GameInformer

People still care about how fun games are. But its harder to discuss the fun factor of games than it is to talk about graphics.

I think gamers talk about graphics and sound effects because its one of the few things we can universally discuss and mostly agree on. Also, it allows us to be part of an elitist group and laugh at those unenlightened people who cannot comprehend what we're talking about.

Well, they may care about how fun games are,  but they staill do not have any clue what they're talking about when they tell anyone else that a game isn't fun, when someone else enjoys it. Fun is not necessarily high-end graphics and exploding heads. Sometimes, fun is enjoying yourself with a game that maybe is viewed as inferior. Not everything is going to be a AAA game. Nor should they be. But when someone tells you that a game sucks because it's not Bioshock or Halo does not make the game any less enjoyable.

In the end, I still have a lot of fun playing Mario, because it's just fun. It's graphics are dated and it's gameplay is old. But sometimes old things are still cool.  People say it's a kiddie game. But Kids have the most 'PURE' fun of anyone. Why not enjoy games the way they do?

luminaire you took the words out of my mouth. i think the issue isn't about presentation, it's about expectations. gamers feel entitled to modern warfare, bioshock, etc. regardless of the developer. too many no longer appreciate games that deviate from whatever conventional wisdom says is a successful game. frankly i feel bad for gamers today as they can't appreciate titles that are simply entertaining escapist fun, and worse for devs who have to cater to such whiners and in the process are forced to produce cookie cutter fare that doesn't benefit the industry or the community at large. there, now i'll get down from my soapbox.  ; )

I have always hated Tetris.

Well, then you're missing out on something special. Divorce yourself from your adult persona and try your best to enjoy something for the joy of it. Besides, there are great puzzle games out there that aren't graphically stunning that aren't tetris. Try Scribblenauts. Then type baby and dingo.

Oh, and here's another thing. Why are so many games focusing on a dystopian future lately? Why is it that game developers have this weird fetish for dead worls and post-apocalyptic landscapes? And if not dystopian, then why the action-hero/he-man motif?

So, we're complaining about people who complain? Just kidding... I also don't know if I would use the word fun to describe why I play. When I think "fun" I think "happy". Perhaps entertaining  is a better word, at least for me. Watching scary movies like Paranormal Activity (which I didn't think was that scary) or documentaries on conspiracy theories isn't necessarily fun, but can be entertaining. Same thing with certain video games. I do agree with you though, old things can be fun. Heck, I'm old...and I'm fun. Hah. Good post.

I would really like to see supposedly grown-up gamers, ( as a group, not individually), grow up and see what is really out there. We have fun with fun things. And the American gaming public is entirely too obsessed with the way games look, rather than how they play. True 'grown-ups' don't need the industry to tell them what is grown up. They can make that decision on their own. Bugs bunny and the like had adult humor without being supposedly 'real.' So why, if things like that are fun, are we discounting them for graphically superior but sometimes mindless fare? We should know better.

I'll explain it to you, its the exact same way you think right now.  Its noone's fault really, but people are assuming that entertainment is found in one aspect of a game, and everyone must like a game because of one aspect.  Just like you are defending the concept of the game, there are people that value graphics just as much and will defend that. For instance, some people find entertainment in:

-Length of game

-Number of weapons

-how invincible the character is

-the size and power of weapons/powers

-How good the game looks

-What is the story of the game

-Are there alot of cut scenes?

- Are there NO cutscenes?

- How hard is it to learn.

Some people even think that a fun game involved balance. I wish you wouldn't say that people shouldn't complain about certain aspects of the game, when in hindsight you will see that you are doing the same thing with 'concept' gameplay. Not everyone will value the same things, and everyone is entitled to an opinion.  If you take a look, games for the people that value graphics are being made for them, and games (such as N+) that use unique concepts are being made for gamers who value them.

  I apologize if it sounded like I was complaining about the graphics. It was not my intention. It's when others hold the graphics or sound over everything else. We need to accept games as whole products. Not as 'good graphics with bad gameplay.' Or 'Great soundtrack, but pedestrian visuals.' All these things must be considered together. There are so many games that are pretty, that get more credit than they deserve, becasue they are pretty. And it's a social problem. We accept supermodels flaws, because they have outward beauty. But those flaws are often dealbreakers when it's all tallied. Games are very similar. We need to take stock of the whole, MGS4 is a beautiful game, but I found myself caught away in the narrative and the gameplay. And the graphics weren't going to ruin that.

I like all kinds of games from the dark and serious to the whimsical and silly.

to be honest, i've always stressed gameplay over graphics. I am a proud owner of a Wii (i know, not many of us) and i love the simple and Pure fun i can have with some of my games. not all of them are "hardcore", but they can still be fun.

Although i do love the awesome visuals on my 360 and ps3, if the game sucks, i aint playing it. while my siblings or parents might say "that looks so real", i usually respond, "you should play it". i think alot of so-called gamers have lost sight of what games are supposed to be about, and thats fun. while its cool to have a deep narrative with true to life visuals and "grown-up" issues, its usually the gameplay and the amount of fun that makes a game stand out.

thats not to say that graphics and such arent important. they can definatley add to an experience, but thats not all thats there. someone mentioned tetris, and that game is still fun to this day.

@G. Callen. would you mind pointing me in the direction of your blog? ive been thinking about writing a paper on that subject for school. I'm still in my research phase and i'd really like to gather some opinions and such on the matter to see if i can go thru with the paper.