The Great Debate: Gameplay or Graphics
By babostwick
@babostwick (2036)
United States
November 19, 2007 7:25pm CST
This is a topic that I see get talked about when it comes to gaming. Which item is more important? The gameplay or the graphics, the two biggest areas looked at. What do you see with that? It's nice to see games look as great as they can but if the gameplay is horrible and the plot makes no sense, then it might get a high ranking.
For me, I've been about gameplay more than graphics. Don't get me wrong, I like when something looks realistic but I just don't hold it as a very high important level of game design. Again, it can look great no questions asked. I've seen some games that graphic wise look great.
I know there has to be a major mixture of the two without doubt. But what do you value for and why? I think this is one of those items that I can see having very long debates and could also help identify what kind of fan you are. This shouldn't be used as a tool to put people down as there are some that perfer graphics and some that are more concerned with gameplay.
6 responses
@furion1 (272)
• Philippines
23 Nov 07
I agree that the two are the most influential factors in a particular video game. The Gameplay determines the fun and the graphics determines the realism. Among the two, I prefer Gameplay than the graphics because I rather play that is fun than a boring game. The game may have good design and graphics but if it is boring then is not fun. There are a lot of games that have poor or simple graphics but are still one of the most fun games to play. Some are still active today. Games like pacman and snake are more enjoyable than most games that has heavy graphics.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I agree. Sometimes that's why I play my older systems. It may have to do with me being more of an old-school gamer (I'll write something on that sometime). It's not that I don't like graphics, it's more of I perfer to have good gameplay. That's me if I had to pick between the two.
@belhaven14 (454)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I just need gameplay. Graphis are definitly a plus, but I just want to have fun while I'm playing. My friends and I play just as much RBI Baseball (from regular nintendo) as we play Call of Duty 4 or games like that. Not because the graphis are good, but just because the game is fun.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Thanks for the response. Yeah you need good game play to keep on going. It's one of those things that's really needed no matter how many ways you slice it. Mostly I tend to see myself playing older games because they are still fun to this day.
@ptotheb (229)
• New Zealand
24 Nov 07
I need both. Having graphics alone isnt going to cut it. The gameplay should be good. and by gameplay I'm reffering to Artificial intelligence, storyline, and movements. Those are the fundamental parts of a game.
Even though a certain game has got a good gameplay and has really bad graphics it will still be fun, but that is just temporary. I get bored when I'm playing games that don't have good graphics. I want my games to be realistic as possible, and without any fantasy themes and all.
Thats gaming for me. To be as realistic as possible.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Thanks for responding. There's nothing wrong with that actually. Everybody has their own preference in that regard and I respect your view on that. Not a bad view at all. This is really getting interesting.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I agree they should be balanced out. Thanks for the response and that's a great point. If there could be a fine middle line, it would be set in stone. It just seems that there's more of some people trying to pick one or the other and those two are common. I agree and again thanks for the discussion.
@prxch_18 (143)
• India
4 Dec 07
i agree with some parts of your discussion and i don't agree with some part. Games with both gameplay and graphics are in true sense good. I am into lots of games and i have encountered many games which ahave good gameplay but the graphics was horrible.At least medium graphics is ok but below average is not playable.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I'll agree. If the game is fun at the end of the day that does matter. Well put without question. I do agree that bad control really can make a game that looks great feel like a waste of money. As long as it's enjoyable, it should be set in stone and without problem.
