Lets discuss GRAPHICS

[Chark]

Intrinsic said:

Chark said:
I disagree. The trade off of graphics for gameplay is far more of a "buzzword" scenario in modern gaming perception. Is it that hard to realize that graphics and performance are often keys to new and better gameplay methods? The clamor over graphics today is in the spirit of setting a standard of quality, Sure some games might be just as fine off with 720p over 1080p or 30fps over 60fps, but not all, and in the end the higher numbers are going to better. Necessary? No. Better? Yes. Detriment to another unrelated vital aspect of a game? No.

I am not saying graphics are not important. But no, graphics are not key to new gameplay methods. 95% of every game made today stems from genres that have ben in existance for the most part of the last 20yrs. Yes, we get better detail and more effects, but te things that really make these games shine tody aren't things that are defined by graphics. A games mechanics, ai, animation, physics, level design...etc are all the details that makes a game better today. It doesn't hurt that the game looks good though.

i will say again, as far as performance, certain things are important as they actually affect how the game is percieved and played. A games framerate being consistent at at least 30fps is more important than if that game is running at 60fps or 120fps and should be reported as such. We should say, rock solid framerate before we say 60fps. Just look at games with an unlocked framerate that drops from 60fps to as low as 45fps..... any gamer given the option to lock that framerate down to 30fps will jump at it.

I think you're short changing what graphics consist of.  Graphics is a wide term and includes animations in many regards. Graphic capabilities are heavily tied with the performance of a computer system. The stronger it is the more particles can appear on screen, the more joints can be rendered, the further distance can be viewed, the greater particle destructability can be acheived, the greater persistency of particles can be obtained. All of these can be incorporated into gameplay mechanics. The value of destructable environments, the scale of players, the density of world environments, environment effects, etc. The enhancements to one game to the next in a series is not due just to a better understanding of game design and gameplay method experience but to the advancement of the graphical capabilities of the hardware that allow for new and improved methods to be utilized and tried.

Graphics are not just frames per second, resolution, shaders, and filters.