Any specific reason not you purchase videogames?

[OrsonM]

Hey everyone, I'm still working at whatever it was I told you good people I was working on (a videogame, right?, I said that?). But in any case, decided to took a small break from that to post something here.

I recently found myself with too many games around. I know that there are people with huge game catalogs, but I have a relatively modest pc game catalog of less than 100 games (including indies). Of which I probably... maybe, have only played around 25% of that. The heavy burden of having more videogames unplayed than those played let me to just not really care about getting more games for the time being.

What follows is my filter that I go through now if I'm getting a game or not: If all the answers are no, then I purchase a damn game:

-Is the game being sold at Origin?
-Is it full price?
-Do I already have this one? (important)
-Do I have the previous game but haven't played it?
-Am I buying this because of low self steem? (hugs are cheaper)
-Is the name Ubisoft somewhere on the cover?
-Will my wife have any unsettling questions for me if she spots me playing this?
-Do I have anything better to do with my time?

If all of those are no, damn it, it's a deal!.

although sometimes this backfires

Anyone else follows similar criteria?

 

[The_J]

mmhh...reasons not to buy:
- online DRM/registration DRM (Steam, Origin, Ubisoft, etc.)
- Demo didn't interest me
- I own a predecessor and haven't played through that (means it's either too difficult or not interesting enough; never a time issue)
- way too bad reviews (don't put the limit too high there though)

Else...well...if I assume that my machine can run it, the game belongs to my preferred genres, I have the money and no other unplayed games lying around...no other criteria.

 

[Andvare]

EA = no.
Even without it's completely ridiculous use of DRM mostly designed to stop second hand sales (because that is the only thing DRMs can stop in single player games), their game quality and support is so low I'll never, ever, buy any piece of software from them.

Tages/Starforce or any other invasive DRM = no.
Yeah, this should be a given for everyone. This means companies like Ubisoft can go jump in front of a moving 18 wheeler.

Well written negative reviews, that actually shows you what the problem is, from a credible source, is also a big no. For example, Sullla's tour of Civ V killed Civ V for me, unfortunately I had purchased it already (and lo and behold, I did not enjoy it at all).

I also have to like the demo or get it recommended from someone I know and/or trust.
There's just a lot of reviewers out there you really can't trust. Master of Orion 3 got an editors choice award FFS (IGN).

 

[Smellincoffee]

Do I need to connect online to play it?
- If yes, then pass. Regardless of the series.

How much replayability am I looking at here? Is it something open-ended that I can play again and again, or is it fairly limited?

Most importantly, how long have I wanted this? How much long-term interest do I have in it? Is it just a passing feeling, one that will see me wasting money for a game I install and only play for a week or two before moving on, or is this a game I've been thinking about for a while?

 

[GenMarshall]

Redicilous DRM that impose an installation limits and/or has to call home each run (I give Steam an exception since it allows offline mode.)

Is it from EA? If so, I don't want to install your Origin software. I'm happy with Steam

Another factor for me is what cash I have on hand since most of my money is going into gas till I get a job and earn enough disposable income to buy games.

 

[Rub'Rum]

A lot of valid points raised. Haven't been too nazi about the online thing recently. The prospect of a crapload of useless DLC is quite a fun-block for me. If you just can tell you're getting half of what the game is meant to be... well I might as well wait.

Personally, on top of many of these things to consider though... I now have to seriously ask myself if I'll have time to play it.

And it's not like I don't have much time. I actually have a decent amount of time, which I spend on various hobbies (those include table top RPG, travel planning, etc). But games require a lot of time. Especially either MMORPGs, or strategy games, and some RPGs... well... actually most games. I really want to play Paradox games, I have many of them. I've played quite a bit of Europa Universalis III. But it seems I often require like 50 hours just to start being decent at them and assimilate most basic concepts. I'd even say that for Civ it's the same thing. And there is just SO much stuff out there, that it seems having money and time to buy and play different games, I never invest as much time integrating strategy games as I used to when all I got for 6 months was Heroes of Might and Magic II as a teenager. Each of them thus feels empty and unsatisfying. To get satisfaction, I need to spend the time.

