Reviews - Should Graphics Effect The Score?

[theRepublic]

Fumanchu said:

Bodhesatva said:

Fumanchu said:

Most Definitely. Why should the efforts of the art department who sweat blood trying to push the boundaries of the hardware capabilities go undermined? Wouldn't it be considered somewhat counter-progressive to ignore their feats?

Yes they should 'Affect' the score but not at the expense of overlooking good gameplay. That's why they each have their own distinct categories to be passed judgement on, which affect the overall score.

 

Why don't movie critics give extra scores for a movie having awesome special effects? That's where most of the money is spent on those big budget blockbuster movies.

Answer: because CGI/Special effects are a superficial and superfluous concern. Film (and flim critics) have grown up. When will gaming? Will it ever?

There's a far cry distinction between computer game graphics and movie special FX.

Movie special effects (in live action) can enhance the surrealism and realism, and at least deserve a write up when properly executed.  Nevertheless, do you believe that a movie such as Transformers, which relies on heavy CGI - would have been as well received/enjoyable if the graphics were poor?

They are hardly a superficial or superfluous concern in regards to games, as they are on screen all the time.  There's also more technical parameters they must optimise for as the graphics are realtime, which takes great talent in tweaking settings which again should be rewarded.

It would be the end of technical advancements and future progression if the industry were to 'grow up'.

That is important to the average moviegoer, but not as much to critics.  Transformers got a 61 on Metacritic, and a 57 on Rotten Tomatoes (another review aggregating site).