What Is More Important To You?

[Atrocities]

I have read a great many posts over many forums about Space Empires V where posters raised issues about the lack of eye popping graphics and Empire At War quality eye candy game play.

So I ask you all what is more important to you, a games graphics, or a games game play?

For me it is hands down a games game play. EAW and its expansion pack, are great looking games, but they have no real game play depth and lack replayability past a week or two.

While SE V, albeit it not a runaway hit as of yet, may not have eye popping detailed graphics, does have it where it does count, in the game play depth department.

I often find myself wondering why any one would want graphics over game play? Sure eye candy is always welcome, but to be blunt and honest, what good is eye candy if the game has no challenge and lacks replayability?

EAW and its expansion are good games, but neither is worth the true value of a game like Space Empires V or even Dominion 3. Something has to be said about games like these, they are indeed masterspeaces in their own rights, and in my humble opinion, kick the utter arse out of many mainstream games.

[PDF]

Great, we're now 2 in the "Gameplay over Gizmo" club !

[Smolf]

I would like to join the exclusive club as member #3

[President_Elect_Shang]

The way a game plays hands down no debates accepted! In the graphics department I prefer detailed 2-D graphics over 3-D.

[StarShadow]

Gameplay. Where do I pick up my membership card?

[Santiago]

You really need somewhat of a balance between graphics and game play.
In general terms

Great graphics and poor gameplay = quick game death. Word spreads quickly.

Great gameplay with poor graphics = a loyal but small following with little incentive for the programmer or publisher to continue.

In the SE series, if it wasn't for MM's dedication SE would have died long ago.

As far as SE V specifically, I prefer SEV's gameplay over the poor graphics. I've tried SEV on 3 different machines and have gotten 3 different results. If the UI and the main system view can be fixed the game would be a lot better off.

Sometimes I think an expanded SE IV graphics with SE V capabilities would have been the way to go.

[Artaud]

President_Elect_Shang said:
The way a game plays hands down no debates accepted! In the graphics department I prefer detailed 2-D graphics over 3-D.

I agree.

I've played games with 3-D graphics and I just don't get the appeal. I've got a 1 year old computer, and have found 3-D games to be nothing but resource hogs. They run slower, and that's about it.

A "pretty" picture doesn't give you any more game. With SEV I just don't see the point. I can zoom the system in and out, and rotate it, but after you've done that a few times (or a few dozen times), then what?

I don't have any additional resources to manage. The ship icons are too small. Diplomacy, from what I've been reading here, is broken. Other gameplay elements that I'd hoped for, things that would strengthen the illusion of running the government of an empire, are absent.

Give me a 2D game with crisp graphics and lots of empire-running options over 3D any day. SEIV. Caesar III. Pharoh/Cleopatra. Civ III. Victoria. Patrician II or III.

[Kana]

I agree completely with you AT...

Santiago I dont know when you were born, but I remember before there were video games. One of my all time favorite games was one I played on the the Atari 800. It was a wargame sim of Midway, and the graphics were all ascii characters. I played that game for hours, it was nail bitting sending out your fighters to attack the carriers, and you wait patiently for the text report of how many you lost, and how many carriers you hit and or sunk.

[President_Elect_Shang]

I thought that was an Atari 2600 game? Speaking of the 2600 my favorite was Megamania! Man I could sit and play that thing for hours and hours. My girlfriend at the time was over the night I rolled it three times. Funny I can recall the name of the game but not hers; short, blond, cute, and that’s about all I can recall. Oh and she had the cutest little button nose.

[Wenin]

I'd take SEIV's graphics with SEV's game play ability, over any game with awesome graphics, but limited playability.