Graphics Don't Matter

Dave Long writes "My column at GamerDad features some musing on how unimportant graphics are becoming to enjoyment of games. Everything looks great today which removes the excitement of that bullet point on a game box. There's some historical context and speculation on next-gen consoles and graphics' effect on consumers." From the article: "I guess we're getting closer to photo-realism, but I just don't care. The games shown don't look markedly better than anything from this generation. I guess they're impressive in a 'that's close to the movies now' kind of way but the graphics aren't changing gameplay in any way that I can see. It just makes old types of gameplay look prettier. For the people who absolutely adore technology and this incessant need to replicate the real world, there will certainly be things to cheer in the next generation. I'm sure I'll eventually buy the new consoles myself and be at least modestly excited at the graphics, but I've just grown so accustomed to things looking nice on current machines that there's no 'wow' factor anymore."

Comments

To a point..

[grub]

.. ala zork, etc, but some games are built around graphics. Imagine Doom3 without graphics and a Zork like interface:

You are in a large room covered in blood. To the right a Revenant is watching you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revenant. The Revenant runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revenant. The Revenant runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revenant. The Revenant runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revenant. The Revenant runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
The Revenant falls mortally wounded to the ground.

Weeee!

Put another way.... :)

[HRbnjR]

All women look great today which removes the excitement of that bullet point on a dating profile. There's some historical context and speculation on younger womans' effect on men." From the article: "I guess we're getting closer to super-models, but I just don't care. The girls shown don't look markedly better than any woman from this generation. I guess they're impressive in a 'that's close to the porn movies now' kind of way, but the looks aren't changing lifestyle in any way that I can see. They just make my traditional lifestyle look prettier. For the people who absolutely adore beautiful women and have this superficial need to be with the best looking woman, there will certainly be things to cheer in the next generation. I'm sure I'll eventually date these younger women myself and be at least modestly excited at their looks, but I've just grown so accustomed to the nice looking women of the current generation that there's no 'wow' factor anymore.

Unrealistic, should be...

[Shazow]

Imagine Doom3 without graphics and a Zork like interface:

You are in a large room covered in blood. You can't see anything.

> use flashlight
You take out your flashlight which reveals a Revenant. The Revanent runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You can't shoot with a flashlight. The Revenant runs towards you.

> use rocketlauncher
You put away your flashlight and take out your rocket launcher. The Revanent runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revanent. You miss. The Revenant runs towards you.

> shoot revenant
You shoot a rocket at the Revanent. You miss. The Revenant runs towards you. You are hit from behind.

> turn south
You turn south. You see a Revanent. The Revanent hits you. You are hit from behind.

> run west
You bump into a Revanent. The Revanent hits you. You are hit from the left. You are hit from the right. You are hit from behind. You fall mortally wounded to the ground.

> fuck
You cannot use your reproductive organs while dead.

Weeeee!

- shazow

You know what that article need?

[El_Muerte_TDS]

More screenshots. It's only text.

Re:You know what that article need?

[fwitness]

That's because you didn't render yours in gloriusly beautful 24 point true-type font with anti-aliased shadows. Now that my friend, is a good article.

Re:Put another way.... :)

[analog_line]

I agree. My girlfriend doesn't have the latest graphics, but her gameplay is quite good.