Visuals in gaming are everything?

[HaloHappy]

It seems that nowadays a game that looks like you're actually there is more important to say one that actually plays good. Am I the only one who thinks this? I've seen several games in the past year that look visually stunning, yet have so many flaws that the graphics feel like a massive band-aid to cover it up. Now I'm not going to list any of these, I'll just let you guess as to what I'm thinking of. Why is it that designers spend so much time on graphics, when they could be making smart and less frustrating game mechanics?

Edit: OK, I'm going to list a few with reasons why, please don't give me hate for it.
Call of Duty:Modern Warfare2 - A magnificent game, has awesome graphics, but the story feels short, and it gives us a cliffhanger on top of Mt. Everest at the end, which are two things I find a bit obnoxious.
Uncharted 2 - Another beautiful game, yet I was severely annoyed with it's multiplayer, and am I the only one who now has a great hatred for any and all walls now?
Those are two of the games on my list, others consist of several hyped up games that I nearly snapped a controller over.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Please tell me what these games are. Because the only games I can think of that have spectacular graphics are mainstream titles, and most of those are perfectly fine when it comes to game play. I honestly can't think of many games in which I truly believe the developers valued graphics over game play.

EDIT: I still don't see where you got the idea that those game developers valued graphics over game play. Well actually, I can understand why you would say that about Uncharted 2. I believe the developers wanted to give that game a cinematic experience, meaning they did focus a lot on the graphics. but that doesn't mean the game play suffered as a result. And you claiming that Infinity Ward valued the visuals of Modern Warfare 2 over the game play doesn't make much sense. All the teasers I have seen for the game focus on the game play rather than the graphics, suggesting that Infinity Ward designed the game play to be the selling point.

 

[HaloHappy]

Please tell me what these games are. Because the only games I can think of that have spectacular graphics are mainstream titles, and most of those are perfectly fine when it comes to game play. I honestly can't think of many games in which I truly believe the developers valued graphics over game play.

OK, I shall give a list. Just hope I don't get bashed for it

 

[101194]

No, God NO! Graphics should only contribute to the story development and the game play, That's it.

 

[Gxas]

Now I'm not going to list any of these, I'll just let you guess as to what I'm thinking of.

No. Your point is invalid unless you provide us with the names of the games you are talking about.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Please tell me what these games are. Because the only games I can think of that have spectacular graphics are mainstream titles, and most of those are perfectly fine when it comes to game play. I honestly can't think of many games in which I truly believe the developers valued graphics over game play.

This...I don't know where this idea comes from that developers have clearly worked on just the visuals and not the gameplay. I mean, if the gameplay sucks, so do the graphics...at least in my experience.

 

[quack35]

Uhh... not really.

I don't know what kind of developer would put graphics over a game actually being fun.

 

[HaloHappy]

Now I'm not going to list any of these, I'll just let you guess as to what I'm thinking of.

No. Your point is invalid unless you provide us with the names of the games you are talking about.

OK, I made a short list, I hope you find it good enough to answer your question

 

[Valiance]

Now I'm not going to list any of these, I'll just let you guess as to what I'm thinking of.

No. Your point is invalid unless you provide us with the names of the games you are talking about.

OK, I made a short list, I hope you find it good enough to answer your question

Cool wanna show us it?

Oh wait, that's the edit to the OP?

...really?

 

[Mr.Pandah]

How does that constitute that visuals in gaming are everything? I hate to be mean about this...but you really didn't put much thought into this one, did you?

Look, you have one gripe for the two games you posted. A cliffhanger? If thats the only downside, sign me up. I pay 60 bucks for games that I wouldn't even want to see the ending to.

Uncharted 2, really? You have something bad to say about that game? And its being stuck to walls in multiplayer? Hit Circle. Please.

 

[Nechti_Visara]

The first game I thought of for this would be Baten Kaitos. The visuals are amazing, the music is beautiful, and the gameplay was fun and innovative (until KH COM came out), but the storyline didn't make any sense, the characters were horrible (except one), and the voice acting was the worst I've ever heard in my life. And I've watched 4Kids One Piece. (Again, except one VA.)

But, I still love the game, despite the fact that I usually play games for the story. It's just so beautiful.

Graphics are not everything. As a matter of fact, most of the time graphics take away from the story and gameplay, simply because of the huge amount of time that goes into making them as flawless as possible -- time that could have been given to the other two, more important areas.

But, if the gameplay is good, and the graphics are good, the storyline can really take a backseat. It just depends on the game.

But yeah. Developers seem to be putting more time into visuals than anything else, and it really takes away from the fun of the game. There have been some notable exceptions (Shadow of the Colossus, Dragon Age Origins), but story elements seem to have been shoved to the side in order to compare graphics engine sizes.

 

[The_Echo]

Don't worry. Eventually they won't be able to one-up each other visually, and will have to compete with stories.

Patience, young one.