Whoever said that graphics is not important?

[lindbergh]

I think I have encountered a gamer or two stating that graphics are not important as long as the gameplay is quite good. Now, with the PS4 nearing its launch what will be your basis in purchasing it? Won't you base your decision on the graphical capabilities of the PS4? Or will you use some other criteria in deciding whether or not to purchase Sony's console?

 

[Pandsu]

Well, aside from better visuals, a next-gen system also promises other benefits that can definitely improve the experience. Like showing more enemies on screen at once, destructible environments, improved stability of the game engine (affecting frames-per-second and possibly netcode), bigger levels, faster, less frequent loading times, etc.

 

[Oberon]

I think we all 'mainly' getting it for better visuals.
Would you get a PS3.5 if it has the same features of the PS4 but same graphics as PS3? I doubt it.

 

[Pandsu]

Hm, actually... while I am not even one of those people who claim that graphics don't matter at all, I think I would consider that "PS3.5" if it's priced accordingly and, aside from just the visuals, gave me the same experience as a PS4 would.
For me, graphics are pretty much at a point where they reached the Uncanny Valley. Meaning that often graphics don't impress me at all (aside from GOOD stylized visuals maybe), and even if they do, that first "wow!" wears off incredibly quickly. We're just at a point where things look so good, their flaws stand out more to me than their good parts. Even if I go at something saying "wow, this looks impressive", that is often immediately followed by "that washed-out texture though" or something similar. That didn't really happen as much last-gen or in PC games from around that era. I still can appreciate great visuals from around that time more than I do today, mostly. It's just a different mind set. And I don't really expect that to change much next gen, especially after the initial wow-factor has worn off and we've gotten used to it.

 

[RockSauron]

I'm buying the PS4 as all of the new games will be released on it. Nothing to do with visuals :/

And honestly, I'd rather have lesser visuals if it meant more focus on the gameplay.

 

[BlackSolaris]

A new generation doesn't mean GRAPHICS 2x. What about the processing power and the memory of the console? And it's not like we had great graphical advances in the last 5 years, so you better be looking for how good a game plays and not because it looks pretty.

 

[ozadin]

It's not entirely the graphical capabilities of the PS4, it's the graphical capabilities of the games. I highly doubt anyone says "Wow! The PS4 has amazing graphics". That only works for games. I think games are starting to improve in terms of graphics. Watch Dogs, BF4, CoD: Ghosts, even The Last of Us on the PS3 had graphics that looked similar to the PS4. It really doesn't boil down to only gameplay anymore, graphics is starting to rise faster and faster which should be noted. In my eyes, like you said, graphics are not important to me. They wear down pretty fast like Pandsu said. You won't be commenting on the graphics nonstop, you'll probably be thinking about the gameplay and the storyline.

 

[Medza]

Gameplay definitely is more important than graphics. The reason why so many old games are still good today is because they were fun to play. If I wanted a gaming device with superior graphics, I would get a new PC which could by far offer a better experience than both the PS4 and the Xbox One. Graphics are not really something that I take into consideration when buying a console because they are just a minor factor. There are many great looking games that have terrible gameplay, Dragon Age 2 would be a great example of this. I would much rather take inferior graphics and better gameplay.

 

[OniBlackMage]

History, classics, and even some modern indie games continue to prove that while graphics help, good game play, good aesthetics, and good art design win every time.

Also, there seems to be some invisible argument about what next-gen means, and how much graphics factor into it. I've hear some people say that unless the jump in graphics is as dramatic as the jump from 2D to 3D was, it doesn't count (which I disagree with). Besides, even to entertain that argument, if you check out the Frostbite or Unreal 4 engine tech demos and explanations, the capabilities graphics-wise of the visual media are indeed leaps and bounds ahead.

 

[Mudgee]

Pfft, if people say they don't like graphics tell them to stick to Atari, pong and SNES

 

[brad]

I'm not really saying that i don't want good graphics obviously i do but sadly recently the graphics have been affecting the gameplay of any games like dishonored the game was so short because of graphics.

 

[Esperahol]

Me - graphics are nice, but what I care about is storyline (65%) and gameplay (25%) with graphics being (10%). That doesn't mean I don't like a nice looking product, but what really catches my attention is details and how the image engine is used. Like the best part graphically of Fallout 3 was how sunsets were done and the detail put into such banal things as the roadwork. What I loved was the notes and posters and audio tapes I found. Listening to a family facture - "I'm going to go walk into a mushroom cloud." Listening to a man lose his mind - "I just need a rest." Hearing a man long dead plead for help for his sick son. That was the meat of the game for me.

What I want is storyline and world building - I finished Rule of Rose despite it being a broken game because the story was so fascinating. I will always enjoy Skyrim because it took things that had only been in books and made them into missions I could care about. I saved poor mad what's his face and faced down the evil Wolf Queen twice. Like that's what I care about in games rather than just how pretty it might be. So yeah.

 

[LuckyPupil]

I think people are getting just because its new. People like keeping up with the times and of course those next gen exclusives sweeten the deal too. I'm getting the PS4 because it's the new next thing. Graphics and features are a bonus. It's kind of like the people who buy the newest iDevice although their old one did the same stuff. It sounds silly and wasteful but it's probably the truth a lot people don't want to admit.

 

[Clark Wayne]

I do see where you're coming from. I think what many of those people are saying is that graphics are not the most important thing in game, not that they aren't important at all. Even if game might not have the best visuals, if the gameplay is pretty amazing, then I will be pretty happy with it. Still, that doesn't mean I want to play a game with Super Nintendo level graphics.

 

[Oberon]

Still, that doesn't mean I want to play a game with Super Nintendo level graphics.

Thats exactly right.If graphics were not important as everyone says then why always get a console? MP,share etc etc?No...
Graphics is very important,admit it or not,having said that its no good having great graphics if they game is utter crap,we dont want that.
But a great game all round which includes great graphics are fantastic,like Read Dead Redemption on PS3 for eg.

So ofcourse we want great new graphics WITH everything else a new console brings

 

[dannyboy]

I love great graphics and I value them a lot. I need to play games with good visuals. It adds a positive element to my gaming experience.

 

[Esperahol]

Thats exactly right.If graphics were not important as everyone says then why always get a console?

Because I like getting new games? Old systems tend not to get supported after a while, and I like many of the recent games. So it is less graphics and more wanting to keep playing great new games. I'm just saying.

 

[Mudgee]

People will disagree, but games are getting better by the majority not worse, this is the driving factor behind why so many people move on. It's the way and circle of life.

 

[RaggaJungle]

Graphics are certainly a big deciding factor for me when it comes to purchasing a console. The same goes for what games I buy too. I really love to have eye candy in games, and if there is significant realism too, then this is a big bonus for me. The graphical output is not the only deciding factor for me when in gaming but definitely a big one.

 

[mareebaybay]

Graphics are one of the most important features of a game. I can't have throwback moments playing the Playstation 2 any more, because of its graphics. After playing on these new gen systems, I don't think I could ever go back to playing my Playstation 2 at all.