Are super well done graphics actually bad for the gaming industry?

[Don Chipotle]

Originally Posted by Rizel

My comment about you apparently not knowing many gamers was only said because you claimed that no one would buy a game for graphics alone, when that statement is false. There are people who care only about graphics, and there are people who are very vocal about that fact. That's the truth.

Except that's not what I said. I didn't say 'no one would buy a game based solely on graphics'. I said 'no one would say *list of bad shit* okay now buy it because it's awesome looking'. That's not the same thing and it's not same enough to call semantics. And then I said 'gamers are smarter than that'. And by saying otherwise, you're saying gamers are stupid. That's an insult and that means I can take offense and sue.

And chances are I'm not.

I would be willing to bet my life savings that I know more of these gamer folk than you. But that's not even an issue in this discussion.

[Elisa Maza]

Originally Posted by Don Chipotlé

Except that's not what I said. I didn't say 'no one would buy a game based solely on graphics'. I said 'no one would say *list of bad shit* okay now buy it because it's awesome looking'. That's not the same thing and it's not same enough to call semantics. And then I said 'gamers are smarter than that'. And by saying otherwise, you're saying gamers are stupid. That's an insult and that means I can take offense and sue.

It was aimed towards the end. "But the graphics are amazing so buy it right now" There are plenty of people who wouldn't care that a game sucks for all the reasons listed, simply because the graphics are good. To those types of people, the graphics alone are what makes a good game.

I would be willing to bet my life savings that I know more of these gamer folk than you. But that's not even an issue in this discussion.

You'd lose that bet. I'd bet my life savings on that. Not that I have any life savings to bet. Well then, I'd bet my very life on it.

And for the record, we aren't technically arguing yet, so I'm still posting >.>

[Don Chipotle]

Originally Posted by Rizel

It was aimed towards the end. "But the graphics are amazing so buy it right now" There are plenty of people who wouldn't care that a game sucks for all the reasons listed, simply because the graphics are good. To those types of people, the graphics alone are what makes a good game.

I wouldn't even say a large percentage of people subscribe to that theory. And even if they did, I'm willing to bet that nine times out of ten they regret it or try to justify their purchase. Failing that, they go on GameFAQs and try to get others to join them.

It's a system.

You'd lose that bet. I'd bet my life savings on that. Not that I have any life savings to bet. Well then, I'd bet my very life on it.

And for the record, we aren't technically arguing yet, so I'm still posting >.>

The only way to settle this is pistols at dawn.

[Pinkie Pie]

Originally Posted by Rizel

Give me pixelated sprites over hyper-realism anyday.

I'm in that boat with you, but I don't for a second believe myself to be in any kind of majority whatsoever.

Graphics have rarely ever been a selling point for me. But the industry, by and large, has moved far past catering to pixel-fans, and I don't have issue with that. It's largely a handheld "style" now, along with homebrew designers, both developing projects to be distributed online or through downloadable content to consoles.

Does that mean I don't wish that larger companies along the lines of Capcom or Konami were releasing more games of the like? Sure, and I love it when it happens. But it's not going to be the mainstream now, and that's okay.

I realize I drifted slightly to the left of the original point of the conversation and am pretty much arguing with nobody, but, uh.

[Venom]

Good graphics aren't bad for the industry, if anything they're pushing it along. Think about it - gamers only come in a few forms: people who don't care about anything but gameplay/story/other aspects, people who don't care about anything but graphics, and casual gamers. The Wii has casual gamers, PS3 and 360 have graphics-loving people, and the rest get to enjoy the whole buffet and not just the salad bar.

Also, I don't see the industry suffering in future generations. Developers are smart enough to know that no one will be willing to shell out $80 for a standard edition of a game, so I don't expect to see that. If games do become too expensive, more likely we'd see another video game crash, and what's left of the industry will start over from scratch.

[Yvlla]

Originally Posted by Venom

Also, I don't see the industry suffering in future generations. Developers are smart enough to know that no one will be willing to shell out $80 for a standard edition of a game, so I don't expect to see that. If games do become too expensive, more likely we'd see another video game crash, and what's left of the industry will start over from scratch.