So yes, do I have time? It's hard not to buy a game you really would like to play, especially when it's on sale... But time man... Time.

 

[Maniacal]

*While there can be the odd exception (such as there is the rare paltformer I will buy, like Trine) these are generally my rules:

I will absolutely* never buy:
1. Always online or authenticate when you start up a singleplayer or SP part of a game.
2. Browser game.
3. It is a "MMO" something.
4. Looks like or little more than a flash game.
5. Ubisoft can shove its genitalia up its own buttocks.
6. Yet another indie platformer.
7. The_J likes it.

 

[OrsonM]

- Demo didn't interest me
- I own a predecessor and haven't played through that (means it's either too difficult or not interesting enough; never a time issue)

I applied the demo filter to "Back in Action" (patched version) and didn't purchase it. The game was also 23 dollars, even with the sale.

That filter did failed on me on Unstoppable Gorg, one of the most boring, yet prettiest games I've played. The demo made the game looked so much cooler than it really was.

So yes, do I have time? It's hard not to buy a game you really would like to play, especially when it's on sale... But time man... Time.

I'd also apply that to many books I've purchased but never read. Purchasing The Histories seemed like a good idea back then though..

 

[Thrawn]

I only really have 2 rules for buying games. Does it interesting enough for me to want it, and (this is the really important one) can I afford it?

Most of the time I don't buy games simply because I can't fit it into my budget.

 

[GoodGame]

Right now I'm on a tight budget, so gaming somewhat competes with adequate nutrition, dentistry, new shoes, etc... hence that is reason enough not to expand my Steam catalog to 101 games.

My number reason for not buying a "full-priced" product relative to perceived value is: no demo available. I'm aware that some games have demos, and then really have very little gameplay beyond the demo, but that's not too hard to see.

My number two reason is for Metacritic professional reviews below 82 and consistently negative Metacritic 'amateur' reviews. Also if a game is raved by some niche or Euro review site, but panned by mainstream sites (e.g. IGN, PC Gamer, etc..) then I tend to avoid it. Games that haven't been reviewed on Metacritic are usually avoidable too, unless they are indie bundle type games. A very good game can rapidly end up on Metacritic after release, due to rave reviews.

My number three reason is the game play is obviously derivative and unoriginal from let's plays or video teasers, even if it is an indie game. This is especially true if the game play is very similar to cheaper/free games.

Lower on the list of rejection would be unnecessary DRM schemes. E.g. selling a game in a brick and mortar store and then demanding online connections for DRM, or selling a game on Steam and then requiring even more layer(s) of DRM (e.g. EA or Ubisoft).

 

[scheva007]

If its from EA, no. its just gonna be overpriced crap, and they sell more crap in the forms of add-ons. and origin is just awful. their helpdesk consists of underpaid indians.

DRM isnt an issue for me, cause most of them are very stable. And it 2012. i have known the days where you had to had a landline and heard always that little sound when you connected to internet back in the 90's. Ubisoft and steam are very stable, especially when compared to origin. to compare: there was one half day that i couldnt play ACII, all the other days the servers were fine for all AC-games. you have more problems with origin in one week

Not buying games because of DRM might be a fine principle, but the reality is that you will miss out on great games (and the great features that platforms like steam have)

Other reasons for me might just be time: FM is a great series, but i now im not gonna buy 13, cause i will spend too much time on it

 

[sophie]

My criteria for buying a game:

Am I bored?

If yes:

Am I feeling nostalgic and just want to re-play through one of my older staples?

If no:

Is there anything particularly exciting that I've been wanting to get?

If yes:

Can it be obtained cheaply via amazon or steam?

If yes, then I buy the game. Really, I don't buy that many games these days. Maybe 4 or 5 in the last 3 years or so.