Castle Paradox

[Junair Wiare]

I like mini games, side quests and puzzles, things you don't get in books, movies, and TV shows. Plus, I've read all my books.
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"I do believe your Squid exists. I really do, you know?"

[The Wobbler]

[RedMaverickZero]

Very true PHC, but lots of people don't like to read. Well, I won't say lots, but I believe that a fair amount of people would rather watch something with text so they can actually get a feel for it and interact with things over books. Because in books everything is the same and you kinda visualize and percieve characters and events differently. With RPGs you see it all and you can make stuff easier/harder depending on what you do. But I fully agree with you on the whole plot twist and things of that nature idea. I may even be guilty of that on several accounts. But, with such things pointed out as that, we can't help but notice them and improve them.
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---------------Projects----
Mr.Triangle's Maze: 70%
Takoyaki Surprise: 70%

[JSH357]

If video games and loud music hadn't fried your mind you would love reading, sonny! Where's my crap bag?!

[RedMaverickZero]

Never said they did fry my brain. Because I do read, however, I prefer seeing things move than gazing upon page after page of a book. Games are just more appealing to the generation of today I'm afraid... Which is sad, because I can't even find a good book anymore. You can only read Harry Potter so much.
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---------------Projects----
Mr.Triangle's Maze: 70%
Takoyaki Surprise: 70%

[Leonhart]

You can only read Harry Potter so much...

Um, I voted for storyline because that's one of the main reasons I play roleplayng games. I don't like the idea of just wandering around in the game with the best gameplay ever but the storyline is absent. You don't know your purpose of existing in the game.

But it's just my opinion.

But, some people aren't bold enough to experiment with different storylines. It's always the save-the-princess-and-bring-back-the-sword type of RPG.
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The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.
- Robert Bloch

[Shadowiii]

Gameplay and battle system are the same thing. Let's start there.

Gameplay is the most important thing. It's a game. That's all the matters. It isn't a book (which would be a story with "graphics" or illustrations). It isn't a piece of art you hang on the wall (which would be all graphics). The most important element of a game is gameplay (overall gameplay, not the example you gave) hands down.

The second most important it atmosphere, which is actually a combination of graphics, music, and a touch of gameplay. Take Super Metroid for example. That game has a brilliant amount of atmosphere, and that's why it's both creepy and fun.

Unfortunatly, atmosphere is difficult to get in the ohr (at least for horror style games) but it still is possible I believe.

You can have a game with good gameplay and lousy atmostphere and still survive if the gameplay just rocks (Tetris, etc.). However, for an RPG (which is what we are making here) you'll need decent amounts of both.

Story also somewhat touches into atmosphere (though...it'd actually be

[Inferior Minion]

[Shadowiii]

But Riven is SUPOSSED to have annoying, killer puzzles. Thats what the series is about. I mean, I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment of solving those insanely hard Riven puzzles (oh man, I still hate that game ) more then the story itself. I felt the story just kept it together, it wasn't all that deep and wonderful.

Exile, on the other hand, focused more on story. It also seems Myst 4 will also, which I suppose is good, but you have to admit Myst 3 was pretty easy.
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But enough talk, have at you!

[lethal255]

personally i think everything is equally important. If a game is awesome in almost every where but one area, like story, it brings down the expierence of the game. Games the accel equally in all areas area the best.
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"what everyone went around calling you white stormy?"

"you mean, there's...a ...black stormy?"

"No"

[Junair Wiare]

I have to say this: I hate Myst!
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"I do believe your Squid exists. I really do, you know?"

[Moogle1]

See how no one voted for graphics?

Still, they are the #2 contributor (behind music) to a game's overall feel...
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Slime Salad :: Independent Game Design

[Fenrir-Lunaris]

Since the game *IS* a visual medium, you'd think Graphics would be the most important. They're there mostly to keep people playing, contribute to the presentation of that game, and even be used as part of the gameplay itself.

1: As was pointed out by JSH in his review of FFH, the sole reason you play through the beginning of the game is because of the graphics. If the opening scenes of a game have wonderful visuals, there's a chance people will keep playing through the rest.

2: One of the best situations where I liked the graphics of an area that contributed to the feel of a game would have to be ruined Lindblum from FFIX. In a lot of games, when a city gets wrecked, you hardly notice, but in this case you do. Rubble is all over the place, buildings are smashed, and everyone's trying to rebuild it. You get the sense that the characters and ordinary people have suffered a pretty big loss, and seeing that can propel the player to keep going, and get even with the villains.

3: Take Chrono Trigger for example. In the sea palace there's these flying enemies that come in three colors, indicating a weakness to a particular element. Were they presented in black and white, said elemental weakness would not be as apparent, as on say, a gameboy.

[Eggie]

Frankly, it goes like this (for me)...

1. Gameplay
2. Graphics
3. Music

Reason:

There have been old school games where all there was, was text, and that worked.

Then game graphics... and that made people focus more, and yeah...

On the Atari, Music was smalls bleeps, and nowadays, music seems to be an emotional setting developer.

[MultiColoredWizard]

images and music should just get grouped together to be called atmosphere, just how dialog and plot are done with storyline.