same game, but with one difference graphics and framerate.
gameplay is really good on both (this game is KOTOR 2) but the graphics on the PC one (i have a powerful PC) are just way better and the framerate is 3X higher than the xbox one.
its SO MUCH BETTER. and thats just an improvement on graphics.
i used that as an example to show some weight about what graphics can have on a game.
ultimately thou it depends on the genre of the game.
id say these as a few eg.s
you minght disagree with some of em but this is what i think.

RPG's = 60% gameplay 40% graphics
FPS's = 60% Graphics 40% gameplay
other action/adventure = 50-50 graph/gameplay
Strategy = 45% graphics 55% gameplay
(think C&C and rome total war -those had gorgeous graphics and awsome gameplay)

theres just 4 main examples.
what do u think.

 

c&c has great graphics and it has good gameplay aswell

 

I think Gameplay, all the way. Some of my favorite games of all time have shit graphic by todays standerds, but I still love them. Take games like space invaders or tetris, addictive as crack, but the graphics are non-existant.

 

yea those real old games HAD to be all gameplay, cos like they were 8 bit graphics (e.g. spaceinvaders).
nowadays thou with all the tech people expect new games to have good graphics and if it dont have good graphics then they all hope the gameplay is fking AWSOME to make up for it, which most are not.
so its hard to not compromise, so you need to take a good balance of both is most cases.

 

I dont know about you but i dont think people or at least real gamers do that because when i go to buy a game i just buy the game i wanted because read about them or had see previusly,yes i have bought games without knowing much about it but believe me it wasnt for the pretty picture in the back,thats like buying a book for its cover just stupid.

About the issue yes i think gameplay its more important than graphics
and no one has mentiones the music i think the music its important because it brings memories of tha game and times playing it and even you can relate to events in your life(like chrono trigger with me )

Id give like a 30% graphics and the rest to gameplay and music

 

@ Binighted

Of course everyone does their research before spending big bucks on a game, you would be stupid not to. What I was trying to get across is the concept that good graphics is essential and not just desired. Its simply because nowadays Graphics IS Gameplay. You are drawn into playing the game further just to see the unfolded set of wonderful graphics, explosions, new levels etc. Just level after level of identical stages with drab graphical content will just not sell games anymore, however good the gameplay is.

Take space invaders,pac man, etc best gameplay ever. Released today wouldn't sell because things have advanced and gamers ask for much more. Don't get me wrong because gameplay is still very important but sometimes the pleasure of a game is just in the looking.

 

good explaination connely.
Music has not been mentioned because music is incorporated into gameplay. Good music OR the right music can improve the gameplay significantly, but again it depends on the game.
Halo 1+2 are prime examples. A large proportion of the gameplay thrill and anticipation if provided by the music.
Its not great on its own, but combined with the game ITS UNBEATABLE, thats why halo1+2 often win best game music awards, because it is just the perfect music. Id say that 35-40% of halo's gameplay is in its music, which does a great job.
But graphics need to be kick ass 2.
I think in FPS games 60% of it is graphics, the other 40% is gameplay

 

I've been playing my old NES and SNES games on my PSP. The old games are still very fun (Punch Out, Double Dragon, Castlevania, Megaman...) I think gameplay matters most TO ME.

 

yea, ultimately like i said it is all opinion.
i LOVE great graphics and i rely a lot on them but that is my opinion. I play MAINLy FPS's but also some RPG's and stratetgy games.
But because of my love for FPS games i think in general graphics are more important but only by a little like 52% graph and 48% gameplay.
And as we all should know better graphics means more power needed, better graphics cards, processors, RAM etc. which cripples my wallet right in the ass, as im currently saving up for a 20" HDTV for my bedroom.
so although graphics is my fav. gameplay its certainly cheaper to stick by. e.g. old games and games from year 2000 downwards. as they dont need half as much power to play properly.
:-(
luckily my PC at the mo. is very powerful so i can play the BEST graphics FPS's at full settings with a good framerate.
it is P4 3.2E overclocked at 3.8GHZ, ATI RADEON OVERCLOCKED X800XT PE (although the card is SHIT for overclocking), 1GB corsair XMS 2-3-3-6 timing DRAM overclocked from DDR200 (400MHZ effective) to DDR 238 (476MHZ effective, along with the very fast timings).
on CS:S i get 135 FPS on the video stress test but in intense action PLAYING on the game i get around 70-80 FPS on average its 100FPS.
O and i have a Zalman Fatal1ty Heatsink to keep my FKING HOT presscot at 3.8 GHZ cool (ish).

 

Everyone does have their opinion. To me there is no way graphics even come close to the gameplay. I keep seeing people give so much credit to graphics. Graphics are nice to look at but graphics are not what let you interact with the game and bring you back to play everytime when you have not played in a long time. Gameplay is what makes a game. It makes you want to play it when you get off work or home from school. Gameplay makes games classics and they stand in our memories as great games even as graphics have gone on to be better than the current games. Graphics will be obselete on any game that is released, so i ask will you come back 10 years from now to play Halo 2, GTA san andreas and other games b.c they have great graphics???? No you wont. Playstation has greatest hits games that are old and the graphics obselete. They sell b/c we still love the gameplay long after the graphics dead and gone.


The best way to describe gameplay and graphics that i can think of is like this. Gameplay is a love for the game. Like if you are married for 20 years and still like spending time with your spouse or lady friend. Graphics are just like a quick high, they dont last forever. You will come down off your high as the graphics get older but if the gameplay is good you will still play the game.

 

Wat about Grand theft auto san andreas it has great graphics and gameplay