Graphics vs Gameplay

            Ever since the video game industry has grown, there has always been a controversy between what is more important in a game, graphics or gameplay.

            To me both graphics and gameplay are both important for a game, where graphics is what draws the players in initially, and where gameplay gives the player a reason to keep playing the game.

            The reason why graphics is so important for video games, especially current generation games is the fact that graphics are the first things a player sees when playing a video game. A game with a great visual presentation definitely helps promote the game since it draws the player in. Visuals on the level of the recent Battlefield games and the Crysis series attract their players in with their jaw dropping graphics.  But realistic graphics doesn’t mean that they are the best graphics since how the game looks depends on the game’s art style. Games such as Limbo or even the Super Mario series do not have realistic graphics but their art style complements the games they create. The graphics for these types of games suit the style as well the intended audience the developers were trying to aim for.

            Where the graphics draws the player to the video game, gameplay is what keeps the player interested in the video game. Gameplay is how the player interacts with the game. Just like graphics, there is no correct gameplay. Gameplay is different from player to player since everyone has different interests. There are gamers who love challenging games such as Dark Souls but for others they prefer laid back games such as Angry Birds or Super Mario.

            Both graphics and gameplay are equally important and as game developers, no company should value one over the other. Developers goals to create a fun game, is to create a game that has graphics and gameplay that suit the game and the players.