View Poll Results: The most important element of a game?

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  • Graphics

    4 8.00%
  • Gameplay

    33 66.00%
  • Story

    11 22.00%
  • Other (post reply)

    2 4.00%

Thread: Most important element of a game?

  1. #1
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    Most important element of a game?

    well, what do YOU think the most important part of a game is?

  2. #2
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    I voted "story", but I will say that it's not toatally a one sided issue. I think that a good story is essential, at least to many more "in depth" games, but gameplay is something which is ALWAYS important. A good story with terrible gameplay/controls is still a bad game.

    And it depends on the game. Plot in an RPG is paramount, while in an FPS game it's unimportant.

  3. #3
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    a game without -a good- story is no more than a hollow, nice-looking program
    -- A wise man

    I just hate those racing games that have no story at all, there are VERY good text-only games...

    Oskilian

  4. #4
    Ethereal Raccoon Procyon's Avatar
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    The most important element of a game is its gameplay. That IS why we play games, right? Not to see pretty images or to experience intellectually stimulating stories, though those can certainly be part of the experience. A game without good graphics is a game without good graphics. A game without a story is a game without a story. A game without gameplay isn't a game.

  5. #5
    Registered User Coder's Avatar
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    Lightbulb

    Voted gameplay.

    I believe it depends on the type of the game, as someone said here in RPG's you need a role to play so you must've a story + Gameplay.

    <oskilian>
    a game without -a good- story is no more than a hollow, nice-looking program
    -- A wise man
    Not completely true. I've spotted no story behind Quake3Arena or UnrealTournament, yet both are favorites.
    Same goes for Serious Sam.
    Muhammad Haggag

  6. #6
    Registered User Aran's Avatar
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    In my mind, if you have amazing gameplay, the rest will follow suit.

  7. #7
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    I didn't mention that games without a good story aren't fun, they can be, but you grow tired, specially of those shoot-em-up, because it's the same thing all over again, when it's Multi player, the thing's different 'cause you make your own plot and it's nice

    Oskilian

  8. #8
    Bobish
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    many of the clasics are fun but have terible graphics and no story so that shows that gameplay is #1. Also level design is a big thing there are plenty of games that would be good if it wern't for the dull flavorless levels.

  9. #9
    Registered User Null Shinji's Avatar
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    Originally posted by oskilian
    a game without -a good- story is no more than a hollow, nice-looking program
    -- A wise man

    I just hate those racing games that have no story at all, there are VERY good text-only games...

    Oskilian
    me agrees
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  10. #10
    I'll have to say story, since I'm a RPG'er

  11. #11
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    Graphics guys! Cmon Think about it!

    True. Gameplay makes for the more enjoyment, storyline is nice for the final finale, people get bored if they dont have some kind of foreshadowing and climax. Lets not forget you could break a game into many more than just 4 basic elements.
    But noone is even going to play your game if you dont have any graphics. Nobody would go out and pick up the Text Version of Final Fantasy 10. Theyd think after Sprits Within, Square had lost their cotten pickin minds.
    Graphics even bring in players to bad games. The Bouncer, another Square title....SUCKED. It was short, boring and predictable. But hey, it had graphics. And they were awesome, lets all be mindless cardboard boxes and blindly go and buy it right now!!! :-)
    However I have to say that all of these elements are essential and equally important to the toal GAMING experience. So graphics obviously grab your eye, gameplay keeps you from breaking your keyboard in half with your fist, music keeps you intrigued, and side by side with your story makes you want to pick up a tissue and be a big wet wimp (Final Fantasy 7. ::sniffle:: Just had to kill her didnt they! ((anyone figured im a big FF fan yet? :-) ))).
    - Zedd
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  12. #12
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    Re: Graphics guys! Cmon Think about it!

    Zedd- you may be right about the graphics pulling you in. However:

    Would you want to play another generic FF game? (Don't get me wrong- I love FF). I say this because after 6; the stories became akin to ones they had run before. It's like playing an old FF, with better graphics. Does that make me buy it? No- I buy it because I want to see a story change.

    Graphics are candy for the eyes, and also are almost un-nessicary. Granted that there are some games that would die without graphics (Starcraft); there are also some where graphics didn't really matter (Diablo). The text versions could be just as pulling where the story is good, and draws you in. Plus, as a bonus, you can imagine your own world- not let some designer do it for you.

    I guess that what I am trying to say here is that yes, Graphics are a nice bonus... but aren't nessicary for a good game. The story is, and that's all I have to say.

  13. #13
    "The Oldest Member Here" Xterria's Avatar
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    I put other--to me its the size
    Doom was a very popular game because of its graphics, gameplay, and its size. I'm not talking about how many Megabytes, I'm talking about how many files. It took two, yes, only two files to have a complete doom game with sound and graphics. One resource file, one exectuable. It was the life.

    OGAAA BOAGGAOGAOAGGAOAGO

  14. #14
    A Banana Yoshi's Avatar
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    (Gameplay = Story) > Graphics

    Without gameplay = no game
    Without story = no game (no "before")
    Graphics is not that important by some games.
    Yoshi

  15. #15
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    You dont have to have a story to have a fun game, A few years ago it was side scrolling shooters that were being made by the ton, now its first person shooters, i dont recally a story of any count behind half of them.

    Look at doom, probably the most important game that has come by in recent past, and it only had 3 pages of text for a story, one for each set of levels that you played through. If there wasnt any sort of story the game would have done just as well.

    When I started this I was wanting to try and decide why all the big gameing companys were more concerned with graphics than everything else. I still have fun playing nes roms, but everything i read is all concerned about the graphics that a game has. Im just trying to figure out where that drive is comeing from.

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