Gameplay > Graphics.

The sooner Sony and Microsoft get the memo, the sooner we can start getting good games again.

The best graphics in the world can't save a generic plot, glitch battle style or tricky movements etc.

None of those in the OP flopped except Vindictus. Just because they aren't taking over the world like LoL or WoW doesn't mean anything.

Just look at how storytelling in the movie industry was replaced by big 3D graphics to wow the GP into watching crap. Games that push boundaries with more and more interactive gameplay and original stories >>>>>>>>>>>>

Gameplay > Graphics and well all the games you listed are MMORPG/multiplayer..


and Guild Wars 2 sold 5 million.

I love MMOs but Blade and Soul was utter trash. So was Tera (and I have a feeling Black Desert will be the same)

GW2 did not flop, it only "failed" to achieve its expectations because it was touted as the WoW killer.

Because gameplay is the only thing that actually matters in the end

There is a reason why Silent hills 1-3 + homecoming and Fatal Frame eradicate all those games that came after. Just look at how much positive reception resident evil re release got as opposed to the previous two games in the main series that were panned to hell and back.

Because they don't connect with people. I love graphics but there needs to be a good, engaging story line to go along with them.

Games need depth. Take Skyrim. It's massive and pretty but it's shallow. Once you realize you're basically alone, it makes the water and the wind pointless. They could have spent less time making so much to explore and replaced that time with adding things to see and do once you've discovered a place.

Like look at runescape or WoW

mediocre graphics (I'd call them stylized), yet still pushing harder than most newer games.

Because Pokemon always wins.

Gameplay always wins.

I think that has to do more with nostalgia than the actual games(except for 5 too).

The graphics can't save a game from it's **** controlling system, lackluster battle/puzzle/simulation system, and possibly horrid writing/story/plot, and in the end, those matter TEN TIMES MORE than a pretty game! Looks aren't everything! Look at Undertale: that **** should've been the worst game according to it's graphics, but it ended up being the best game to ever come out in 2015!

gameplay and STORY matters more!

with the exception of maybe fatal frame, every single one of those games was considered very visually stunning, and I would say still are. most of all REmake has always been touted as an absolutely gorgeous game, not to even mention that the recent rerelease pushed the boundaries once again.

this isn't to say that this thread is wrong, because the fact is that developers spend all their time and money on the graphics and try to wrap them around a generic game like Crysis because they want their tech to sell the game, but jesus christ put a single iota of thought into your examples.

edit: also what the hell at homecoming being lumped in with the rest of those actually good games. 4 is way better than homecoming. Downpour is way better than homecoming.

Personality >>> physical appearance.

Blade and soul's gameplay and story is actually very good.
But the amount of farming and time taken to upgrade the weapons and accessories is turning people off.
The game company focus on leeching off player with their cash shop and stuff, rather than improving the overall gameplay experience. Eventually, people lost interest.
Same thing can be said for other MMOrpg too.

The thing that most people don't realize is that graphics are nearly at the maximum practicality. The human eye can't process an image beyond a certain pixel resolution (I think it was somewhere after 1080p where you can't tell the difference).

Games that try to wow you based on graphics solely don't do that well because gamers despise shallow games. This is why games like Skyrim are so acclaimed because (despite the shallow nature of the game, the gameplay more than makes up for it; especially on PC) great mechanics will ensure retention months even years after the fact.

Any developer will tell you straight up that graphics aren't everything.

Because talent always wins in the end, and games with good graphics but no substance aren't talent