Art or Gameplay first?

T8TRG8TR

What's best to work on first, Art or Gameplay? Usually I just randomly do both but I'm trying to be more organized when I design my games now, and I wanted to know if doing one before the other tends to work better.

ORBZ

I've played many games with great art that were totally boring. I've played a few games with crappy art and great gameplay... guess which ones I keep playing?

However, the art sells the game...

both are important.

CodeCode

If you want to sell more the graphics.
If you your intention is to make a good game where people can have some fun then gameplay.

Senshaij

I would say to not completely neglect the artwork, but that the gameplay is far more important. That also depends on your target audience: more towards the casual gamer? art is about even to gameplay; more towards the "hardcore" gamer? gameplay is much more important.

Leanne

prototype the gameplay to inform the art creation. then focus on the art before returning to gameplay. that's what i wish i did with the game i'm working on. instead i created all the art first, which leaves me recreating much of it to fit the game. I also find that switching back and forth seems to slow pace, thus motivation.

zNiiC

Prototype game play, then create very simple art. After everything is well, go back to the art and make finishing touches, then make finishing touches to the game play as well. Then test, debug, test, more debugging, and more testing.

BSideGames

I make myself do a one day game

that way both get done at the same time.

FallacyStudios

I agree with zNiiC. The way I see it is I find it difficult to design all the gameplay without being able to see atleast dummy actors. Seeing blocks doesn't get me far and allow me to visualize it. If you are going to do both you can always try doing something like downloading close replicas of what you are going to do graphically from the web and post them in as temporary art while you design the game play. After your gameplay is basically done slip out all the temp art for your art (that way if during gameplay creation you changed things or came up with new ideas you don't have to keep remaking new art each time). Then do all the testing and tweaks to make it nice.

**Be sure that you take out all the temp art though. You don't want to be sued for leaving someone elses property in your project.

ozboybrian

Before putting time and money into Art work you should be sure you can make the game play the way you want it to first.

I do find art visuals make it some what easier to concentrate and get mental images of what you're trying to do.
But I just grab pics off Google for that.

Ferin

I'd say it doesn't matter. First of all T8TRG8TR is asking on what aspect of the game he/she should work 1st
- not which is more important. It really depends on your character and the way
you like to work on something. Take a while and think how you work on other tasks in your life,
dont force yourself to something that may work for someone else, because it may happen that
someones style of work will daunt you to do more.

Its good when you get your initial idea of the game and start working on it.
First think what kind of game its gonna be, try to do some art if you like and put it to motion,
look how it feels.
Whatever you decide to work on first, you have to define some basics of the game. Otherwise you
may end up with game physics that are not suitable for you game art. Long story short listen to your
inner self and enjoy process of creation with this cool app .