Disclaimer: This is an edited Copy & Pasted conversation I had with my real life gaming circle on a topic I've posted about several times. This convo branches out into off topic categories but the core concept overlaps. (Edit: After reading through some of the replies I feel the need to emphasis some of my statements) I've been playing video games for quite some time and one question that always comes up is this... How much do Graphics matter? Many, many people would say Graphics don't matter, it's all about the gameplay. I strongly disagree. Video is the first word in the medium's name and [b][u]of course gameplay matters[/u][/b], game is the "root word" after all. But [b][u]visuals should and do matter as well.[/b][/u] They are a core component. I mean, Am I shallow for holding graphics so high on the priority list? Maybe But Maps, monster entry sketches and pictures of the player character were always intrinsic to even the table top experience of D&D and it's like. Players often use pics of characters to clarify who and what they are playing. The players guide shows the difference between sword lengths and bow categories beyond what die to roll. So even here visuals go a long way toward helping the player understand what's taking place. As I sit here typing this, tossing around what I prioritize most in almost any form of entertainment, I realize [b][u]it is the story and the characters that I value most.[/u][/b] I was always more attracted to the lore of elves, dwarves and all the monstrous creatures in D&D then the +4 dagger of demon summoning I found in the Ogre's loincloth. This is why I gravitated towards Hunter and Cthulu type campaigns where knowledge and lore reigns supreme. [b][u]Even In video game genres that tend to all but neglect the story element, such as fighting games, I prefer ones with convoluted single player campaigns[/u][/b] such as Mortal Kombat. There's plenty of lore and story to chew on, even if it gets a bit out of hand sometimes. Whittling down what from my childhood makes me so [b][u]bias to entertainment that has both excellent story and equally stunning visuals[/u][/b], I realize the answer is actually quite simple. Comic Books From Spiderman to Batman, comics depend on both action capturing visual shots and spot on emotional storytelling. If either one of these falters, the entire comic could and often does fail. This extends to the cinematic Universe as well now. The Punisher movie (before War zone) had good story, but nothing visually impactful. Fantastic Four had spectacular visuals, zero writing. Both failed. [u][b]So yah, graphics may not be the MOST important thing, but they definitely matter. A Lot[/b][/u] UPDATE: I like how most of the poster here think that graphic designers are also in charge of gameplay mechanics and content. Ok this may actually be the case for some indie titles, and the graphics definitely reflect this. (FYI I absolutely love Indie games) A big reason why there are so many Games that look good yet play bad is because artists can be left aone to "do thier thing" while the other departments hammer out gameplay problems and the like. Incidentally this is also one of the reasons why graphical displays of titles are typically advertised first and why we tend to see promos with better graphics then what is in final product. The artists can keep on trucking while everything else is held up.