Do Graphics Matter?
It's 2015 and graphics are better than ever, but do players actually care? The short answer is yes, they do. A recent study showed that 48% of gamers said that graphics, among a few other things, was the most important factor in their buying decisions (link to study).
But there's more to it than that.
With the rise of indie games such as Minecraft and 2D pixel art games, we're learning that success can be found in the gaming industry even without top-notch graphics. However, the fact that people are willing to buy games without AAA quality graphics, doesn't necessarily show that they don't care about graphics. They still want something that is visually intriguing and engaging.
Art Style
When I think of video games with unique art styles, one of the first ones that comes to mind is Wind Waker.
Just look at the joy on Link's face.
Anyone who has played Wind Waker knows exactly what I'm talking about. The Zelda franchise took a sharp turn in graphics quality and chose to do something unique. This wasn't necessarily met with open arms. The producer of Zelda, Eiji Aonuma, even said that the negative reception made them consider different approaches for future titles.
If you decide to make a game with a unique art style, there will be a large portion of players that do not like it, and that should definitely influence your decision as a business. However, it's not all you should consider.
In my opinion, the art style used in Wind Waker has made the game age extremely well. With the recent HD remake on the Wii U and already available HD versions on PC emulators, Wind Waker is still relevant, still fun, and still beautiful. I think the art style was a good choice. And perhaps the reception to it would have been more favorable today with unique art styles being more common in games.
Nevertheless, now days there are many gamers who still want a game to catch their eye, even if that doesn't mean it has top notch realistic graphics. Choosing a unique art style can be a great way to do this.
Visually Engaging
You can't get away with just having a unique art style, you also need a game that is visually engaging. Players want to be captivated by your games visuals and immersed into the world. It doesn't matter if it's a 2D pixel art game, or a block game like Minecraft, they want a cohesive art style and visuals that engage them.
Pull up a chair and watch the sunset in all it's blocky goodness.
Players want visuals that are going to catch their eye and pull them into game environment, not distract them. How can your art style or visuals immerse the player and help them further delve into the game or story you are trying to tell? These are the questions you want to answer when deciding on your visual direction.
Gameplay Still Matters
I've heard it said that players come for the graphics and stay for the gameplay. If the graphics is your menu, then the gameplay is the entree. A game can look absolutely tremendous and yet be very shallow when it comes to content and gameplay, leaving a less than desirable experience. I don't think games should ever abandon their focus on gameplay to putting all their attention on graphics. A healthy balance is what is really required. If you are a game maker, your visuals are a large part of your game. It's part of the way you tell your story and present your art. However, the gameplay and content of your game is equally important.
So while graphics do still matter, developers have more freedom than ever to explore various art styles and create games that are visually engaging, pulling the player into a world that is rich with content and gameplay.
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