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[hooijdonk17]

Seriously, I feel like this gen, especially HD consoles have less games with smooth framerate than the last. I own both a Wii and 360, and even though I'm not a huge fan of the Wii , at least most of the games have a really smooth framerate and play well. Games with lot of framerate problems (quite many of the games on 360) just give me a headache after a while. I rather have less graphical detail but much smoother framerate.

Is this due to screenshot warz or something? Is it so important that the game looks good on screens?

On the other hand, maybe not everyone is so sensitive to framerate as I am. But I think it's the single most important thing, more so than graphical details. A game with poor graphics, good gameplay and good framerate can still enjoyable. However even if a game has good graphics, poor framerate will really affect the playability.

 

[Grayman]

It seems like many never will. Screenshots and marketing has to play a big part of it.

If all games aimed for sixty the ones that failed could probably be locked at 30 and not have drops!

 

[Trojan X]

No no. I agree with you. Games doesn't have to be 60fps all the time, but it is important to have a smooth playing game rather than a slightly moving slideshow. Funnily, still today SEGA games on the MODEL 2 and MODEL 3 board still show off the best and consistently smooth frame rate while having great graphics in the business!

 

[Kill Your Masters]

Framerate and no fucking tearing. Seriously, if I hate this gen for one thing, it's that damn tearing...

 

[Bearillusion]

Banjo on XBLA shows what an impact a good framerate can have.

Framerate > everything else.

 

[Kagari]

Framerate and no fucking tearing. Seriously, if I hate this gen for one thing, it's that damn tearing...

See also: jaggy shadows... it's about as bad as screen tearing to me.

 

[diss]

you speak the truth. it doesn't even have to be 60 fps (though it'd be nice), but i'd settle for a constant 30. and vsync ON. ALWAYS. i'm looking at you ubisoft.

 

[AmMortal]

See also: jaggy shadows... it's about as bad as screen tearing to me.

Ah, those things are disgusting.

 

[Aaron]

Racers and 3D fighters = 60FPS or gtfo
Everything else = steady 30FPS please

 

[Community Forum]

It's funny, I just popped in Devil May Cry 4 the other day, after not playing it since the summer, and I was like WHOA look at that frame rate. Seriously... it was like a breath of fresh air.

 

[Fafalada]

See also: jaggy shadows... it's about as bad as screen tearing to me.

You have the choice between shadow aliasing or lack of shadows. With choices like that, there's not much to debate for most people.

As for framerates, it really boils down to publisher expectations. And frankly consumers have traditionally been pretty accepting of lower framerates. Short of reviewers starting to mark down games for framerate I don't see this changing.

 

[timetokill]

Casamassina used to rail on framerates in pretty much every N64 review ever.

Rare still got 9.0+ rated games though :lol

 

[m3k]

beaten but screen shots and advertising can do alot

 

[sebmarine]

I still think GTAIV would be a much better game if the framerate wouldn't crash all the time.

 

[Mar]

Disagree. I don't care about graphics or framerate. As long as the art style is good.

 

[HUELEN10]

you speak the truth. it doesn't even have to be 60 fps (though it'd be nice), but i'd settle for a constant 30.

YES, DEVS LISTEN TO THIS MAN! HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!

 

[HUELEN10]

Sorry for the 2x post. No idea how it came about.

 

[thrasher]

It would be a PR nightmare if graphics weren't cutting edge.

 

[Mario]

Probably when GAF stops criticizing screens at the pixel level.

 

[Nathan Rain]

When gamers start asking for it.

People seem to only care about textures or other bullshit.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

If the game is fun enough I find that I can deal with ok framerate (GTA PS2 games, and Saints Row 2), and tearing don't annoy me at all (Saints Row 2, ATV offroad PS2). I used to try to play PC games on my PC that has no business trying to run Indigo Prophecy.

 

[HUELEN10]

When gamers start asking for it.

People seem to only care about textures or other bullshit.

How do you propose we ask them? Bitching about it in this thread is certainly not enough, and I WANT no screen tearing and a locked-30FPS!

 

[Kill Your Masters]

How do you propose we ask them? Bitching about it in this thread is certainly not enough, and I WANT no screen tearing and a locked-30FPS!

Also, reviewers are no help either. They almost never address those things or take away points from the overall score.

Basically, it's like nobody cares as long as "zomg teh textures are so awesome".

 

[NullPointer]

I still think GTAIV would be a much better game if the framerate wouldn't crash all the time.

Was just about to post this exact thing. I'm pretty damn sensitive to framerate so it takes me about an hour or two of GTA4 to get into the stuttered "flow" of that game.

