Graphics are important as long it makes sure the game runs smooth in the first place.

For example: Haze had bad graphics for the console it was released but at least it runs smooth unlike some other good looking games on the platform like Heavenly Sword (and because of that this 1 suffered).

I give credit to a game if its graphically good.

But i was never big on graphics

-GAMEPLAY FTW-

simply put i cant play games with bad graphics cause i like to move forward in gaming in all aspects graphics, game play, and physics.

I called this months ago.
We are going to start seeing a lot of graphics and exclusives don't matter articles and they are slowly starting to come in. Wonder why that is...... /s

IGN are among the biggest hypocrites in the media today. They themselves are as much to blame as most other sites comparing graphics between games (exclusives and multiplats). Noww let's write articles about their importance to gaming.

The gaming media has become completely irrelevant. Nothing but hypocrisy and contradictions. These garbage sites just write what ever it takes to get hits and hardly any of it is worth reading.

Does anyone see the gaming media as a valued source of information any more?
All I see is a gaper delay.
For those that are not familiar with the term gaper delay it means "those that are the cause of a traffic jam by rubbernecking drivers slowing down to take a look at an accident or other incident of disturbance, on their road or the road next to them." That is what the media is today. Just one big horrible accident that you just can't help but stare at no matter how horrid the site of it is.

Well here is the thing. I'm personally not much of a graphics person but than again I do not want a game I pay $60 for to look like crap either no matter how good the game actually is because it's just bothersome to have to constantly look at it. But recently games that are coming out have good graphics so there is no problem with that.

Amazing graphics are nice and all, but they aren't necessary for a game to good. Would Super Meat Boy have been better if it was running on CryEngine 3. Would Uncharted be less enjoyable if it wasn't as good looking?

No.

I care about graphics - like women, they have to look good (not 10/10) but a lot of other things go into whether she's GF material.

Good graphics are necessary but not sufficient pretty much.

I Do. Good Night!

*raises hand*

Me.

every1 loves god of war
uncharted
etc

I was one to quickly say I didn't care years ago, but the truth is, it matters. Whether you care about it or not is a personal subject between no one but you.

Graphics pull you in.

Gameplay makes you stay.

NOT THE 360 FANBOYS

Just the usual 'fox and the grapes syndrome' you don't have something so you pretend or convince yourself that you don't want or need it.Your game is not up to standards or is sub par in the graphics department so you cling to whatever is left. This is one of the main reasons people jump all over UC2 and GOW3 and try desperately to compare them to every game imaginable. Castlevania, Alan Wake and Enslaved for UC2, Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Castlevaina, Darksiders for GOW3.

It's gotten so bad that that some people actually deluded themselves into thinking that Conduit looked as good as modern day shooters like Gears and KZ. Graphics are not the MOST important aspect of a game but think of how GOW and KZ would look with out it's lighting and special effects to immerse you into the world. I know I will get a million disagrees for writing all of this but stop using every excuse in the book to try and convince yourselves that graphics don't matter because you own a system that can't raise or reach the bar set for graphics.It's stupid articles like this which are one of the reasons why I don't listen to IGN.

Technology drives graphics.

If we no longer care about graphics, why bother creating new hardware?

Awesome Graphics are awesome...I personally find great visuals help certain types of games (such as Uncharted) a lot...it improves the experience

I care...graphics can truly add to a game but not define it. I am playing God of War collection now and its incredible although the graphics are somewhat outdated.
However I would not play the PS2 version of those games since they would look horrible on an HDTV.

In order for graphics not to matter it'd have to be one HELL OF A GAME. Besides, most good games have great graphics anyway, or at the very least good.

I can't think of a whole lot of good games with GODAWFUL graphics All the GTAs looked fine BTW.

When graphics reach greater than CGi from what we have seen in avatar and other films that is when graphics should not matter.

Wii owners do because they have never had a console with HD graphics.

I do care. Those games with sh*t graphics make me angry and quit.

Even if Uncharted 2 has sub-par graphics, the gameplay would still be the same. It just wouldn't feel the same if the game is an eyesore.

So yes graphics are important, but the gameplay is still the reason why I bought UC2 in the first place, even though it has amazing visuals.

The masses doesn't care for graphics. They care for fun and accessibility. The Wii killing the competition in sells (over 84 million sold) this gen is evidence of that. It is mostly nerdcore gamers, such as the ones who post on internet forums, who care about "OMGZ GraphX".

I personally care more about fun factor and creative design more than anything else. That's why games such as Mario Galaxy, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and Smash Bros remains as one of my most favorite games of all time.

All art/entertainment is about providing a human being (or a cleverly disguised alien) with an experience, therefore all aspects of a work of art are relevant only in relation to the experience the work is trying to provide ... or something.

When I dim the lights, lie on my couch with a bottle of wine and turn on a movie, nine times out of ten I'm looking for something with a good story that will change me as a person. When I drop my pants around my ankles. prop up a box of tissues next to me, hunch over my computer monitor like a mad scientist's helper and open my secret hidden folder, I'm never looking for something with a deep and engaging story.

It's the same with games. Graphics are important to a game like Killzone 3 which is all about bombarding you with immediate thrills and 'whoa I can't believe what I'm seeing' moments but less important in games like the Civilization series or World of goo ... which incidentally is also the name of one of the movies in my secret folder.

Graphics do matter. Any one who has ever played a game like pac man at an arcade and then played it on the atari 2600 will tell you the more enjoyable experience was the arcade version. Why, because the graphics were that much better. Both had the exact same gameplay. At least thats what my experiences were from growing up as a kid way back when.

Ah, yes, that's right: new year also means the rolodex of discussion topics turns over. Next week, we can talk about whether a six-hour game is too short or not.

