I'm curious...do i just talk isht too? (long post)

[Razer]

So I'm talking to my friends about games (like always) and this topic manifests itself:

With all the Next-gen hardware out and coming out and all the incredible things that could be happening...how much of it do we really care about and how much of it is simply talking isht?

Now my bottom line (we each picked a bottom line and kinda threw it out there/debated on it) was "What difference does it make if all we buy are sequels?" I mean, we all want new this and new that but all we buy are Game PT7 and Sequel Pt8. This brought me to look at my own massive library of games. Allowing for the fact that probably 51% (at least) of all games that are released are sequels in some fashion I allowed a 2:1 ratio of sequels to new properties as a break even point. Now I'm not talking about a game that came out in the PS1/Dreamcast or Saturn era and then got nothing for 6 years to be a real sequel. I'm more talking about the Sports/racing games, MGS/Rainbow Sixs, Crash/Jaks or the world. Basically if you only own 2 of a franchise on it's current console lifespan (XB, GC, PS2 or PS/DC/N64) then it's excused (Full Metal Alchemist 1 & 2 for example, as there are only two). I also discounted Collection packages (Namco Museum, Capcom Anthology, etc).

After perusing my own horde of games (I only did PS2 as i only own about 6 GC games and 10 GB games) I found I own a ratio of 5.5:1 New (for me) games over sequels. Now this isn't a definitive count since I do have the collection ones and some games that are loaned out that I can't even recall right now but it surprised even me. The only recurring franchises I do repeatedly buy have been the Smackdown, Tony Hawk, Need For Speed, and Dragonball Z (for the kids) franchises (non-sports games). I also included Twisted Metal Black in the Sequels list since I own all 6 games (TM1-4, Black, and that damn RC kids version). I did not include Madden since I only own the 2005 and 2006 versions but I did include NFL and NBA 2K games because I have all of them.

Now this makes me glad that I'm not a "I want this console because it's more powerful/prettier/whatever" because I buy games to play them, not to have new tech demos. I own no Final Fantasy games because I don't like them. I own a million other rpgs because I do like them. I own no Metal Gear games because I don't like them. I own a million NFS games because I do like them (or at least thought I did until I played them <cough, Most Wanted, cough>).


So what does your collection look like?

[Shino]

Razer, I don't really have an answer for your poll. I buy games for the gameplay. Doesn't matter if it's new or something I'm familiar with.

I love to play something like MGS, which is something I'm familiar with, then I love to play something like katamari damacy which for all practical purposes is something totally new.

So I'm in between. The one thing I don't buy games for is Graphics. As long as the game is fun, I don't care what it looks like.

[Girkon]

Yeah that seems a bit vague, since gameplay, story, and it's style can have a huge impact. Though it call would kinda go in the personal feelings category. I like what I like and tough nut bunnies to anyone who disagrees.

[Ming]

I don't really buy games very often, but when I do, I generally buy games that look interesting enough for me to warrant buying them, even if they're kind of obscure. Also, I generally like buying games based on subject-matter. I'm MUCH more likely to buy a game with a dark subject-matter (like Devil May Cry) than I am to buy something that's related to sports.

When it comes to sequels, it's tough. Generally, I'm OCD about these things, so if there is a sequel to a game that I enjoyed enough, I'll buy it so that I have the "collection". But that's just me being weird. Generally, I find that the franchises that I collect games from are good enough, in my own mind, to warrant buying the sequels anyway. A couple that come to mind particularly are Devil May Cry (which I personally like, even though I'm sure others don't) and Star Wars Battlefront.

Regarding consoles...I own all the major non-handheld versions right now, save for the Xbox 360. I don't have the handhelds because I really would rather play my lajor consoles, and if I'm on the go, there are other things that I would rather do, like read or listen to my Zen or watch a DVD on my portable player. And I don't really plan on buying any of the next-gen consoles either, mostly due to cost. I really can't see paying near $500 for these things, nor can I really afford it right now, or even justify it, since I don't play video games that often.

[Silver Adept]

I buy games that I think will play well, or that I've borrowed and know play well. Box art is almost no help to me - and actually, if a company gets a reputation for producing quality games (Nippon Ichi, we're looking in your direction with a thumbs-up), then I'll be more likely to buy those company's games - I still want to test them out.

Graphics are pretty, but I've played excellent story games with EGA graphics and pixelated heroes. If the story's good and engaging, and the gameplay is fun, then the graphics really don't matter that much.

[RuneLateralus]

Are graphics important? No. One of the best RPGs of all time is incredibly ugly (Ultima IV). But, just like anything, they do seem to draw in attention first. Even the Final Fantasy games from the good era (pre-PSX days...sorry but I think the series have never lived up to what they used be back in the old 16-bit days) were not visually impressive, but the essence of the games were something spectacular.

I buy games that I think look good and check out games that usually hear about from friends. I learned a while ago that familiarity can be very decieving (I am looking at you Mega Man games, Sonic Team, and Rare...sans the PSP Mega Man games and Kameo...).

I won't deny that familiarity, however, can help steer you into a good decision (like Splinter Cell or Metroid for me). But sometimes it is always good to hear what friends play...or just read about what others like as well. Sometimes, there is something I might have not really looked into or though of. Three big examples of this are Katamari Damacy, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (360 version, not the very poor XBox version), and Eternal Darkness. The three games seemed nothing special for me (awkward looking puzzle game, I never liked the previous Ghost Recons, and what looked to me as a cheap RE clone), but I gave them all a chance when recommended and I have to say I was more than impressed with all of them. In fact, those three games are some of the best that are on its console.

Bottom line is if I hear good things about it, I will check it out. If it sparks my interest, I will check it out as well.