15-08-2004 01:43									#1
	Do graphics contribute to atmosphere in games? Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Decided there should be a poll base on an argument in another thread.

	15-08-2004 01:49									#2
	Tired of ads?

While graphics are not everything, I decided to vote "yes".

How graphics contribute to atmosphere is another matter.

IMHO graphics do not need to be stunning to create atmosphere. They just need to suit the style of the game. Grim Fandango is a good example of what I mean. The graphics in that game were good, but not incredible, but they matched exactly to the "feel" that the developers wanted to convey.

So yeah...to me graphics are part of the package.

Asmodean

	15-08-2004 01:59									#3
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

They can, but if a game is depending on its gfx to carry it...

	15-08-2004 02:04									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Graphics can contribute to the atmosphere when they are designed for that. It's particularly true of adventure games. However, I think that games that rely too much on graphics are shallow. There are other ways to have a good atmosphere, but they are harder (it's harder to have a good story, particularly an interactive one, than good graphics, for instance).

	15-08-2004 02:30									#5
	Put an end to popups!

Erm... everything that is part of a game contributes to the atmosphere of that game.

-Jam

	15-08-2004 02:35									#6
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Yeah, that's what I think, but Imran had said that graphics don't really matter in terms of atmosphere. And that was in terms of style, not detail.

	15-08-2004 02:46									#7
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Y'know what? Imran was wrong.

-Jam

	15-08-2004 03:09									#8
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

He usually is.

	15-08-2004 03:09									#9
	Suffering from ads?

Edit: Redundant post.


Edit again: I ruined your crummy joke.

Last edited by General Ludd on 15-08-2004 at 04:26

	15-08-2004 04:23									#10
	Increase Your PM Length

You can say that again

-Jam

	15-08-2004 04:26									#11
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Wow, that's probably the first unintention double post I've ever seen.

	15-08-2004 04:28									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

yes. 2 examples.

first of all Morrowind. Sometimes when I'm jumping off the top of staircases (which is encouraged by this idiotic skill system), I actually clinch my gut in anticipation of hitting the ground. I almost feel like I'm actually jumping!

And I felt the graphics in KOTOR were good enough to really immerse myself in the game. Although I've mentioned this before, but the voice acting is what really does it to me. I've had a hard time doing evil actions because I'm so into the game.

	15-08-2004 04:37									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Well, duh. Of course graphics contribute to atmosphere. Graphics provide all the scenery, etc. in a game!

	15-08-2004 05:02									#14
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Jamski Erm... everything that is part of a game contributes to the atmosphere of that game. -Jam

	15-08-2004 05:11									#15
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Edit again: I ruined your crummy joke.

Old != Crummy (Well, not ALWAYS )

quote: Wow, that's probably the first unintention double post I've ever seen.

Erm, I guess you need to read more threads. Its quite a common occurance on many forums, 'poly being no exception.

-Jam

	15-08-2004 08:08									#16
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Again, another yes.

The thing is of course that every games has a budget and if too much of that budget goes to 'atmospere'...you'll be left with a crappy game by deffinition.

	15-08-2004 08:20									#17
	Suffering from ads?

Being right is awesome.

	15-08-2004 08:59									#18
	Support Apolyton

Savor it, since you don't seem to get it as often as you'd like.

	15-08-2004 09:16									#19
	Full PM-box? Change here!

graphics do matter. i still use screenshots for my initial info about a new game. i can tell the most from a game by it's screenshots. much more so than lengthy descriptions or reading a review(maybe i'm just a visual person?). also different games have different importance on graphics. games which main strengths are gameplay don't need strong graphics rogue like games are perfectly playable in ascii text. good graphics never hurt any game though(barring framerate/etc issues).

	15-08-2004 09:17									#20
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Screenshots != graphics, exactly, though.

	15-08-2004 09:17									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Maybe.

You don't need good graphics or even graphics to have a great atmosphere, however. Some of the most atmospheric games are the old Infocom text-only adventure games.

No novels has any graphics at all.

The problem with having graphics in a game is a player is forced to go along with this particular interpretation. It leaves no room for imgination.

quote: first of all Morrowind. Sometimes when I'm jumping off the top of staircases (which is encouraged by this idiotic skill system), I actually clinch my gut in anticipation of hitting the ground. I almost feel like I'm actually jumping!

That's not atmosphere. That's realism.

	15-08-2004 09:51									#22
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: The problem with having graphics in a game is a player is forced to go along with this particular interpretation. It leaves no room for imgination.

OTOH, graphics allow for a much clearer atmosphere. Make-your-own-atmospher != better atmosphere, necessarily.

	15-08-2004 11:09									#23
	Support Apolyton

Get over to Eventis n00b

And I answered yes.

	15-08-2004 11:18									#24
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

im the guy that wouldnt care less with UT2k4 character sprite was just a big blob or targettable hitzones.. and game had no enviornment except bland colored tile that makes up walls.

and even i know the answer to this question.... yes!

	15-08-2004 15:30									#25
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker quote: The problem with having graphics in a game is a player is forced to go along with this particular interpretation. It leaves no room for imgination. OTOH, graphics allow for a much clearer atmosphere. Make-your-own-atmospher != better atmosphere, necessarily.

The imagery I can conjure up in my mind has way higher resolution than anything they can put on a screen.

	15-08-2004 15:47									#26
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Be that as it may, the graphics they provide help convey the atmosphere they are trying to provide which is what the original question was.

	15-08-2004 19:20									#27
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger The imagery I can conjure up in my mind has way higher resolution than anything they can put on a screen.

Well aren't you special

Seriously, though, there's only so much atmosphere you can convey through text - it's all well and good to say that the user invents his own atmosphere, but graphics allow the designer to convey it better.

	15-08-2004 21:52									#28
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: You don't need good graphics or even graphics to have a great atmosphere, however. Some of the most atmospheric games are the old Infocom text-only adventure games. No novels has any graphics at all.

Bingo! Thanks UR. Being right to awesome .

It's hard to say that graphics matter for atmosphere and then look at the wonderful atmosphere in those old text adventure games (ZORK!) and try to explain that.

Games with bad graphics can have great atmosphere (Fallout), while games with amazing graphics can have crappy atmosphere (pick one).

	15-08-2004 21:56									#29
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

That's because they're two different scales. If you have the most beautiful rendering engine in the world, creating stunning vistas, but they don't mesh with the story, it won't do anything. However, if it does mesh with the story the good graphics magnify the effect.

	16-08-2004 02:04									#30
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

fallout had bad graphics? news to me.