It seems as though they're focusing more on gameplay (which scares me, btw), but what are you looking for? Who would want to play a great game with horrible graphics?

Err, I want both. I still play old games with fun gameplay and lackluster or dated graphics... but if I'm paying $40-50 for a new game, it had better look good too. There's no reason they can't do both - The Sims franchise is the best selling game series of all time, EA has tons of money, and it's not like the people who are working on gameplay features are the same ones working on the look and feel of the game. It's two completely different skillsets for two completely different sets of game designers.

Both, definitely

Ditto, They should go part-and-parcel

I'm really lookign forward to the improved gameplay. I am positive they'll do a great job with the graphics, especially after seeing Spore, which I thought looked bad in the pictures. As far as skins and clothes textures I'm sure the cc creators will come up with whatever we might feel we need.

Well, it depends. I must say that game play is a little more important to me as long as the graphic can be as good as the best pictures on this forum that some have (read Boolprop, Daisy etc). I would be very upset if it has worse quality than The Sims 2 on my current computer.

I'm assuming they won't downplay the graphics. They'll probably be the same or slightly better than that of the Sims 2. [hopefully better :D]

GAMEPLAY! I still play old games like Jagged Alliance 2 (very dated graphics) simply because the amazing gameplay isn't found in any other game.

Graphics mean very little if the game isn't immersive, replayable, and something fun to play.

I also hate it when they simplify and mainstream the gameplay, that ruins it. I do pray that they don't do this to TS3.

I didnt tick either box for this reason:

near enough all the games that come out nowadays are good looking. there is no pixellation (i'm looking at you PS1 and saturn) or ultra ultra blurry smudged textures (and you N64) so every game that comes out is above the bar i demand.

I remember baulking at some of the texture problems in Tomb Raider and Metal Gear Solid on PS1, but once you anti-alias (smudge) them, they become quite pleasant to look at.

So, to top it off then, a game HAS to good decent for me to get into it, but they all do anyway.

Well both ideally, but game play is definitely the most important of the two in such a game in my opinion. But, it'd suck to play a brilliant and intelligent game (game play wise) with outdated graphics.

Gameplay :D. Seriously, I have this game called ADOM (google it, probably the first page you get it's short for: Ancient Domains Of Mystery) and all of the graphics are made up of ASCI signs, so there are no real graphics to speak of. But the gameplay is wonderfull :D

I'd agree- all the best games started out when graphics were poor! It's nice to have good graphics but the original concept has to be good, as the Sims is. Glossy games with no concept are rubbish!

you know, I had a mate from primary school who, one day at his house after work (this would have been about 1990) put ona game SOOOOO much like the sims. it was on a commodore or amstrad or something, and it was like a 2d side-on view (like sonic). i was fascinated by the little man washing his hands, going to the loo etc.
I wish I could find out the name of that game.

tizerist - Little Computer People.

OH.MY.GOD.
*googles it*

EDIT: Yeah, thats it! Its like the first ever sims game!
someone even even said so here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8JaHD16lPI

EDIT AGAIN: It even had EP's planned for it!!! Ikea Home Stuff for the 1980's! Look here!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Computer_People

When you phrase it like "Graphics or Gameplay" I'm going to pick gameplay. That being said, however, I expect graphics to be a noticeable improvement from TS2. They already are; the most striking picture, in my opinion, is the comparison on snootysims of the female joggers. Incredible already, and the game is nowhere near finished. I have faith that TS3 will satisfy the right mixture of both

Gameplay over graphics, definitely. What's the point of having a game with superb graphics when the gameplay/story is horrific??!? If I had to choose between an amazing game with outdated graphics (say like Baldur's Gate) or a top of the line graphics driven game that turned out to be horrible (like PS3's Lair)...I would definitely choose Baldur's Gate.
Then again, I like older games (especially for the Sega Genesis like Shadowrun and Streets of Rage) , games with more character and longevity...too many games now are made for the casual, trendy "gamer" so if it's pretty and they can beat it in 3 hours (or less) then that's considered a good game.