I do

God IGN has been writing shit articles lately.

As for who cares about graphics anymore? Well, apparently everybody in the gaming media until the PlayStation 3 summarily began beating the Xbox 360 in the graphics department, ESPECIALLY in the exclusives area.

Why, if I remember correctly, just a few short years ago, IGN themselves would deduct points from the PlayStation 3 version of most multi-platform titles if it dared to have a few pixels short of the 360 version.

As a visual medium, the gaming industry's biggest draw were its graphics.

Game play is paramount, but Graphics are an equally important part of the total package.

It's like trying to decide if sound, or picture is more important in film, or the melody or lyrics in music, or the plot or characters in a book.

They are ALL integral to the total package.

As a gamer of 31 years old, I've seen the gaming industry grow in many ways, from the size of the market, to the quality of the technology. Thinking back on the games I used to play when I was a boy, and the games I play now, I'm absolutely AMAZED.

Graphics are vital to conveying the message of your game. They don't have to be state of the art as long as player's are accurately getting the tone/theme of your game. Silent Hill wouldn't be Silent Hill if the game was bright and sunny, with rainbows everywhere. Silent Hill COULD be made scary with pixel graphics, but it's distinct 3D, high detail feel help sell you the terrifying circumstances that the protagonists find themselves in.

Graphics and Game Play are like a marriage. Both are equally important, and compromises will always be required.

Most of the mainstream gaming populace cares about graphics. About as much as they care about the big blockbuster movies. I don't see epic drama's grossing $600 million worldwide, and yet Michael Bay's Transformers films, a visual movie, grosses that no sweat.

The best-selling games this generation have often had the most impressive graphics.

If mainstream gamers DIDN'T care about graphics, then quality Wii games like De Blob and Zack and Wiki would have sold WAAAAY MORE than they did.

We all like to pretend that visuals don't matter, but the moment a new Lens of Truth or Digital Foundry comparison pops up, we're all over them (well, I don't pay attention to either, but reading the epic meltdowns in the comments section are great).

Answer; EVERYONE

it is time for new consoles, they are showing their age, especially xbox360, but all truely, 720p is becoming obsolete in all other tech realms (i.e. laptops, monitors, tv's, projectors, dvd and blura-y media, vudu hd streaming) these thingss are all 1080p, yet every console game that is not some stupid flash game that should be free is 720p or worse.

Not to mention the jaggies everywhere, the horrible framerates, the games are choking and crippling the consoles to a point where they barely run playable.

That why I love those, "are the consoles maxed yet?" articles, fuck yes they are.

720p @ 28 frames per second is Beyond maxed, it is destroying the machine.

If uncharted 2 looked like crackdown 2, no one would be talking about it right now.

Ohhhhhh PC, you are my only hope!

True. Thats why everyone loves Pong graphics still. I mean its the best!!!

I never did.

1. Super Mario Bro's
2. Galaga
3. Pacman
4. Donkey Kong
5. Double Dragon
6. The legend of Zelda
7. Alundra
8. Suikoden
9. Ico
10. Shadow Of The Colossus

Those are my top 10 favorite games of all time. They are timeless and so perfect they don't need anyone speaking out about their greatness.

i care about graphics and gameplay. i was 6 when the nes launched in the u.s., and i don't want to go back. i am not into retro games because i played all the retro games back when the retro games were,,,,,,,,new. i like positive progression in games.

It matters as much as the gameplay.

Why does everything have to be so black and white? Sure graphics and horsepower matter. But to the core of what video gaming is, state of the art graphics aren't necessary so much as they are an enhancement. Everyone cares about graphics. But we all care to different extents.

People who drop hundreds of dollars for the newest cards or consoles....? Maybe, I don't know....

I think it does matter to a certain point, but fun factor, game play and most importantly an engaging story far out weight the graphics. But the fact is, graphics do give out better 1st impression -> better potential sell. I mean that all we can judge on until we get to play it.

Which is more tolerable?
1. A game w/ best graphic but lack in gameplay and story?
2. A game w/ great gameplay and story but poor in graphics?

Graphics are adding to game +2, but gameplay is the most factor.. For me decent graphics are PS2's, Xbox, gamecube, Wii.. graphics for these days are driving people crazy, many of them are playing games only for it,yes..with lower tech you can't make a lot of enemies on screen or maybe you can (look at Ps2's & xbox's BLACK)..they can make it with software if they aren't lazy like a lot of devs now..
..if we are talking about remakes, I like them too, especially from PS1, because I can't stand PS1's most games graphics..some games on Sega & SNES look a lot of better that PSx's.. true :) I am not a big graphics fan, but if game has superb graphics and no good gameplay, I got bored in about 10 minutes of it..

I do mostly nowdays.

LOL
Console players start to ask "Who cares about graphics anyway?" when they realize that their hardware is ancient piece of shit :D
Resolution is coming down each year, from 1080p to 720p to 640p...
just to keep playable framerate.

i do

Fanboys and first gen noobs. They talk about the importance of graphics while talking about inferior consoles with 7 year old tech in them.

It would be like someone talking about how important speed is in a car then they show up in a Pinto.

IGN is just nit picking at the ps3. its become to awesome and they don't like it massacring the 360.

graphics are great and all, but when people put it before gameplay, then its annoying.

games like mega man 9 & 10 get passed up because of they way they look. some people think super mario galaxy looks like crap. but yet they want it for the ps360. thats crazy.

but people have been saying this since the 90's, X game looks better on the Sega Gen, than Super Nintendo

so now graphics arent important?few years ago they were sucking gears off because of graphics.ign needs to cut out all this flip flop crap.

I do.