DO GRAPHICS MATTER?

Hmmm, after seeing what a lot of people did with the RTP in the Lite Cookoff, I've warmed to the RTP a lot more, but I still have to admit that even a little bit of personalization in the graphics department goes a long way for me.

Think of it this way, even if your writing is the focus of your project, the graphics are your handwriting, your typesetting. They put a nice flourish on the words and definitely define how legibly the story plays out. Remember how much interactivity can work to tie graphics and story together, also.

I'm speaking only for myself here, but I think that as long as functionality comes first, you can get away with less than stellar maps, especially if you can convince me that the characters, music, gameplay, etc. can carry the bulk of the game. And as LockeZ mentioned, a video can show those off better than a screenshot or three.

Graphics matter in the sense that they can be a good judge of effort. If a game looks like shit, it's probably going to play like shit too. I'm not talking mediocre 'oh, there's nothing special about this map' graphics. I talking about the type of graphics that tell me the creator doesn't love their project. If you can't take the time to make your game look like it wasn't created by a 6-year-old using a computer for the first time, how can I trust that you put time and effort into any other area of the game?

I'm not saying everyone has to make custom graphics and every screenshot should be a masterpiece. Far from it. As long as the graphics look like you put effort into them, they're more than passable.

On the flip side, I'm also not saying pretty graphics make a great game. As someone whose skill set falls firmly in the good graphics, so-so gameplay camp, that would be pretty hypocritical. It just means that's where the creator's talent lie. But that's a different topic.

Graphics are as important than any other element of a game, as the function of these elements is to help you convey ideas. With this in mind, graphics are perhaps slightly more important, since they're the main aspect the players will be interacting with... So, even if your game is a Text adventure, you should carefully choose what fonts you're going to use, what colors, etc.

Also, more than "effort" I would call it "thought". Even if graphics are not your forte, simple RTP edits can express how much thought you've put into your project... This may be a silly example, but think of planet Earth and planet Namek in DBZ. They're pretty much the same, but the colors are "upside down". In Namek the sky is green and the grass is blue; also the trees are rather unique. This concept alone is enough to convey the idea of an alien world, without having to draw things in a significant different way.

The same goes for mapping, really. Instead of trying to fill tons of maps with stuff. Think about what function you want every map to have.

I've kind of avoided commenting on this, not cause I think my opinion is unwelcome or anything, but because it might be somewhat unfair. Now that others have made some rational comments and suggestions however I feel like I can share my two cents.

Basically, if you were to ask me "Do/Does X matter in a game?" my answer would always be a definite yes, at least in terms of the major aspects like plot, characters, atmosphere, graphics, music, game-play, etc. I guess it comes from being a perfectionist with a ridiculous standard of quality, but I'd say that you should try to make everything in your project as good as humanly possible.

In terms of graphics, the way things work out is pretty set in stone. As Racheal said, games with sloppy graphics don't look professional, and it dissuades people from checking them out. Having adequate graphical and mapping skills generally works out fine, but I'd say that you should strive for much more than that. Having a unique atmosphere or graphical style that's done right not only helps the game look professional, it makes it stand out from the crowd. If the game stands out, it makes sense that more people will take a look at it, and you'll get more feedback because of that.

I guess what I'm saying is just "The more you give, the more you get." Like I said though, I'm a perfectionist. I know for a fact that the "Everything MUST be perfect" style of design isn't super helpful in the long run. You shouldn't spend all of your time perfecting a single game, you should get it as good as possible and release it. Being able to finish something that's even in the "above average" category is an achievement in itself, and you can always improve your skills in your next project.

I'm sorry if that was really rambling. I'm not good at explaining things.

Y'know, whatever someone might say about the quality, I think you did a really great job of posting an intriguing set of screenshots. There's a funeral, a jerk running his mouth and an exotic jungle spring. They're each dramatic moments from a broad spectrum of experience where even some of the best games only show you'll be walking around and fighting stuff.

Graphics, no. Art style, yes.

I like the RTP, have no problems with it. I use RTP a lot in my games too.=P