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How much of your gaming enjoyment comes from graphical fidelity?

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The video game I still play the most to this day is DOOM.

Gameplay is #1, good art/aesthetic is #2. Visual bells and whistles are nice but get the gameplay right and make sure the artwork/visual style is good and I'll love it.
 
I think the reason people with a preference prefer PC gaming is because of graphics. If they aren't really important to someone they might as well play on console where the games are (generally) better optimized.
 
3DVagabond said:
I think the reason people with a preference prefer PC gaming is because of graphics. If they aren't really important to someone they might as well play on console where the games are (generally) better optimized.
Click to expand...
And mods...
and games with an active community for more than 2 years...
and 20+ years worth of games on one system...

Any further?
 
Zodiark1593 said:
And mods...
and games with an active community for more than 2 years...
and 20+ years worth of games on one system...

Any further?
Click to expand...

Many of the mods are to improve graphics/IQ. Although, I agree with modding being a major reason for PC over console.

I used to do a lot of modding. I've done text modding to improve gameplay as well as texture modding and 3D modeling too.
 
3DVagabond said:
I think the reason people with a preference prefer PC gaming is because of graphics. If they aren't really important to someone they might as well play on console where the games are (generally) better optimized.
Click to expand...

No, there are other reasons.

People may prefer mouse and keyboard controls over gamepads, especially for shooter games.

They may enjoy strategy, MMORPG, or MOBA games, which are practically non-existent on consoles.

They may already have a decent PC and don't see a point in spending extra on a console.

They may like Steam and other services which often have discounts on games.

They may like classic games which aren't available on current consoles.

They may like using mods for games.

Plenty of reasons people could prefer to play on PC other than "the graphics are better".
 
Red Hawk said:
No, there are other reasons.

People may prefer mouse and keyboard controls over gamepads, especially for shooter games.

They may enjoy strategy, MMORPG, or MOBA games, which are practically non-existent on consoles.

They may already have a decent PC and don't see a point in spending extra on a console.

They may like Steam and other services which often have discounts on games.

They may like classic games which aren't available on current consoles.

They may like using mods for games.

Plenty of reasons people could prefer to play on PC other than "the graphics are better".
Click to expand...

This is a nice summary. Another one would be load times. SSDs aren't found on modern consoles yet, but they could really stand to get them. Some of the graphically intense games have ridiculous load times on consoles.

If a game has a powerful visual element I like to be able to run it well, but it's not even close to the only reason I game (primarily) on PC. As an example, I thoroughly enjoy the Ys games but even relatively modern IGPs run them very well. Except for Celceta, most of them will run on PC one way or another.
 
I like a good mix of quality and performance from my games.I don't mind engines like UE3 still being used as i know performance would be fine usually.Maybe a good reason why games like CS:GO are popular.

Games like Titanfall and COD AW are examples of fun games that are a absolute pig on requirements.CS:GO can run on HD3000 just fine but a gtx650 blows in Titanfall @768p as where in CS:GO without msaa it can easily do 60+ fps at 1080p maxed.

Games like Crysis 3 make me want to upgrade🙂 Very beautiful but damn tasking on even a i5 2500.
 
IGemini said:
This is a nice summary. Another one would be load times. SSDs aren't found on modern consoles yet, but they could really stand to get them. Some of the graphically intense games have ridiculous load times on consoles.

If a game has a powerful visual element I like to be able to run it well, but it's not even close to the only reason I game (primarily) on PC. As an example, I thoroughly enjoy the Ys games but even relatively modern IGPs run them very well. Except for Celceta, most of them will run on PC one way or another.
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Consoles aren't sold with SSDs standard, but you can replace their HDDs and upgrade to SSDs to get better load times even on consoles.
 
Red Hawk said:
Consoles aren't sold with SSDs standard, but you can replace their HDDs and upgrade to SSDs to get better load times even on consoles.
Click to expand...

I know one can for PS4. But for XB1 I understand this involves disassembling the console, which voids the warranty.
 
flopper said:
Battlefront, best visuals and audio in a game.
gameplay sucks.

Fallout 4
visuals are like 1980 and totally crap engine.
sound ok,
gameplay is great.

Gameplay comes first.
if that sucks you cant wrap up a turd in gloss and call it good and smelly.

dragon age inq
superb visuals, audio and gameplay.
really enjoyable.
only game I played that allows one to actually enjoy the visuals with the gameplay.
Click to expand...

You should try out witcher 3 sometime.
 
Well, I am going to have to alter my stance a little after playing Star Wars Battlefront. Great graphics, but terrible game play imho. So, while graphics are important to me, putting lip stick on a pig doesn't make things better.
 
Arachnotronic said:
The video game I still play the most to this day is DOOM.

Gameplay is #1, good art/aesthetic is #2. Visual bells and whistles are nice but get the gameplay right and make sure the artwork/visual style is good and I'll love it.
Click to expand...
Doom had good sound and music (with a proper sound card), that made the game-play half as enjoyable, imo.

IDKFA, IDDQD. Let's play.
 
Graphical fidelity matters insofar as it enhances game immersion. I don't look at graphics just to go "wow isn't that pretty!" but in order to not be distracted by how stupid, unrealistic or unfitting things look. Baldur's Gate II had immersive graphics. They weren't all that pretty, but they still made the world come to life.

Just recently started a Witcher 3 replay with VSR 1440p downscaled to 1080p. I have to say I feel a bit more immersed in the world due to VSR - it removes virtually all of that distracting pixel flickering from trees and vegetation, and from Geralt's armor.
 
Graphics used to play a big part of the enjoyment of a game, but ever since the Xbox 360 generation of titles, gameplay generally plays a much bigger part. Graphics have been good enough for a while now.
 
I must comment that graphics get lots of attention regarding immersion, but I find that a great deal of my immersion comes from good sound design. Star Wars Battlefront has great graphics but it has equally if not greater sound design. The impressiveness of the sound in that game with headphones on is amazing and really adds to it. Doom 3 always has a special place in my heart for its 5.1 surround implementation which added a ton of ambiance to an already very environmental game
 
4K_shmoorK said:
Can a game have potato visuals and still be considered 'good' or even 'great' in this modern age?
Click to expand...

Absolutely.
I just played the hell out of ADOM last month and it was an awesome ride. ADOM is a roguelike that started as ASCII game but recently got graphics tile. I still often play it in ASCII mode since it actually makes the tactical decision easier.

4K_shmoorK said:
Is there a cut-off for what is and isn't considered acceptable in terms of graphics anymore?

If the answer is yes, does that also apply to indie/small developers who can't afford to drop big $$$ into an engine/assets?
Click to expand...

Nope. Look at how many people are playing minecraft. Or how critics and players alike are loving games like Darkest Dungeon, Papers Please and Terraria.
Gameplay is still king.
 
turn_pike said:
Nope. Look at how many people are playing minecraft. Or how critics and players alike are loving games like Darkest Dungeon, Papers Please and Terraria.
Gameplay is still king.
Click to expand...
Depends on game or genre. If game doesnt have you in intense concentration most of the time, and where you are free to look around and explore, graphics are paramount imo. If it has you intensely focused on what you're doing (esp RTS games), graphics may be less important.
 
Judging by the general consensus, graphics certainly plays a role in enjoyment, but is only one piece of the puzzle, like sound, gameplay, design, etc.

Basically, the thing we should already have known to begin with.

Me personally, AA and resolution over little extra graphic pretties. Blocky edges stand out especially badly in old or emulated titles.
 
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