How important are good graphics for an mmorpg?

headwound23

    Lately I've been feeling a little shallow.  It seems if I don't like the graphics in a game I can't look past it no matter how good the game play is.  I guess I've always been a bit a graphics freak.  After playing WoW for 2 years on and off I decided to take a break from it a little over a month ago.  But I guess I've been suffering online withdrawals .  Single player games just don't hold my interest very long anymore.  So I tried the free trial for Everquest 2.  Now I know I may be setting myself up for same flaming from the EQ2 crowd here.  But I really don't think much about the graphics in EQ2.  The character models are okay, but the background just looks kinda dull. And when I take a look at Vanguard screenshots they look very reminiscent of EQ2.  I guess some people really like that style of art and graphics. Maybe it's just me.  Maybe I don't prefer realist graphics as much as the stylized graphics in WoW.  Maybe after I bought my X-Box 360 and played Gears of  War I just expect to much from an online game in terms of high quality graphics. 

   

      But I think Age of Conan has what you would term realistic looking graphics and I think the screenshots from game game look at lot better than Vanguard.  Also with LOTR online they may look a little like WoW graphics but they look better to me than EQ2 or Vanguard.  I also think WAR online looks a lot better as well.



And don't say  "Well maybe your computer is old and needs an upgrade".  I just upgraded my computer this year with a new motherboard, process and graphics card.  I would think a Geforce 7800 should be able to run most games out these days.  I know it runs Half-Life 2 episode 1 really good and Oblivion and the highest settings i believe.



    So someone please agree or disagree with me about these graphic comparisons.  And tell me I do need to look past my biased graphics outlook so I can see the great gameplay in these games. 

teldath

to me its less about the graphics and more about the shades and colors, the animations also help during combat.



i like earth tones, browns and steels like FFXI and vanguard. Rather then bright colors like WoW and WAR. Not because it looks better, but because it is more realistic and immersive.



i think vanguard has great graphics tho, IMO its more immersive then WoW.



edit: im with ya tho, i cant stand EQ2 for some reason.

Signe

I agree with an awful lot of what you said.  I really like the way WoW looks even though I only lasted a few months.  The game, itself, didn't grab me.  I don't mind the graphics and character models of EQ2 and Vanguard, tbut I do find them to be a bit dull and lifeless looking.  They also seem very similar to me.  Those, along with DDO, seem to use a rather dull palette.  Gameplay, content, quests, etc. all mean a good deal to me when I play a game but the graphics, the artwork, and the colours have an impact on me, also.  I seem to need some eye candy, and the lively colours of WoW just make me feel better when I play... a bit like seasonal lighting.  I'm always happier in the spring and summer.  I have more "down days" in winter.  I know a lot of people, however, who love more realism and just can't wrap their heads around the cartoonish graphics in WoW.  It's all pretty subjective, I guess.

indi

I don't care about the graphics at all with the only exception of the character models itself along with the equipment.

dragonxrider

its really stupid but i just dont play games that have crappy graphics even if the gameplay is great. My friend tried to get me into asheron's call but i just couldnt stand it, i mean gameplay was just freaking sweet. I like the fact how you can adjust the attack speed and all but oh man just 3 days into the game and i just couldnt take it anymore graphics were just too awful, i quit really fast. Oh and the equipment has to look really awsome or i wont even touch it, i mean if you take a look at maplestory to me the equipment models sucked really bad compared to the equip models in lineage 2.

Xtromass

To me graphics are kinda 50% important

grimboj

To be honest EQ2 probably has the best graphics around but I'll agree that the styles & textures are so bland. You can look at a level 70 and it just doesn't look impressive at all and makes you wonder why bother. I've been playing WoW a bit with my new machine upgrades and it looks alright - a bit cartoony (which gives them an excuse to reduce the graphics complexity) but stuff like lighting is top notch - I get bored and watch the moonlight move along the ground.



Graphics is a big deal but too many games have lost the plot after good graphics. City of Heroes / Villains is a great example - The characters look and feel great but whoever decided to instance the game in that way needs to be shot.

n2k3156

I can live with shitty graphics if its a great game.



If its average and/or bringing nothing new to the genre, the graphics better stun me to at least mildly warrant my attention.

Garrik

I dont mind about graphics really, aslong as the gameplay is there and the armour and weps look big, out of this world and most importantly kick ass.

I like to see the new eye candy coming out, it is impressive, but its also expensive to run seeing as ill need a pc upgrade for the likes of AoC lol. Thats no problem though iv got enough set aside for a super computer now and hopefully with the price of it it should be future proof until about 210/211 lol.

One thing that does bug me is BAD 3D graphics, if your 3D's are gonna look as shite as say, knight online then hell change the game completely and make some nice looking Isometric graphics. I hate the way it all has to be 3D now to me the real MMORPGS and RPGS have and always will be isometric style ones.

Right i must stop now, this conversation is making me thing of Redmoon online, dammit, why did they shut it down.

Garrik

TrooperCoope

Great graphics keep me playing a game for one or two month. Great game content keeps me playing for 2+ years maybe.



Of course nice eye candy can help to raise interest though.