Games Graphics as Visual Game Cinematography. Video Game Journalism Article.

[AntiKorper Viral]

Dear Edge Gamers participants,

When I was about a wee 10 years old, I remember playing the games of Half Life, Deus Ex and Metal Gear Solid. Of their time, these games were the most graphically inspiring and the most visually striking. 10 years later they still are....somewhat.

Despite being 10 years old, each game's graphics give a certain look and mood that enhance or can detract from the game's overall attitude. Certain games have atmospheres which mirror their story's subject matter. Others have cheery atmospheres where the gameplay and mood sort of reflects the graphics. Let me provide with example. Within MGS, the graphics, while sort of blocky, with pixels so outwardly visible they would make Minecraft's polygonal world look like a tier-two whore, give the game a sort of dark and infiltrative mood which parallels the games mode of gameplay: stealth. Deus Ex's graphics, while not the prettiest of girls on the block, certainly contributed looks that could kill... a spetsnaz soldier. Anyway, Deus Ex's plastcide graphics and characteristic use of neutral and dark filtered colors, I would argue, adds to its dark atmosphere and reflects the ambiguity that is beset the player when having to make choices which influence the game. Half-life is perhaps the best example regarding the topic of graphics as mood and look establishers. Half-life utilizes a series of neutrals colors with heavy use of shadows and blues. Then when you are outside it changes into a browns with a blue sky, which gives the juxtaposition of freedom in an area where he is imprisoned by terrorists. Moods of abandonment and isolations are reflected within those neutrals and blues.

Graphics today have gotten better and more realistic. Games such as the recently-rleased Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, and others such as Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft, take advantage of the fact that they have better graphics and can establish moods that can be greatly emphasized and better than the games of yesteryear. I wanted post a series of questions to this forum, whose answers shall
provide popular empirical evidence for an article that I'm writing.

I REPEAT: IF YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWERS MAY BE INCLUDED IN THIS ARTICLE!!!

Now some of you might ask, "What kind of article are you writing?" I am doing freelance work for the The Escapist and am writing an article on how a game's graphics are not just for eye candy, but are a necessary component for the game in terms of establishing a look, feel, and mood for a game that enhances a games particular experience. I was lucky to speak to some people on your Ventrilo server, in a conversation which involved some insightful answers accompanied by some stupid spammers.

If you would like to participate. please post in this thread and answer these following questions.

1. When buying a video game, what do you personally look for in a game first? The graphics? or the gameplay?

2. Do you think that graphics help enhance the gameplay of a certain game, make it easier to become immersed within the game or are just simply eye candy for the gamer to enjoy? Why?

3. Consider a game, the type of game is of your choosing. Imagine say an RTS or an FPS without any graphics, this includes textures, materials, lighting and use of shadows and object placement. If you were to play a game without these, would the game still function with sole gameplay, despite the lack of graphics?

4. Think of a game where the graphics were central to a part of the gameplay.

5. Having considered all of the above, do you think that the graphics for many games today help establish the look, mood and feel of a game?

Please explain your answers as they may be quoted for this article.

I would greatly appreciate the participation.

 

[FreakingHell]

1. When buying a video game, what do you personally look for in a game first? The graphics? or the gameplay? Gameplay

2. Do you think that graphics help enhance the gameplay of a certain game, make it easier to become immersed within the game or are just simply eye candy for the gamer to enjoy? Why? Little of column A, little of column B. They can enhance a game, but only if the core gameplay mechanics and/or plot are good to begin with. Good graphics don't make a game good but they can make a good game great.

3. Consider a game, the type of game is of your choosing. Imagine say an RTS or an FPS without any graphics, this includes textures, materials, lighting and use of shadows and object placement. If you were to play a game without these, would the game still function with sole gameplay, despite the lack of graphics? No, it would be impossible. There would be nothing on the screen.

4. Think of a game where the graphics were central to a part of the gameplay. To what extent? In the aforementioned scenario, any game would be unplayable. However, a game with low quality graphics can be just as good as high quality. However, better graphics can make a game more enjoyable.

5. Having considered all of the above, do you think that the graphics for many games today help establish the look, mood and feel of a game? Yes of course. They do a lot to give the player a sense of atmosphere. However, they don't necesarily have to be extremely good looking to be effective

Examples:
Portal 1+2: AMAZING games; average graphics but creative dialogue, innovative gameplay, and good stories (moreso Portal 2 for story).
Crysis: Meh game; beautiful graphics but no revolutionary plot or gameplay mechanics

 

[featherfoot07]

1. When buying a video game, what do you personally look for in a game first? The graphics? or the gameplay?

as i am a gamer of many years, dating back to pre-halflife pc gaming and even further beyond that - I look for true gameplay. I want a game that gives me a story i can belive, a character base i can feel. I want conversation that makes bloody sense. I want plots that inter-twine with each other and not random point and jumps and turns to "show me what the engine can do"

thats like buying a fararri simply to do burn outs, who gives a damn. you by the fararri because of the generations of development, for the well renowndness of the name of not only the car but the company that produces it.

2. Do you think that graphics help enhance the gameplay of a certain game, make it easier to become immersed within the game or are just simply eye candy for the gamer to enjoy? Why?

in many ways yes they do - think of the fallout series. In these games, the atmosphere of the world you play in is what helps the game succede, allowing the player to feel like he/she is really in these times is how the title did so well.

3. Consider a game, the type of game is of your choosing. Imagine say an RTS or an FPS without any graphics, this includes textures, materials, lighting and use of shadows and object placement. If you were to play a game without these, would the game still function with sole gameplay, despite the lack of graphics?

this question is slitly confusing , because if removed the graphics all together - then we have pong. and pong is fun, but is still like blowing stuff up too. So - if you mean to take away what modern programers have defined as the "standard" for graphics that certainly games are still playable.

the first starcraft is a great example. This game in created a story that was so in depth and so real and so believeable that it spawned a massive following - world wide, one willing to following the story and keep pressure on blizzard for over ten years. with tournaments still being played in this classic RTS - it is easy to tell why.

the game itself is rather simple to learn - though in its difficulity to master you feel what it really can be.

4. Think of a game where the graphics were central to a part of the gameplay.


as i mentioned before - the fallout series. but you also have the starcaft series, you have the call of duty series, and really any game that relies on you being immersed, or realizing where you are as part of its story telling capabilities.

5. Having considered all of the above, do you think that the graphics for many games today help establish the look, mood and feel of a game?

of course, i just wish it were less about shiny and more about features.