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RolStoppable said:
LordTheNightKnight said:
RolStoppable said:

If the content is similar, graphics become a differentiating factor. There are many WWII, sci-fi or postapocalyptic shooters in the market place. Is it just a coincidence that the best looking games usually sell the most? Of course those games also get backed up by the biggest ad campaigns, but that's how it works. Games with big development budgets naturally will have great graphics and since they are supposed to sell a lot to make a profit, they also get a lot of marketing.

Those GTA games were sidestories released on the PSP and later on on the PS2 as the fourth and fifth iteration on Sony's home console, respectively. I don't think they are the best example for your argument, but I agree that content does indeed play an important role for the sales of a game.

So a FPS needs good multiplayer, graphics, content and marketing. Goldeneye will have at the very least the content covered, so much is clear.

What makes you think those are the best looking games? Last I checked Crysis is the best looking FPS ever, from all accounts, and that didn't help it.

And what if it is a coincidence? By you just assming graphics sell a game, you're supporting the very mindset that has been denying the Wii the support it's been deserving since the system was announced.

Crysis is irrelevant, because it's a PC game. The PC gaming market works very different, it's declining since years which resulted in the 360 becoming the lead platform instead of the PC for many games. Additionally the system requirements for Crysis certainly didn't affect its sales positively. In the end it's really not comparable to console FPS.

Graphics are a result of effort. The misconception that denies the Wii the support is that the hardware isn't capable of 360/PS3 graphics and therefore those games won't sell, another one is that the audience isn't interested in such games. In reality, it's a matter of effort. Without effort, a game will probably fail. People see halfassed Wii games and decide to not buy them which means underwhelming sales. Then you have games in which effort is put into (most notably Nintendo games) and people don't mind buying them even if they don't have 360/PS3 like graphics.

Gamers have an idea what a system is capable of (nobody expects PS2 level graphics from the DS for example) and if they perceive a game to be lacking in terms of graphics they think twice before making a purchase. Yes, graphics do sell games even though they are not the main reason why a game sells. But graphics are an indicator how much effort was put into a game. (Don't forget that art direction is the most important aspect of graphics, I don't want to write a seperate post defending bestselling games with low polygon counts and few to none special effects.)

Effort is another thing where the definition is twisted. Instead of "make sure it works and plays well", it's now "the extra mile is mandatory".

As for this game, judging their effort solely on the graphics is wrong. You're deciding their effort based on one factor. And don't give me that "it indicates other things" line. The reason is that assumes that making the graphics look shiny are the only thing that take effort.

So what if you can see the polygons in the final game? If it's the scale it looks like, and the tradeoff is performance, then I would take performance. Some Wii games take the former, and would fit your idea of effort, but they don't sell because those aren't really what sells games.



A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.

Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs