So what do you guys think?

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Signatures are for people who have too much time and ideas, I lack the idea part....

i would say all of the above but storyline is always my number one aim in games since im an rpg gamer

I would have to say that "gameplay" is the most important.

There has to be intuitive yet innovative gameplay. As in, there is a compelling reason to want to perform the "quest" as well as accurate control of the character and a reasonable difficulty ramp between levels. In short the game has to be fun.

I work in a "videogames" company and we debate what makes a good game all the time. The answer is that the story, graphics, license, violence, realism, etc. always have to come after the fun factor is decided.

Think about why GTA was a bestseller. Why God of war is Game of the year. They were all original, but had an innovative, original gameplay with roots in classic "intuitive" control.
Keeping these points in mind, the Non-linear, replay value, and story will come later and more naturally.

Are you making a game, or is this just curiosity?

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Life is tough......but it's tougher if you're stupid.

hmmm...that's true, but take into account games like odin sphere...a 2D side scrolling game which is a good game due to its storyline and hand drawn graphics, and other nipponichi games like disgaea which concentrates more on storyline than gameplay.

RPG? Storyline...
For instance, what part of the game did you remember about final fantasy 7 & 8?
The gameplay? Don't think so... It's the story.
I love the whole system with experience points and levels, but for a rpg to rise above the mass, a well written story is a must.

Of course, the "all above" option is never wrong either. If i may say, pretty stupid to have such an universal answer in the poll... -.-

Yeah RPG is a little different than other games. It is definitely the story that will be deciding factor in an RPG. But even then the gameplay is somewhat important. Adding things like limit break to FFVII was a gameplay decision. FF12 has the timed combat system, Eternal Sonata has the button command timer, etc, etc. Without the gameplay aspect, the RPGs will all be the same. Even with different stories, the gameplay is still a huge factor.

But you guys are right story is definitely the most important in RPG, but I maintain that gameplay is a close second.

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Life is tough......but it's tougher if you're stupid.

well you're correct as well in gameplay...after all my decision is biased because i am an rpg gamer...but you could say i also put gameplay at the top sometimes. an example for this is ff12. i hated the new battle system and license board that i gave up on it after i got the first summon.