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El Poll Nuevo 30 Jul, 2002, 22:20 / 25 comments

By Webmonkey


It's about time we updated our poll. Last time, we wondered what would convince our readers to give up life as a Storm Trooper. Overwhelmingly, you responded that you would abandon the Galactic Empire in order to become mighty pirates.

This time, Mojo wants to know: What's the most important aspect when buying a new game? Vote away, dear readers!
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25 Comments

  • scabb on 07 Aug, 2002, 01:51…
    Well, first of all, I'd definitely say that most (intelligent) people pick out the genre that they are willing to buy, looking for titles of a specific genre - this may include sequels etc. Then, I choose the developer - for instance, if I want an RPG, I choose a Squaresoft or a Nintendo game, If I want a football game, I choose Konami etc. Usually, if you stick with the same developers, the games are always great, but this method of selection can lead to a lot of repetitive gaming (Why buy every single Street Fighter, for instance), and a lot of missing out on original titles that are nice.

    Publisher has to be important to a lot of you. I've seen the hype that Psychonauts has been getting. And you don't know that it has Innovative design and a great plot yet, you just have Mr Schafer's word for it ;) Which, of course, takes you back to the developer..
  • Oystein on 03 Aug, 2002, 07:53…
    Innovative design. That's why I'm going to buy Mafia when it ships later this month.
  • MonkeyMug on 02 Aug, 2002, 00:15…
    Plot then who made it (LEC, SquareSoft, Capcom... Other good type people.) FFIX has both! YAY! (Just beat it, yes it took me a year! I got it last year! So slow... 51 hours...Is in victory mode)
  • Jayel on 31 Jul, 2002, 19:18…
    Well I suppose "MUSIC" fits into the "other" category?? It's the third most important thing I look for in a game!
  • Metallus on 01 Aug, 2002, 16:06…
    I had music as an option, but it's rare that you get to hear the music of the game before buying it. Graphics, however, are readily visible in screenshots/videoclips etc.

    Sorry :).
  • Jayel on 01 Aug, 2002, 17:18…
    It's okay... I wouldn't have voted for music as my first choice anyway.
    :)
  • Scummbuddy on 01 Aug, 2002, 09:41…
    but this is the vote for the first thing...
  • mercatfat on 31 Jul, 2002, 18:49…
    For me, it can be any combination of the choices. If there's a new Blizzard game out, chances are I'll get it, just as I'll likely pick up any Konami, Capcom, Sega, Nintendo, Treasure or Square that intrests me in the slightest. Sequels to games I enjoyed the first time definately influence me as well. If I'm really on the fence about a game, then I'll go for the reviews first.

    Characters are an important factor as well, though that kind of overlaps with developer/publisher. If there's a new game with Mario in it, I'd definately give it a look since those games tend to not suck.
  • Riffage on 31 Jul, 2002, 16:03…
    VIOLENCE...nnn..KILLING..nn..MORE VIOLENCE...nn..MORE KILLING...GUNS...EXPLOSIONS..nn..MORE KILLING...NWAHAHAHA
  • laceyware on 31 Jul, 2002, 14:10…
    It's a bit difficult to know what the plot or design is like prior to buying it, so review should be the one to go for (or demo if it were there) if those things are what's important to you.
  • death_himself on 31 Jul, 2002, 13:58…
    it has to have monkeys!!!
  • Haggis on 31 Jul, 2002, 11:29…
    Pretty box art. When you go to a store to buy a game, the box art is the decisive factor. It is the last thing that can prevent you from buying, or convince you. Sometimes you can tell from the box art that the developers spent 90 % of their time and money designing the box, so the game would probably be crappy. But the box art also gives away good taste. When a box is visually pleasing, the game would probably be quite cool too. The psychological effect of box art should not be underestimated, in my humble opinion. Besides, if you turn the box around, you get a pretty good impression of what's inside, and based on the screenshots (or even the lack of any descriptive text) you can make a last-minute decision and spend your money on something more valuable, if possible.
  • Kingzjester on 31 Jul, 2002, 13:11…
    Yeah, I worked against that box art impression when I bought EMI... Hmm... I should have trusted my box-art instincts...


    ... then again, when I buy music, box art is the last thing I think about: I mean, the White Album is blank, and Is This It has desktop wallpaper packaged with Windows 95 on the face side....
  • DJG on 31 Jul, 2002, 10:35…
    Gameplay owns all.
  • Metallus on 31 Jul, 2002, 17:41…
    How can you know about gameplay before playing a game? Reviews, that's how.
  • DJG on 01 Aug, 2002, 10:16…
    There's also this thing called a "demo."
  • twifkak on 01 Aug, 2002, 08:21…
    I suppose "Warez" could've been another option :P
  • Haggis on 01 Aug, 2002, 07:18…
    But "Good reviews" was another option.
  • Ben_Whatsisname on 31 Jul, 2002, 09:43…
    Genre for me... Not just LEC games either - when I go to buy any game, I always look at the genre and (as a subtext) what "engine" it uses. (Like "adventure"..."myst clone"..."Umm...no...next...")
  • YTtheMighty on 31 Jul, 2002, 08:34…
    I just have to say pretty box art...
  • Kingzjester on 31 Jul, 2002, 08:06…
    At last! A deep philosophical question! I've been waiting for this for so long! *sniff*
  • csenosiain on 31 Jul, 2002, 08:05…
    if its lucasarts ;)
  • Remi O on 31 Jul, 2002, 07:45…
    Design for me, and I kinda feel that the plot should be part of the overall design.
  • twifkak on 31 Jul, 2002, 05:56…
    Hrm. Some of these things overlap. I chose "reviews" but that doesn't necessarily mean "reviews by professional gaming journalists" but just "other people's opinions." Chu!
  • Bone Man on 31 Jul, 2002, 04:36…
    Hmmm, tough call. Design or plot. If it doesn't have one it needs the other.