Gameplay Over Graphics at Boot Daily

Urithrand · Thu, 6th Dec '07, 1:17pm

Boot Daily has posted an article regarding DirectX 10, and its extreme lack of superiority over DX9 since DX10 games began to hit the market this year. Chastising Microsoft for failing to deliver on their promises, the article then goes further, asking the question "Why add the graphics and detract from the fun?". Take a look:

Last year both AMD and NVIDIA announced ambitious plans to incorporate physic acceleration – neither of which has panned out. For example, why not find ways to use Shaders to do things like scripted events, or boost the game’s AI - just trying to think "out side of the box" here. Both companies have brilliant people who can surely think beyond the typical GPU and find ways to implement technology which improves game mechanics and help them look great at the same time.

Maybe GPU makers – backed by Microsoft’s own selfish ambition to rule every aspect of gaming – need to think outside of the box and start implementing other useful features within the GPU that can do more than just make the hair on a game character’s model look more real. I guess it’s also about time that we in the media stop pandering to these companies and clamoring so closely to ambition that has done nothing more in making games fun.

Definitely worth a read if you have a spare minute, you'll find the whole thing here.

Nakia · Fri, 7th Dec '07, 6:30am

The consumer votes by not buying. All I want for Christmas is a game that is fun to play and that I can play on my computer. If I have to buy Vista to play it I'm not buying the game. Graphics can add to the game but certainly aren't the game IMO.

Aikanaro · Fri, 7th Dec '07, 2:01pm

Graphics (in the sense of 'ooh, shiny!') aren't terribly important, but art direction definately is, and some ooh shiny can certainly help that.

Ultimately though, there's a level of graphical capability where no more advancement is really necessary to evoke whatever mood it is that you want. I think that N64 games were typically at that level, and it was released in 1996. It's kinda sad that the industry is still seeking the graphics holy grail, because if they don't find a nice plateau soon they're not going to survive.

Ziad · Fri, 7th Dec '07, 4:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nakia

Graphics can add to the game but certainly aren't the game IMO.

That's the best answer to the graphics vs gameplay debate that I've ever seen!

Thu, 6th Dec '07, 1:17pm	#1
Urithrand SPS Account Holder News Editor Mind turning the light off? It plays havoc with my complexion. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Vale Of Aldur Posts: 1,358 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,538 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 15.98% Daily Activity 2.26% Weekly Activity 1.29% Monthly Activity 3.01% Achievements	Gameplay Over Graphics at Boot Daily Boot Daily has posted an article regarding DirectX 10, and its extreme lack of superiority over DX9 since DX10 games began to hit the market this year. Chastising Microsoft for failing to deliver on their promises, the article then goes further, asking the question "Why add the graphics and detract from the fun?". Take a look: Last year both AMD and NVIDIA announced ambitious plans to incorporate physic acceleration – neither of which has panned out. For example, why not find ways to use Shaders to do things like scripted events, or boost the game’s AI - just trying to think "out side of the box" here. Both companies have brilliant people who can surely think beyond the typical GPU and find ways to implement technology which improves game mechanics and help them look great at the same time. Maybe GPU makers – backed by Microsoft’s own selfish ambition to rule every aspect of gaming – need to think outside of the box and start implementing other useful features within the GPU that can do more than just make the hair on a game character’s model look more real. I guess it’s also about time that we in the media stop pandering to these companies and clamoring so closely to ambition that has done nothing more in making games fun. Definitely worth a read if you have a spare minute, you'll find the whole thing here.
	Last edited by Taluntain; Fri, 7th Dec '07 at 2:49pm.

Fri, 7th Dec '07, 6:30am	#2
Nakia SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member The night is mine Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: A Pocket Plane somewhere in NJ. Posts: 5,318 Blog Entries: 5 Like: 69 Liked 27 Times in 18 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 12,493 Level: 32 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 75.63% Daily Activity 2.26% Weekly Activity 89.31% Monthly Activity 22.04% Achievements Awards	The consumer votes by not buying. All I want for Christmas is a game that is fun to play and that I can play on my computer. If I have to buy Vista to play it I'm not buying the game. Graphics can add to the game but certainly aren't the game IMO.
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Fri, 7th Dec '07, 2:01pm	#3
Aikanaro Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 5,521 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,717 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.83% Daily Activity 2.26% Weekly Activity 1.29% Monthly Activity 1.51% Achievements	Graphics (in the sense of 'ooh, shiny!') aren't terribly important, but art direction definately is, and some ooh shiny can certainly help that. Ultimately though, there's a level of graphical capability where no more advancement is really necessary to evoke whatever mood it is that you want. I think that N64 games were typically at that level, and it was released in 1996. It's kinda sad that the industry is still seeking the graphics holy grail, because if they don't find a nice plateau soon they're not going to survive.