It's not the price level that will change if devs focus too much on graphics, it's the amount of games they hope to sell, which may not be reasonable. And there are some who believe that an industry crash is just around the corner.

[Venom]

I've heard about people predicting another crash, but the industry is still flourishing despite the economy, and the last few years have seen some unique titles.

I also see what you're saying about costs now, that devs will need to sell a ton of games to cover costs, but the simple solution (that many already use) is to toss out a few games that will sell like hotcakes (i.e. Final Fantasy or Madden) to cover future development of potentially risky games.

[Yvlla]

Originally Posted by Venom

I've heard about people predicting another crash, but the industry is still flourishing despite the economy, and the last few years have seen some unique titles.

EA's stock is down like 80% in the past few years and Activision's is even lower for reasons unknown.

[Snips]

To anyone who likes realistic graphics, I have a question for you.

You see realism in every day of your lives. You live and dream realism. You wake up in the morning and reality is the first thing you see. Doesn't it hit you every now and then that "Reality sucks?" and if reality sucks, why do you want to see realism in video games? I'm not making fun of you, I'm asking for the sake of curiosity. I personally know that I'm not alone in being made nauseous by "Lost Odyssey's" realism, and I actually mean physically nauseous. As in trying to play the game and being made dizzy and needing to get to the bathroom. I'm curious to know why that manner of detail is preferred to an equally beautiful game such as Eternal Sonata, which is far more pleasing to the eyes?

[Don Chipotle]

Originally Posted by Terbobattfuch

To anyone who likes realistic graphics, I have a question for you.

You see realism in every day of your lives. You live and dream realism. You wake up in the morning and reality is the first thing you see. Doesn't it hit you every now and then that "Reality sucks?" and if reality sucks, why do you want to see realism in video games? I'm not making fun of you, I'm asking for the sake of curiosity. I personally know that I'm not alone in being made nauseous by "Lost Odyssey's" realism, and I actually mean physically nauseous. As in trying to play the game and being made dizzy and needing to get to the bathroom. I'm curious to know why that manner of detail is preferred to an equally beautiful game such as Eternal Sonata, which is far more pleasing to the eyes?

Snide Comment: Lost Odyssey made you nauseous but Eternal Sonata you were okay with? All signs point to fag.

Actual Response: See a PREVIOUS POST where I stated that there's a difference between REALISTIC GRAPHICS and REALITY. REALISTIC graphics can be based in a FANTASY SETTING. Like Uncharted 2. Or Mass Effect 2. Or ANY GAME WITH 'REALISTIC' GRAPHICS THAT ISN'T CALLED 'HEAVY RAIN' I wake up and the first thing I see is my ceiling, or my television if I rolled over at night. I go outside and I don't see Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher shooting Russian terrorists.

Can you name me a video game with realistic graphics that is also an accurate portrayal of realism? You can't, can you? Let me ask you something: If Lost Odyssey had some bullshit Precious Memories graphics, would it have been a better game? No. Would it have been a worse game? Probably. Are Lost Odyssey's graphics realistic? Not really. Is it a game with realism? No. Would Uncharted 2 be better with Eternal Sonata's graphics? God no. Are Uncharted 2's graphics realistic? In the sense that the actual voice actors put on suits and acted out the cutscenes and dialogue like it was a play, sure. Is it a game with realism? Lord no. Realistic and realism are not the same thing. Why are you treating it as such?

Valkyria Chronicles has a better, similar art style as Eternal Sonata. And I would say it's a more realistic (and it's a fantasy war game. with fantasy and shit) game than Uncharted 2, which has realistic looking main characters but couldn't be further from reality.

Saying that you play games to 'escape reality' and then using that as a means to say that realistic looking games are bad at making you escape reality means the problem is with you. Not the game. If you honestly play a game with 'realistic' graphics and a totally non realistic setting and say 'Boy I sure wish this game could make me escape reality but it's way too much like my everyday life, so fuck it' then it is YOUR problem. Not the game's.