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How important are graphics for MMORPGs?

KenshuAniKenshuAni Member CommonPosts: 851
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

I've seen various posts like the following and I have become curious to see how important graphics are to players.


Originally posted by ZenoLoc
I'm looking forward to Roma Victor even though the graphics look somewhat sub-par.  I just want back into a game with a good crafting skills setup, large areas to explore and sandbox based.


IMO, graphics are merely eye-candy.  I'm far more interested in gameplay issues like character development, community atmosphere, combat, server performance, etc.  Am I in the minority regarding this?

/discuss

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Comments

  • nomadiannomadian Member Posts: 3,490
    I would say they were quite important, I mean 2d mmorpgs just aren't my thing. However I'm not the extreme of top notch graphics as I liked the graphics of Everquest and prefer it even over something like EQ2. Why? Because I liked the style a lot better. Also WoW doesn't have top notch graphics but it does have a very nice fantasy style it which along with its gameplay keeps people playing. However, I would say I prefer a graphics of AC2 and EQ over the cartoonish style of WoW because it is a lot more rewarding when you are exploring new environments. For instance, a game like Farcry makes you want to explore the environment over one which was perhaps cartoonish.

  • MiNaAuMiNaAu Member Posts: 382
    I think graphics are good for first impressions because if you looked at screenshots without knowing anything about the game (which may have really good features) and the game graphics are rubbish then some people (me) doesn't give the game a second glance. But if you have good graphics and bad features then at least people would try it out, so yes I do think good graphics are important
  • ShoalShoal Member Posts: 1,156

    Graphics == Gameplay.

    Mediocre Graphics, Great Gameplay  -  Not Interested

    Great Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested

    Mediocre Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested

    If I am going to pay $50 up front and $15 a month, I want both Great Graphics and Great Gamplay!

    'Nuff Said.

  • TheelyTheely Member UncommonPosts: 430

    I voted for important. I can play a game that is slightly dated in graphics by a year or 2 but not much after that. I'd spend to much time laughing at the poor models and wouldn't be able to really get into it.

    When it comes to mmos they also have to be 3D. Diablo style has come and gone when it comes to mmos yet if done with good graphis it is just fine for single player rpgs.

  • seabass2003seabass2003 Member Posts: 4,144

    Originally posted by Shoal

    Graphics == Gameplay.
    Mediocre Graphics, Great Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    Great Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    Mediocre Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    If I am going to pay $50 up front and $15 a month, I want both Great Graphics and Great Gamplay!
    'Nuff Said.


    At the rate current MMO's are going, you and I won't be playing to many of them. Seems like all the MMO's out right now have one or the other but not both.

    In America I have bad teeth. If I lived in England my teeth would be perfect.

  • ianubisiianubisi Member Posts: 4,201

    Here is my formula:

    Good Graphics + Good Gameplay = Great Game
    Bad Graphics + Good Gameplay = Good Game
    Good Graphics + Bad Gameplay = Pretty Game
    Bad Graphics + Bad Gameplay = Bad Game

    I'll play a game with poor graphics, but it needs great gameplay.

  • ranulfranulf Member Posts: 10
    Very important for me; But if the game is very good, i can play without. But my average time IG will be less important.

  • saunasauna Member UncommonPosts: 62
    Gameplay is everything. Sure, no game can have 80's looking graphics in their game and be successful but if a developer has focused more on graphics and less on good gameplay it's still just a crap game. Graphics are cool but after you've seen everything it's not something that keeps you playing the game.
    Even so, people still play korean clones like Lineage 2 and other games where you can't even do a simple thing like binding your keys and are forced to use some 6 year old solution by only using a mouse which completely amazes me.


    http://kompaniet.mine.nu :+: #kompaniet @ QuakeNet

  • Billius8Billius8 Member Posts: 574
    Fantastic graphics take a back seat to gameplay, but at least decent graphics are very important, IMO.
  • AnagethAnageth Member Posts: 2,217
    Having played UO for many years, I can't say that graphics is everything. Hell I played WoW for over a year and didn't enjoy the graphics much, so I voted "somewhat important". Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that devs can think they can excrete crap with great gameplay, even outside of the MMORPG genre, graphics are becoming more and more important. Doesn't matter what people want, graphics will still remain a priority.

    No longer visiting MMORPG.com.

  • reavoreavo Member Posts: 2,173
    I think gameplay and graphics are about 50/50 split on importance.

    I won't play a game with subpar graphics, no matter how good the gameplay is.  And I won't play a game that's got awesome graphics if I get bored playing after a few minutes.


  • wjrasmussenwjrasmussen Member Posts: 1,493

    Originally posted by Shoal

    Graphics == Gameplay.
    Mediocre Graphics, Great Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    Great Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    Mediocre Graphics, Mediocre Gameplay  -  Not Interested
    If I am going to pay $50 up front and $15 a month, I want both Great Graphics and Great Gamplay!
    'Nuff Said.
    Wanting both, although desired, does not make for a very interesting conversation point.  I say neither are unimportant.  Game Play is more important that graphics. But there are points where graphics are not good enough to merit game play.
  • TaguritTagurit Member Posts: 309

    Originally posted by KenshuAni

    I've seen various posts like the following and I have become curious to see how important graphics are to players.
    Originally posted by ZenoLoc
    I'm looking forward to Roma Victor even though the graphics look somewhat sub-par.  I just want back into a game with a good crafting skills setup, large areas to explore and sandbox based.


    IMO, graphics are merely eye-candy.  I'm far more interested in gameplay issues like character development, community atmosphere, combat, server performance, etc.  Am I in the minority regarding this?

