How Amazing, How Realistic, How Boring…
Wow check out the graphics! So real. Look at the detail on that rock. Check out the car physics, handles like the real thing.
I’m doing 200mph but why does it feel like I’m only doing 50? Anyway at least I’m driving a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640… Virtually I mean.
Okay my question of the day is:
Does realism make games better?
As technology got more and more advanced, gaming environments have got more and more realistic. Naturally this was expected. Since the early days of gaming we’ve always longed for better visuals. At that time a lot was left to the imagination. Now it seems, imagination has been replaced with realism.
Inevitable but unfortunate.
This transition has effectively stripped all creativity out of the industry. We now get games that look pretty but play like a dead horse.
Who’s to blame for that? We are, cos we keep buying that shit.
We waste truckloads of money on sub-par, half-arsed titles that insult our love for games everyday. We’re encouraging this.
To be brutally honest, I’d rather have great gameplay over great graphics any day. Even bad graphics can work.
I actually liked it when things were left to our imaginations.
One example. The Monkey Island games looked much better when they were pixelated. I actually perceived each character in my own way. Different to how others perceived them. It was personal. When the MI games moved into 3D, they lost half of their character. Suddenly the characters I knew and loved are now strangers. Still love them though. Actually this is bad example really because even with the 3D graphics, the artwork is not realistic, it’s highly stylised so I’ve got nothing to criticise. Just making a point though.
Realistic graphics can work too. Like in the Gran Turismo series. Other realistic racers though? Yawn…
Hats off to games like Team Fortress, Mario Kart, Limbo, Street Fighter, Brutal Legend for choosing creativity over realism.
For me, gaming is about escapism. If there’s realism it has to be fun as well, otherwise I’d rather just step outta my front door and go for walk instead.
Thoughts?
Jimmy Cash