Playing a low framerate game is like playing with constant low level lag. Low framerate games online are even worse.

Thank You Burnout Paradise and COD4. <3

 

[KevinCow]

When the average consumer starts caring. Which, unfortunately, is never.

At some point, we will hit a peak where stuff will be close enough to reality that it really can't get much better. At that point, they will start pushing bigger environments and more and more models. If we reach the point where they can render an entire world in real time, they will try to render multiple worlds in real time. Eventually, we may reach a point where technology really can't make games bigger or more detailed; then, and only then, will framerate become a priority.

 

[timetokill]

One of the reasons I love F-Zero GX. Never had framerate problems for me

 

[pilonv1]

GAF: why isnt this 60fps? Id rather lower quality shadows. Framerate is important

GAF: why are the shadows so shit? sure it's 60fps but those shadows make it look like a ps2 game. also lol @ the n64 textures.

developers: fuck off the lot of you

 

[Neo C.]

Developers? Gamers aren't better, a lot of them are satisfied with 30fps and some slow downs.

 

[HUELEN10]

When the average consumer starts caring. Which, unfortunately, is never.

At some point, we will hit a peak where stuff will be close enough to reality that it really can't get much better. At that point, they will start pushing bigger environments and more and more models. If we reach the point where they can render an entire world in real time, they will try to render multiple worlds in real time. Eventually, we may reach a point where technology really can't make games bigger or more detailed; then, and only then, will framerate become a priority.

Don't even SAY THAT again.....

That could kill gaming for quite a few of us if it keeps getting worse.

 

[GrotesqueBeauty]

Casamassina used to rail on framerates in pretty much every N64 review ever.

Rare still got 9.0+ rated games though :lol

I know. I remember him pontificating about how basically no game could be good enough to score a coveted perfect 10 in a podcast after he reviewed SMG, and I immediately thought of his 9.9 review for Conker's Bad Fur Day.

:lol

 

[Nathan Rain]

GAF: why isnt this 60fps? Id rather lower quality shadows. Framerate is important

GAF: why are the shadows so shit? sure it's 60fps but those shadows make it look like a ps2 game. also lol @ the n64 textures.

developers: fuck off the lot of you

The people who care about textures are graphics whores, the people that want a steady framerate just want to enjoy the gameplay.

Which one is more valid?

 

[NullPointer]

developers: fuck off the lot of you

Nullpointer: Get your asses back to work making that framerate SOLID. And while you're at it why not use some of those precious CPU cycles on some decent AI?

 

[HUELEN10]

The people who care about textures are graphics whores, the people that want a steady framerate just want to enjoy the gameplay.

Which one is more valid?

The latter logically, but some people don't roll that way.

 

[Nathan Rain]

COD4 is a great benchmark for visual/gameplay levelness.

It's 3am here...I'm tired.

 

[Feep]

No.

Shadow of the Colossus.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I don't care if the framerate isn't locked. As long as it doesn't hinder the gameplay experience.

It's such a petty thing to fuss over.

The person who posted above me cites a perfect example of this.

 

[JetSetRadio]

Can and will not play a 30 fps shooter anymore on any console after playing CoD 4.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

Can and will not play a 30 fps shooter anymore on any console after playing CoD 4.

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

 

[Nathan Rain]

EDIT: Something that would have pissed alot of happy gamers off. Please don't quote it. Thanks.

 

[acm2000]

i dont care if its 30 or 60fps, just a stable rate is whats needed, but id rather have all the bells and whistles at 30fps, than cut back for 60fps

 

[Fallout-NL]

I used to be okay with 30, but have since seen the light.

 

[FirewalkR]

Don't worry, as soon as the PS3 or the 360 is proven to have a clear graphical advantage over the other, developers will stop trying to achieve consistency between versions and focus on the strengths of each platform while maintaining smooth refresh rates.

 

[Gazunta]

Oh crap, really? Damn it never occurred to us before ever.

Thank God for GAF

 

[eso76]

short answer: when people stop buying games based on screenshots

 

[pilonv1]

Oh crap, really? Damn it never occurred to us before ever.

Thank God for GAF

Make sure your frame rate is solid. And use some CPU cycles on AI. I bet you never thought of that!

 

[szaromir]

I prefer godly graphics with 5fps.

 

[FirewalkR]

short answer: when people stop buying games based on screenshots

This is also a valid answer! :lol

 

[Stink]

well, I don't really agree with anything except that v-lock should always be an option.

 

[chase]

lol

 

[freddy]

..and people say video games are art? Art that's tailored to the whims of publishing house bean counters?

Keep shining that shit up fellas.