    /discuss

    I agree.  I am more interested in character development and gameplay.
  • paadepaade Member Posts: 471
    great gameplay + great graphics with current technology and internet speed = utopia

    Of course it is a matter of what one thinks a good gameplay is, for me its mass pvp battle with as little lag as possible in non-instanced environment.
    If you settle for 20 vs 20 battle in instance or just mobs, then i guess you can have uber eyecandy too.

    Personally, i dont understand people that want uber graphics in a MMORPG. If i want uber graphics, i go play Oblivion or some other spg where lag is a non-factor.
  • NatukoNatuko Member UncommonPosts: 49

    Well graphics are obveously quite important to some exstent, i mean what would be the point in spending all this money on my computer if i was to play a game that required very little computer technology.

    As for gaming, in my opinion, gameplay keeps me hucked and addicted to a game much more than graphics.  I mean... how many hours can you spend looking at game graphics and saying 'Awww aint that pretty' without geting bored?  Character development and gameplay should be much more important to game developers than all these fantsy graphics i think...

    I have played alot of games and thought to myself though... for example Ragnarok and Pristontale... How can i pay £X.XX ammount per month for this game, charatcer development, gameplay might be good, but with graphics like this, i carnt let myself do it.

    Finding a good balance between Graphics, Gameplay, Character development and also less mentioned areas such as sound, and chating functions is also key to a good game.  For example i liked the graphics, Mass PvP in RF Onlinr but the chating functions was terrible, i actualy quit playing it becuase of that... being abit picky, but i couldnt stand it :D

    So to summerise, Graphics is not the be all and end all - Games can still be great without 'Up-to-date' graphics in my view.

  • FlywheelFlywheel Member Posts: 60

    For me gameplay >>> graphics. Graphics are great to keep you occupied when starting out or finding new areas just for the oooh and aaah factor, but sooner or later you will get bored of them, only the gameplay is likely to keep you addicted in the long run. I think some devs spend more time tweaking the graphics than the gameplay.

    One of the graphic engines that annoys me most is the one belonging to EQ2 - many people say it has astonishing graphics and its engineered for next gen systems, but TBH i think the engine is crap. All the EQ2 devs did was write a shoddy engine that you could tweak to the moon and back, granted it looks quite nice on a high-end rig but it only looks good BECAUSE you threw enough processing power at the game to run a small country, not because it was written well. Reading the forums and from personal experience I can also say it isnt too smart when running on ATI cards.

  • GoluhGoluh Member Posts: 374

    If you played face of mankind you know graphics dont do f... about gameplay

    tbh the new graphics have ruined the new gameplay/versions they brought the game down thru the engine upgrades, dont believe me go check it out @ forum.fomportal.com

    it used to be great.. greatest mmorpg EVAH. its like planetside but then in corridors n stuff death makes you drop everything

    image

  • BuZZKilgoreBuZZKilgore Member Posts: 525
    Sorry I didn't put all this money into my gaming rig to play a crappy looking game like UO.
  • MadAceMadAce Member Posts: 2,461
    Graphics are very important, they're your gateway to the game. But that's all they are, a portal to the GAMEPLAY. Does this mean that graphics are less important? Of course not. As long as they are FINISHED they're fine enough to play the game.

    No thanks to crappy 3D engines and crappy 2D engines.


    image
    CLICK HERE TO GET A LIST OF FREE MMO LISTS!!!

  • GoluhGoluh Member Posts: 374

    looks like you dont believe me ...

    this gameplay rocked : ( old engine )

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4347964897464481858&q=face+of+mankind

    heres the new engine n stuff crap :

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2381746021819273062&q=face+of+mankind

    yea the new stuff is gay and annoying

    image

  • KenshuAniKenshuAni Member CommonPosts: 851

    Originally posted by BuZZKilgore
    Sorry I didn't put all this money into my gaming rig to play a crappy looking game like UO.
    Don't apologize, I'm asking for opinions not agreement.
  • Hi_im_ZachHi_im_Zach Member Posts: 7
    i dont really mind graphics, im a big fan of 2d mmorpgs, but i do play knight online and MU online.

  • nthnaounnthnaoun Member Posts: 1,438

    The graphics have to be good enough for us to see the artwork put into the game. DAoC's graphics are just fine for me (with the updated graphics engine). I found that EQ2's graphics were a bit much and that their artwork was horrible. Lineage 2 had good artwork and good enough graphics to show that artwork. WoW had nice artwork and good enough graphics for it too. These are just some examples. I think 2nd generation and some of the first generation with an updated engine are just fine for me. These highly detailed graphics game that are coming out soon and that have already made an appearance are just over done and contribute to the lag factor.

    So my vote was cast for somewhat important. I don't want to see a 2D MMO nor do I want to see a character chiseled out of a block, but too high end--of a graphics game can create too much lag, so a lot of graphics isn't desirable either.

  • CrazyDiamondCrazyDiamond Member Posts: 9

    I don't like MMORPG's with bad graphics. I'd rather spend my time on a better looking game. a game like RuneScape (for example) has horrible graphics and "okay" gameplay. It's fun for a few minutes but it's just a time waster. If I want to get into an MMORPG the graphics should be amazing, or else I'm not paying. That said, some games that have AMAZING graphics and sub-par graphics are still "playable". But Roma Victor is probably the only game I would want to get into, even though it has okay graphics.

  • bigbossmanbigbossman Member Posts: 15
    graphics aren't the main feature i would look for in a game, however one of the reasons i got into mmorpgs was because of the vast persistant worlds that made it seem like u were actually in another world. Nice graphics do factor in somewhat, but gameplay and features are by far way more important.
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