What makes a good game?

[Guernsey]

I wonder what makes a video game good, we all talk about games like Mega Man or Final Fantasy but what makes them good games to play?
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Guernsey Adams Pierre

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[Sai-kun]

(I think this should go in Anime+Games..but..

First off, this is my opinion. >____>

GAMEPLAY. GRAPHICS DO NOT ****ING MAKE OR BREAK A GAME. THEY HELP IT. NO JOKE. Look at Mario. Not the best grphics. Nowhere near. yet it provides one of the most unique gameplay experiences ever. >_> Take also: Katamari: Definately not the best graphics (On purpose, it seems) but one of the most addictive and fun games ever.

Yeah. gameplay > graphics.

Feel free to disagree, but you won't change my opinion. n.n
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all i ever wanted was the world

[Sketch]

Well, for starters, I think you could have given us your opinion Guernsey.

Secondly, I agree completly with Sai. Graphics are not the most important part of a game. I don't know how many arguements I've had with my friend's over the subject.

I also think innovation is important. That's why I love Nintendo, what with the DS and now the Revolution, they're changing the way we play games, and everyone is like "Nintendo is going to fail" or "Nintendo's going to stop making games" just because they're trying to be different. It sickens me that everyone thinks games have to be exactly the same time after time.
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[Sketch]

Well, for starters, I think you could have given us your opinion Guernsey.

Secondly, I agree completly with Sai. Graphics are not the most important part of a game. I don't know how many arguements I've had with my friend's over the subject.

I also think innovation is important. That's why I love Nintendo, what with the DS and now the Revolution, they're changing the way we play games, and everyone is like "Nintendo is going to fail" or "Nintendo's going to stop making games" just because they're trying to be different. It sickens me that everyone thinks games have to be exactly the same time after time.
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[XHunter17]

hmm the number 1 thing a game needs that is importent is

Gameplay which most of you have already said.

the second only makes the game better if the gameplay is good.. and the second one would be

Story Line

then if you already have Great Gameplay when you add in stuff like better Graphics and unlockables..

but still what makes a game good is the gameplay.
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[HeatShadow]

But I thought people liked GTA and first-person shooter clones?

All jokes aside, it's doubtlessly gameplay that makes or breaks a game. The graphics could look like crap, but as long as you're having fun with it, it wouldn't really matter.

And in terms of innovation, you really have to keep that in balance with existing ideas. Innovation has to be an evolution, utilizing current concepts while adding the new ideas to the mix. The DS's stylus is a perfect example of that. Early on, companies were making games that used nothing but the stylus, making for rather awkward and unsuccessful games. More recent titles use both regular buttons and touch control together, and those are the games that are really taking off.
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[Guernsey]

My idea of a good game is balance between graphics and gameplay.
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Guernsey Adams Pierre

Want video game soundtacks? Go this site here: http://gh.ffshrine.org/soundtracks.php?r=8650

[Sketch]

Okay, now can please you elaborate on that? Like maybe go into some detail? Everyone else has, why can't you?
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[Sketch]

Okay, now can please you elaborate on that? Like maybe go into some detail? Everyone else has, why can't you?
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[xfyrethespooky]

i totally agree with XHunter. gameplay and storyline are the two most important things in a game. i like games with nice, long stories, and a lot of action. if either one of those is missing, it usually isn't that great.

the only exception that i play that lacks in the story department (only because the story isn't in every level) is the Rockman series. before you all kill me, think back. the only games with storylines the whole time were EXE and Command Mission. don't get me wrong, i love the Rockman series.
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[Zan]

[xfyrethespooky]

[Zan]

The EXE series has those intermissions where Lan wakes up and does nothing but talk and eat breakfast for a few minutes. Command Mission also has these. The original series has a more constant plot than any of the others, as it's never interrupted in the middle or split into sections.

[XHunter17]

[MattExe]

I know EVERYONE said it already. But I'd go with the Gameplay. Because good gameplay makes the game fun. :>

To me, Graphics don't really make a game. Look at a Nippon Ichi game, the graphics are 2-D, but the gameplay is awesome IMO.
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[Synchro-Kun]

While most already said gameplay, I myself have another important factor: replayability. You wouldn't know how bad a game is if the game gets beaten in a day or two and then starts to collect dust on your shelves. Pokemon or regular kart games, they are all good due to unlockables and hours of fun.
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[Cloud-kun]

Good character designs are ultimately what make or break games for me. If I cannot find myself liking a single character from a game, I will not touch it. Somewhat like a first impression thing, I guess.

If I like a character, or many of them, gameplay matters most, unless I'm having trouble seeing something, or getting headaches playing it due to something in the graphics.

Being a fan of FFVII, I can honestly say that Plot means absolutely nothing to me.

[Viewtiful Starman]

Same here, sorta to a lesser extent... If the gameplay or story is really good or the game's not character focused/doesn't have any characters at all then I can still like it fairly easily, but characters tend to be one of the larger deciding factors for me.

[NumberGirl]

I, too, rank gameplay as #1 in my list. But since my reasons seem to be already mentioned, I'd elaborate on #2 in my list: replay value (or replayability as Synchro mentioned)

ANY game, not just video games, survive because they have high replay value. Take monopoly, for instance. While the rules, moves, fees, taxes, etc. are the same every time, you almost never end up getting the same properties or cash on hand as in your previous play times.

What I'd like to read in this thread, though, is what a gameshark-addict has to say >_>

Edit: While I disagree that character designs aren't a factor of judjing whether or not a game is good, I must confess it was a factor in my non-purchase of a game. Not that I already judged the game in question as "not worth a second look", but there were better alternatives in disposing of extra cash at the moment. I just might get back to it when I find no new titles remotely interesting.
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TGS 2007:MISSED! T_T

[Synchro-Kun]

Offtopic-ness - I didn't even know is that word, though. XD.
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[NumberGirl]

A continuation of my earlier post (could've been missed if I just edited that one):

While I'm not a fan of board games turning into video games, Monopoly's on the GameCube, the PS2, and the PC.
For such board games to survive the test of time and even go digital is the perfect example for replay value.

Not the expected kind of example ?

Okay, here are more familiar examples:
Tetris (already mentioned earlier), and its mutations
Pong (also known as Arkanoid), and its mutations
Bubble bobble, and its sequels

These games have been called "lame", "old-school", "corny", and some other stuff, but the titles I mentioned get pulled out of the family game shelf more times than any of the Final Fantasy, Suikoden, Metal Gear Solid, Zelda, or Tales titles that we own, combined.
That's replay value. (in my POV, at least)
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TGS 2007:MISSED! T_T

[Wolf]

I will also go with gameplay. Look at EXE and KH, they offer action and hours of fun. Not to mention the secrets in it. I barely care squat about graphics, aslong as the game has a nice gaming style I'll take it.
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