Graphics - Where is the Variety?

[Carbonox_Ratchet]

Unfortunately, my last thread aimed at discussing the industry fell flat on its face, so I decided to pick a topic that everyone can relate to: Graphics. Everyone has something to say about graphics so let's hear your views...

With the new hardware available to us and to developers, you'd think that the accompanying software will show more variety when it comes to the visual side, no?

Before I carry on, I do NOT want anyone to reply with "I don't care about graphics". If you feel that you have the urge to say that, don't reply, thanks.

Ahem...

Right now, I'm not seeing much variety at all and have yet to see true variety in future titles either. Where are the Okamis? The Viewtiful Joes? The ICOs?

Instead, we are seeing more and more generic realism in today's graphics. Of course, that's not a bad thing as we expected this generation to shine when it comes to high-definition graphical capabilities, but where are the high-definition graphics of the other art forms?

On one hand, we have the likes of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Resident Evil 5 with uber-realistic graphics engines, same with other titles like Gears of War that use the beastly Unreal Engine. I think the palm of this hand is rather full at the moment. My hand feels heavy if anything...

On the other hand (which is extremely light, yay for me), we have the likes of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and LittleBigPlanet. Two of...an extreme minority of games utilising more of a cartoon edge to the graphical style.

Balancing on my right foot are the PSN titles such as Calling All Cars! and Pain which each have their own cutesy or cartoon flair too.

But really, I'd rather sit down on my bottom and balance the Okamis, the ICOs and the Viewtiful Joes on my left foot too. Watercolour-themed graphics etc.

The PS3 and Xbox 360 seems to lack such graphical variety whereas the Wii is brimming with it. Wouldn't you think that developers would be able to now perform amazing feats of visual depth with the new hardware, especially the powerful hardware inside the PlayStation 3?

Now don't say it's too early for the PS3 or the 360 because I'm talking about the future. Even with the several titles planned for the future, it's hard for me to pick some real artistic gems. I hear Borderlands will be cel-shaded but is that it? Really now?

We have to realise that we will continue to see graphics in a game that breaks boundaries yet will become more and more generic. Soon we won't be too shocked when the majority of titles use similar realism.

What I do want to stress though is that it wouldn't hurt to see a bit of artistic variety...

[thezombiemessia]

I find this topic harder to think or talk about than your last one :S

Graphics is such a contentious issue, like Art.

One persons view can completely differ from another persons view.

To be honest though, I've never much cared for graphics. I appreciate them, and I love seeing the advances in technology and how close we get to pulling off realistic environments or beautiful fantasy landscapes...but, as always, in the long run it doesn't or should effect the game too badly.


Though, I do agree with some reviewers that are getting annoyed with the "Brown or Grey" colour scheme that has become so prevalent in the games industry these days.

If a game is going for realism, it is either Brown or Grey.

Brown and Grey is getting boring.

Games Like Killer7, No More Heroes, Zelda: WindWaker, Okami, Zack&Wiki, etc. look great, but I also get kinda bored of those to.

We very rarely get to see anything new in the graphical style.

What I would like to see in the future is variety. A mixture of environments that give a constant contrast between colours and art styles are things that I would love to experience.

I don't mean swapping between Cell and Realistic. But it'd be nice to go from Urban areas to green areas, to different environments, etc...

If that makes sense?


EDIT:

Here's a link to the other topic that recieved views, but only the 1 reply:

http://www.capcom-europe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8871

[Sky_Dragon]

I DO NOT CARE ABOOT GRAFIX


I think graphics aren't key to a game personally I don't truly notice the difference when I am playing. Whilst playing KZ2 in my mind I thought it looked like KZ1. And it was not till I saw a box for KZ1 that I realised just how different they look.
And more and more realism doesn't seem to bother me. As I barely notice it. So really what I need for me to look at a game and say wow those are good graphics is something completely different. Whether its professionally drawn characters or a level of realism that makes the game look like a movie. But for now graphics do kind of mean nothing to me.

Sorry I know that was an overly pointless post.

[Dante2014]

I think writers and the stories they produce are part of this problem with variety, targeting the late teens and young men with guns and bewbs rather than showing a unique reality, most take their inspiration off of films, so its only natural we would get such limited imagination.

Im impressed with atmosphere over style, Fallout 3, for example, was able to show a wide variety of environments with a unique air to them, a forest, a desert, grey corridors, caves, all done in the same style, yet provoked different views and feelings, MGS4 did this too, this ability to produce a whole variety of reactions within a single vision.

Although, I do admit that games like Hotel Dusk and Okami where shunned too quickly despite having a unique visual style, but this seems purely down to bad luck, so very few tire of visuals and judge a game so heavily on how it plays, this seems more like there is simply no demand for a different visions and styles, thats what makes certain styles so unique.

[greenyxi]

Graphics are the reason why I'm being put off the newer consoles. They really are too dull and boring. I loved the graphics of Final Fantasy X, because it was real-ish, but still had a bit of colour and character (if graphics can have character...). I've been meaning to buy Eternal Sonata for a while now, because it's nice and cartoony. Like TZM (and maybe someone else said), there are too many greys and browns being used.
Wow, imagine Pacman using only greys and browns...that would have stopped the game from becoming a hit, huh?