Game review relevance and the informed gamer |
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A well-informed readership gamers have become. At least, that's what is being implied by a recent trend being discussed over at Three Speech. Going into detail, gamers are becoming less and less dependent on official game reviews, and are instead going by their own resources to see for themselves if their copy of a game like Gundam Crossfire is really up to specs, or if it's better swapped out for Resistance: Fall of Man. This trend works off the fact that since the upsurge of net-based media like game trailers, screenshots, and demos, gamers are being given more choices in deciding on a video game's merits, and that these media forms allow a first-hand glimpse of a video game weeks before its release. Think back a little - how was your play-through of the Lost Planet or Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2's free demos, and how much did it get you psyched out for the game's launch, at least with regard to Lost Planet?
And it's not just the official game teasers that hold influence - think back to the times you guys made a decision on whether a video game "roxxorz" or "suxxorz" based on the responses you've probably heard on websites (like QJ here), your local circle of friends (ex: your Xbox Live Arcade posse), or even your resident MMORPG guild threads? Double for the homebrew community - homebrew applications and homebrew games alike are rated according to the first few brave souls who test them, though it's almost like an unofficial review.
Looking at the other side of this perspective, could it also be that gamers in general aren't as trustful of gaming reviews as they were before? Everybody's got his own perspective, and game reviews, as impartial as they (hopefully) try to be, are still guided by human hands. And with the information players can get with demos, we're looking at an informed readership (or is the term gamership) that's more observant of any possible bias that goes into game reviews, whether it's some personal piece, or a pre-release review out from some of the premier gaming sites we have conveniently bookmarked.
What's your say on this, guys - just how much do you take a game's review into account when you make a purchase?
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Comments
i agree... ohh... btw... 1st post! hihihiihihih :P
As a gamer, I have been disappointed by a number of games that received supposedly good reviews, mainly due to the fact that reviews only state one person's opinion and everybody has different tastes/desires/ways of looking at things. I am also under the impression that not all reviewers can resist the urge to tell a little white lie about a video game if they are offered enough money/rewards for it under the table. On the other hand, game trailers and recordings of a game in action tend to be more trustworthy. Game trailers can be viewed and examined as quickly as a review and allow people to form their own opinions based on what they see instead of relying on somebody else's opinion. I have for the most part been pleased with games I purchased using game trailers for reference.
When Twilight Princess got an 8.8 on gamespot I died a little inside. Especially when Warioware gets a 9.1 these reviews are wack, Zelda has replay value through the roof on a game you can beat in 3 hours max. I don't trust reviews anymore.
They give tons of content for free even without an account. Some sites make you sign up to get the higher def videos but not GameTrailers.com. When I wan't to see tons of reliable videos I go there. When I want the latest news I come here on QJ.net.
I use all resources to decide whether or not I want a game. I play the demo, watch the trailers and videos, look at the screenshots, and if that's not enough to make me buy it on day one I also read the professional reviews, and sometimes average Joe ones. But I definitely am more wary of professional reviews now than before, now that the industry is so big money buys good reviews. Just remember never to rely on GameFAQs' or Gamespot's reader reviews, those people are not to be trusted.
i think people just have to keep in mind that what the reviewer's opinion can differ greatly from what you want and expect from a game just use reviews to find out how stuff works in a game, details, ignore their opinion videos are the best way, aside from playing the demo but who wants to pay 8 bucks to rent a game when you can use that 8bucks towards the game you're going to buy
I use my own eyes to find the games i like. Gametrailers.com is a great help at that. playing demos is a great way too. I'm really disappointed with GS too.
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