Graphics Changing Gameplay

There are some that say graphics do not matter. For most of my gaming days I have been on the band wagon that graphics are great, but game play is the ultimate factor in my opinion of a game. But what if the graphics actually alter the way a game is played? Now that high definition gaming has become the new standard, the increased resolutions and high res textures are actually altering game play.

Hi def gaming is the way of the latest generation of console gaming. Of course with every new generation of systems to hit the market, each new machine has been able to boast better graphics over its predecessor. While this has been the selling point for many a gamer, I have always just wanted to keep up with the latest system so that I could continue to play the latest games. While I have always enjoyed jaw dropping graphic effects (I own an 8850 GTX GPU) I have always just thought of them as, for the most part, a gimmick.

With the next generation of gaming consoles, graphics are no longer just eye candy. They are an integral part of the game. The high def graphics are being used to exploit special features in the games. With the ability to show higher amounts of detail, programmers are actually able to do more with the game. For example, a high def graphic game can display enemies in the background much clearer than a standard digital TV can. With this kind of detail, you would be able to target an enemy that would otherwise not have been able to hit. Higher level of detail is making it possible for game developers to put in elements of a game that they might otherwise omit due to lesser functionality.

Other special options are becoming more and more common as games have "regular" and "high def" modes. One rumor that was circulating about the upcoming game "Assassin's Creed" was that climbing features in the game would be hindered for anyone using a regular display. While the rumor turned out to be false, it did make sense. The game is designed so that your character is able to climb on any extruding surface that was 3d rendered, including brick, rocks, and trees. With high def turned off, these textures would have not been as predominate or defined thus keeping a player from being able to use them as the physics system would normally allow.

With all the next gen consoles there is an option to play with high def turned off. It is interesting to see the difference in game play when comparing the two side by side. I have two friends who are rabid Halo fans, so you bet that they were both in line when Halo3 hit the shelves. One has a high def display, while the other does not. For the most part each game mode has a similar over-all experience, but if you are paying attention there is much missing from the "standard" game. For example, on the second "mission" of Halo3 there is a corridor containing a secret room full of pickups. We found it playing through with the high def settings. The lines for the door are clearly visible. Shoot the door and you're in. However, in the "standard" version we went back to the exact same location. Not only could you not see the door lines, the room is not there. We wasted pretty much all our ammo up and down the corridor trying to open up the door, only to find that it was unavailable.

So is this a ploy to have everyone go out and buy expensive plasma TV's? I don't think so. I think it's just another step in the evolution of video games. With greater technology to utilize games are destined to become more in depth, in story and in visualization.