Poll: Graphics or Story?

[crash]

Watching all those Alan Wake videos got me thinking - damn, that's one hell-a-visual representation! So the question is - will the story of this game be as much as good as it's visual representation is? It's a rhetoric question, no need to rush and answer it. It would be nice to know, how would you split: fascinating story and stunning visuals - 50/50, 80/20, ..?
Personally, I'll go with 60% for story, and 40% for graphics. Visuals are good, but when the story is lame, visuals suck too.

[Morry]

It's Remedy we're talking about here. For Alan Wake I will go with 60/40 story and visuals though I'm sure each will be of top notch quality.

[Maddieman]

Well Remedy have an excellent track record with story/character driven games, and everything we've seen from Alan Wake so far indicates that they're on the right track. As for visuals, again, I think the material we've seen so far speaks for itself. :)

Personally I don't see it as an either/or situation. At least, I've not seen anything yet that casts doubt on the issue.

[guaps]

My little history with Remedy.

Before the first Max Payne, I read about bullettime and saw a screenshot of the booth in the metrostation shot to pieces, that made me want to play the game. I hadn't seen any gameplay when I bought Max Payne - so that'll be 80% graphics and 20% bullettime.

After completing the first max payne I was hooked by the story, so I guess around 40% story, 40% graphics and 20% bullettime.

Max Payne 2 screenshots and videos got me hyped with the graphics, and since I had just built a new top of the line computer, when I bought it - I spend around an hour at the first mission, spending my time looking at reflections in the water (where you start out), and exploiding the ragdoll physics. However, there were some aspects of bullettime 2.0 that I didn't like, so the rating is 50% story, 40% graphics, 10% fun with ragdoll physics.

Now from what we've seen and heard about Alan Wake, I'm in a sort of jam. On one hand I think the story and gameplay are the most important things about a game, but Alan Wake just looks so beautiful. And as I mentioned before I spend alot of time in Max Payne 2 looking at the way-too-cool graphics, so I'll probably to the same with Alan Wake.

So my split for Alan Wake, until I get a chance to play the game, will probably be 60% graphics, 20% surroundings and 20% creppy atmosphere.

And I must add that I like the way that remedy is keeping the spoilers to a minimum. The first Max Payne surprised me because I didn't know what to expect from it, Alan Wake will hopefully to the same.

[crash]

The point is, that some game development companies make top-notch graphics and pay a little less attention to storyline and characters - when you run such a products on a lower-end computer, you can see that such a game without it's stunning visuals is nothing - no drama, no intrigue.. Remedy is known for it's strong storylines and characters (e.g. Max Pane), so I hope that the game will be still interesting even not having an ability to see stunning visuals on full performance (that's why I gave 60% to story).
Next question is: will the story be so strong, that it will surpass the visuals? Or is this not a correctly formulated question - maybe the story will be closely associated with visuals (e.g. representation of main character feelings using gloomy atmosphere and so on)?

[Morry]

The difference I notice between a game like Alan Wake and Crysis is that Remedy are using their impressive visuals for a reason. Up until now, you could not have made a game where light was a crucial gameplay element. Doom 3 used light to scare the player, but it was just completely black shadows. Remedy have created the game world to benefit the mood and atmosphere of the game.

[Jandor]

I'd prefer no split at all and 100% display and 100% Story line for full utilization of all hardware and software that the game designers can throw at us.

If lesser systems can not handle full game details/options have the ability to turn them off for lower end systems so you can have your 40/60 split if that is what you desire or your system can handle best.

[Raveness]

Why would they need to be mutually exclusive parts of a whole? I hope for great story and graphics, but if the development needs to focus on a particular aspect the most, that should be the gameplay/story

[Kahr]

I'm in for a 100% on all aspects of the game. Alright, one can only doubt that a game will be 100%. I don't even think that's possible. But with Remedy, I have a feeling the game will be as good as it can be. The graphics we already know are stunning. And from what we've read when it comes to articles and such about Alan Wake, and his story, it already seems to be interesting.

Is there really a need to ask? From what I've gathered, we're in for quite the ride with this game. ;)

[writersblock]

I really see no reason why the game can't have both. It's not like Remedy doesn't have professional writers working on the story. Especially in a top notch team like they have. From what I would gather the writers story would be independent of the graphics anyway. I could see if they had developers doing the writing as well as the tech stuff. :giggle: