What's More Important: Graphics, Plot or Gameplay?

EscondeR · 01-12-09, 15:44

What's More Important: Graphics, Plot or Gameplay?

What do you think, should graphics (animations, effects ...) be their tertiary, secondary or primary objective? What's primary for you?

You want a long game with decent gameplay but dull plot? Or you want a fun game with cutting-edge graphics but boring repetitive gameplay? Or kickass gameplay but average graphics? Or you want them to concentrate on plot only?

TR never had the best graphics but they never were the worst either. I'd even say TR1 was perfect at the time. It's true that TR had and has one of the best gameplay ever. Almost everyone would like to have it all but unfortunately in our time when game industry has been drastically changed things got tough.

Games no longer are long, they have more cutscenes and less gameplay, they became more eye-candy but more unoriginal and dull. Human resources, money, time ... every company lacks them today and they care more about mainstream that hard-core picky gamers. Maybe this was inevitable, who knows.

Bottom line: So what do you think? How do you want it (or even see it) in TR9? What will/will have to dominate?

* poll requested by Drone

Remember there are 7 options, not 4 So vote for what you really prefer on 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

Icarus60 · 01-12-09, 15:50

Gameplay first should be

EscondeR · 01-12-09, 15:54

I take option 2: Gameplay > Graphics > Plot.
TR always had minimalistic plot in Classics, and I see no reasons why it must be of any other kind in future.

irjudd · 01-12-09, 15:55

You can't judge gameplay from screenshots or even previews really. So graphics are what hooks me first. In theory, story should be the hook, but I prefer not to be spoiled or know much about the story yet. But with Tomb Raider, the hook is less important since I'll be buying it anyway, so once I'm playing, fun gameplay is very important. After that, stellar graphics are most important to me. Plot doesn't matter much to me.

Quasimodo · 01-12-09, 16:04

(from the first thread)
This is getting mighty predictable. Graphics of a certain degree are simply expected from popular franchises. A great story can sometimes make up for shortcomings in gameplay, because you'll slog through some of the more monotonous parts to find out what happens next. Gameplay, of course, is the meat and potatoes of it all - so hopefully CD understands we'd rather unlock things like weapons and bonus levels rather than outfits.

Games are all about escapism, so each element plays an important part.

Phlip · 01-12-09, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by EscondeR

I take option 2: Gameplay > Graphics > Plot.
TR always had minimalistic plot in Classics, and I see no reasons why it must be of any other kind in future.

Yes, this.

daventry · 01-12-09, 16:09

Plot Gameplay Graphics

Enough with the Penguin already, it serves no value at all.

Its like saying vote for Daventry, is there no Love for me at all.

Drone · 01-12-09, 16:11

cheers for the poll, Alex

So I'll repeat myself, I vote for:

Quote:

Gameplay, plot, graphics

As Samsdad said plot and gameplay are important (a balance between them, to be more exact). There is a thin margin between them and developers should find it to make the game enjoyable for us.

Gameplay means everything you can do (are able to do) in game (acrobatics, shooting, avoiding the traps, finding the secrets, solving the puzzles etc) in a nutshell every kind of action and interaction. And plot describes the reason why you do this. Then comes graphics and makes these things alive.

I also agree with jajay119 about the length of game. We all need a long game because long games in 90% have a good gameplay. We didn't see it for ages. I think we and the series do deserve a good game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasimodo

Games are all about escapism.

yup and that's why gameplay is primary for me

Uzi master · 01-12-09, 16:14

gameplay: graphics: plot I prefer good gameplay over anything but good graphics are always nice and more important than a deep plot.

Cristina · 01-12-09, 16:20

Gameplay, plot, graphics

View Poll Results: What's more important for you: Graphics, Plot or Gameplay?
The importance order for me is: Gameplay, plot, graphics...	87	44.39%
The importance order for me is: Gameplay, graphics, plot...	58	29.59%
The importance order for me is: Graphics, gameplay, plot...	6	3.06%
The importance order for me is: Graphics, plot, gameplay...	2	1.02%
The importance order for me is: Plot, graphics, gameplay...	6	3.06%
The importance order for me is: Plot, gameplay, graphics...	29	14.80%
Penguins are of great importance for me...	8	4.08%
Voters: 196. You may not vote on this poll

01-12-09, 15:44	#1
EscondeR Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Russia Posts: 31,961	What's More Important: Graphics, Plot or Gameplay? What's More Important: Graphics, Plot or Gameplay? What do you think, should graphics (animations, effects ...) be their tertiary, secondary or primary objective? What's primary for you? You want a long game with decent gameplay but dull plot? Or you want a fun game with cutting-edge graphics but boring repetitive gameplay? Or kickass gameplay but average graphics? Or you want them to concentrate on plot only? TR never had the best graphics but they never were the worst either. I'd even say TR1 was perfect at the time. It's true that TR had and has one of the best gameplay ever. Almost everyone would like to have it all but unfortunately in our time when game industry has been drastically changed things got tough. Games no longer are long, they have more cutscenes and less gameplay, they became more eye-candy but more unoriginal and dull. Human resources, money, time ... every company lacks them today and they care more about mainstream that hard-core picky gamers. Maybe this was inevitable, who knows. Bottom line: So what do you think? How do you want it (or even see it) in TR9? What will/will have to dominate? * poll requested by Drone Remember there are 7 options, not 4 So vote for what you really prefer on 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. __________________ The Truth Is Out There... Last edited by EscondeR; 01-12-09 at 16:02.

01-12-09, 15:54	#3
EscondeR Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Russia Posts: 31,961	I take option 2: Gameplay > Graphics > Plot. TR always had minimalistic plot in Classics, and I see no reasons why it must be of any other kind in future. __________________ The Truth Is Out There... Last edited by EscondeR; 01-12-09 at 16:01.

01-12-09, 16:14	#9
Uzi master Archaeologist Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,856	gameplay: graphics: plot I prefer good gameplay over anything but good graphics are always nice and more important than a deep plot. __________________ UZI'S!

01-12-09, 16:20	#10
Cristina Relic Hunter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portugal Gender:Female Posts: 6,529	Gameplay, plot, graphics __________________ Wesker: "Natural selection makes the survivors stronger and better!"

01-12-09, 15:50	#2
Icarus60 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 433	Gameplay first should be

01-12-09, 15:55	#4
irjudd Tomb Raider Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,543	You can't judge gameplay from screenshots or even previews really. So graphics are what hooks me first. In theory, story should be the hook, but I prefer not to be spoiled or know much about the story yet. But with Tomb Raider, the hook is less important since I'll be buying it anyway, so once I'm playing, fun gameplay is very important. After that, stellar graphics are most important to me. Plot doesn't matter much to me.

01-12-09, 16:04	#5
Quasimodo Tomb Raider Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 16,082	(from the first thread) This is getting mighty predictable. Graphics of a certain degree are simply expected from popular franchises. A great story can sometimes make up for shortcomings in gameplay, because you'll slog through some of the more monotonous parts to find out what happens next. Gameplay, of course, is the meat and potatoes of it all - so hopefully CD understands we'd rather unlock things like weapons and bonus levels rather than outfits. Games are all about escapism, so each element plays an important part.

01-12-09, 16:09	#7
daventry Tomb Raider Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Africa Posts: 14,619	Plot Gameplay Graphics Enough with the Penguin already, it serves no value at all. Its like saying vote for Daventry, is there no Love for me at all.