How much longer until graphics stop getting noticeably better

[DeadlyYellow]

I must have missed the memo stating graphics were important. I honestly don't see the deal with it. As long as the gameplay is good, why condemn a game for lower graphical quality?

Also Dexter111,as nice as that presentation was you lost interest at the wall example. You don't need 5000 tris to accomplish that level of detail.

 

[Mochan]

I laugh at people who think graphics development is hitting a point where it can't get better. We're a LONG way off from that point.

The best in-game engines can't even look like the best pre-animated FMVs of yesterday yet. It will be many years before improvements in graphics no longer matter.

 

[shaboinkin]

I must have missed the memo stating graphics were important. I honestly don't see the deal with it. As long as the gameplay is good, why condemn a game for lower graphical quality?

Also Dexter111,as nice as that presentation was you lost interest at the wall example. You don't need 5000 tris to accomplish that level of detail.

im not saying graphics are important. hell, i like the way tfc looks over tf2 anyday.
You cannot deny the fact that as time goes on, graphics get better. All im saying is when will it stop getting better

 

[DeadlyYellow]

You cannot deny the fact that as time goes on, graphics get better. All im saying is when will it stop getting better

Cop-out answer is photorealism. Personally an era I never want to live through. If games get photo realistic, then many many things will come into question. How safe can we be if a simulated world is as realistic as the real world? How will we be able to tell if we've crossed that border?

It also brings up some questions of moral use. Think of the Matrix paradox.

 

[ShyWinter]

I don't think of graphics as THE most important part of a game, but if I'm gonna shell out the money for a spanking new console or game it better play well AND look good. I don't think true photo-realism will ever be achieved, there will always be something in the game that stands out as fake, but that won't stop developers from trying. Then again, everyone used to think home computers were totally unnecessary, so I'm hopefully wrong.

 

[stompy]

Hey, at least ray-tracing doesn't have excessive bloom... but it looks awesome.

As for the graphics peak, I say that VR will kill the graphics race, though I may be wrong.

 

[Graustein]

I think the key word here is "noticably". Unless you literally glue your eyeballs to the screen, you probably won't see anything jaw-dropping after a while.
Graphics will still get better, but I think it's going to be much more gradual than it is now, to the point where we won't notice it that much. Until we look at a game made 10 years in the past (that is, assuming this plataeu I speak of occurs at 2020 (to use an arbitrarily chosen number), comparing 2025 graphics to 2035 graphics), we won't see any noticable change. Maybe then they'll start focusing on what they actually draw and the gameplay behind it. Pretty is pretty, but using the best paints does not the Mona Lisa make.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

I think when this time comes, people would stop caring about graphics in games are start caring about what they are actually playing

Why do people say this? Is there something wrong with having graphics in a game? Graphics help with immersion, obviously gameplay is important but we don't make these things just to "look pretty".

 

[Drugar]

I think when this time comes, people would stop caring about graphics in games are start caring about what they are actually playing

Why do people say this? Is there something wrong with having graphics in a game? Graphics help with immersion, obviously gameplay is important but we don't make these things just to "look pretty".

Because games like Crysis have exactly the same amount of immersion with 20% less time invested in graphics, but probably much better gameplay if that time's invested there.
At some point, graphics will be good enough to not make improvements matter a whole lot, and development time can be spent on gameplay and other stuff.
I love good graphics, but I'll gladly take graphics from 2 years ago if it makes the game work better.

 

[monostable]

do you mention halo in every post you make?

well his picture is one of master chief, what did you expect?

 

[OnlyWonderBoy]

I'd say once we reach the Uncanny Valley we're screwed.

 

[shatnershaman]

do you mention halo in every post you make?

well his picture is one of master chief, what did you expect?

Yea exactly I'm just a stereotype GOD!

 

[Aries_Split]

Halo=Overrated, Nuff said.Okay, thread hijack over.

Personally, I hope graphics don't get any better.I can't afford to keep buying a new freaking graphics card every year...

 

[Rack]

When the Xbox and Gamecube came out there were a few heavily stylised games, such as FFIX and Rollcage that looked fine, pretty much everything else was an eyesore. When the PS3 came out most of the better looking games were fine, Ninja Gaiden Sigma was more or less acceptible as a PS3 game. When the PS4 comes out it will just be open ended games that see a real improvement, everythind else will just be shored up to the level of PC ports of current games. After that there will continue to be improvements but a new system every 5 years will be a tough sell, already Nintendo are getting away with repackaging last gen technology. Even Crysis has a long way to go in terms of model complexity, physics and lighting but it's at the point that you can't immediately tell it isn't real from certain screenshots.

 

[AronaX]

It is very depressing when they start uping the graphics in games because not everyone can afford to upgrade their systems EVERY time they do. I understand that they want to enhance the experience you get from the game but they also have to keep in mind that a large portion of the gaming community are budget gamers.

BLEH

That being said I'm going to go see if I can build some custom cooling for my graphics card and overclock it to its peak to play some Crysis.

 

[BBLIZZARD]

i think eventually graphics will become lifelike, which they don't need to be. I think graphics are fine where they are

 

[mwhite67]

I want to be in the matrix. I want to be able to smell and feel the game as well as see and hear it

 

[scoHish]

Im thinkin around the time Madden 03 (thats 3003 mind you) comes out, people will stop liking how the actual world looks and resort to becoming hermits...