Gameplay Before Graphics [Indie Game Diary Day 2]

Gameplay before graphics. Gameplay > graphics. Gameplay over graphics.

It’s a common argument that what a game looks like is not as important as how well it plays. On a basic level, I agree, though in some spaces, the argument is taken so far as to completely discount the role that graphics play in making good gameplay. Graphics don’t matter? If that were true, my game would be done.

My game currently has no final visual assets, and that makes it almost totally unplayable. Enemies all look the same so there’s no way to tell how to attack them. The player character doesn’t change so there’s no way to tell what state he is in. Heck, some characters are just text so it’s hard to tell whether they’re part of the gameplay space or just part of the heads up display.

Clearly, graphics do matter, if not for such crucial aspects of gameplay but also in the gameplay experience. For example, GTA IV and GTA: Chinatown Wars have very similar gameplay elements such as driving and shooting, but can anyone honestly say that the graphics play no part in differentiating the two experiences?

Gameplay might come before graphics, but graphics are important too.