Ben-DutkaConsidering the very pretty Crysis games, it's no wonder that the developer puts a premium on graphics.
Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli told X360 magazine that graphics actually drive gameplay, and better visual fidelity lets developers create more realistic and engaging experiences. In other words, Yerli is railing against the theory that "graphics don't matter."
"People say that graphics don't matter, but play Crysis and tell me they don't matter. It's always been about graphics driving gameplay. Graphics, whether it's lighting or shadows, puts you in a different emotional context and drives the immersion. And immersion is effectively the number one thing we can use to help you buy into the world."
Yerli used his team's recent Crysis 3 as an example, and added that graphics actually comprise 60% of a game. That's an interesting number to choose and some may disagree, but Yerli's explanation is as follows:
"The better the graphics, the better the physics, the better the sound design, the better the technical assets and production values are–paired with the art direction, making things look spectacular and stylistic is 60 per cent of the game."
There's no doubt that saying "graphics don't matter" is incorrect. They've always mattered because this is a visual medium, and it's also true that better graphics can add to the overall immersion factor, which is a big part of interactive entertainment. But at its core, this is about interaction, not watching, which means it can't really be 60%; perhaps more like 40%.
And as for graphics driving gameplay, I'm not sure I agree with that, either. Crysis 3 looked great but the gameplay felt like a step back. Is that because the graphics took a step back? No, not really. So what do you have to say to that, Yerli?