Never Buy A Bad Game Again
Master of Monsters: Disciples of GaiaWhen was the last time you paid your $60, brought the game home and went, "oh crap, this sucks..."? If you take advantage of all resources available, it should almost never happen.
You know, we complain a lot about what we've lost; about how the golden age(s) of gaming was - in some ways - better than the current generation. But if there's one aspect of the industry that's infinitely better for consumers, it's the availability of information. It's the combination of dozens upon dozens of reviews, tons of forums and communities where feedback and commentary is constant, and the fact that we can actually see most any game before it's on our TVs. There are plenty of trailers, videos and other footage (some from trade shows), and we even have freakin' demos these days. The bottom line is that the days are long gone when we take a shot in the dark 'cuz the box looked cool.
Plus, think of another bonus- because the best games tend to sell very well, and because most gamers do their homework, developers know that if they release a bad product, the repercussions could be dire. And they have been dire in the past; take Free Radical and Haze, for instance. Gamers doing their homework and utilizing the resources available to them is like one big quality assurance program for the industry. EA has gone on record several times saying that review scores are extremely important, and they always strive to release quality titles worthy of those elite 9+ scores. And designers know just how crucial it is to put out a great demo. If we step back and examine the whole situation, there's almost no reason for you to waste your hard-earned money again.
Sure, we might not be as thrilled with a purchase as we would like, but colossal mistakes really shouldn't be as common.
P.S. The reason I have that pic in this article is because it represents one of my mistakes from the past. I don't think I even had Internet when Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia came out, or if I did, I certainly didn't visit GameSpot (4.9) or IGN (4.0). I just thought it was like Final Fantasy Tactics.....aaaand it wasn't.
2/25/2011 Ben Dutka
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Comments (48 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:28:44 PM
8 up, 1 down
shadowscorpio
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:32:21 PM
For example, a reviewer from IGN gave trinity zill o Souls a 6.5. The reasons that he gave it a lower score where reasons that actually did not bother me about the game when I played the demo. Thats not to say that many won't agree with him but its always good to try a game out for yourself and conduct your personal assessment.
Last edited by shadowscorpio on 2/25/2011 11:33:45 PM
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:48:38 AM
Yes, there are occasions when there are large differences in scoring, GT5 springs to mind, but it isn't really often, and certainly not for the more mediocre games. The biggest aspect to a purchase is whether or not a game falls into your preferences. If it's a genre you love, even if it is fairly average, chances are you'll enjoy it. But, if you despise a certain genre, even a game that gets 9.5+ across the board isn't likely to make you change your mind.
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 8:35:01 AM
2 up, 0 down
AcHiLLiA
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 12:43:17 PM
0 up, 0 down
CH1N00K
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 9:38:40 PM
Reply
In the end I haven't been disappointed because I got what I was expecting when I finally got the game.
That being said, I can't help but feel that the internet has kind of ruined games a little bit to. Thanks to the readily available use of internet, I have found that developers haven't worked as hard (Not on all occasions) to release an amazing title right from the start. Now it seems the general business model is to put out a decent product and then update the crap out of it later on to fix all the glitches. For me that is a downside of the internet in the industry. Information good...easily updated games at a later date...bad....
Last edited by CH1N00K on 2/25/2011 9:40:20 PM
4 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:06:45 PM
Reply
Ninja Gaiden (NES) was a win.
and Deadly Towers (NES) was a fail.
Castlevania (NES) was also a win, especially Simon's Quest.
1 up, 0 down
SvenMD
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 3:48:12 AM
Box art even made Spelunker look awesome! That's a fail. I don't think I've ever lived longer than 5 minutes in that game!!
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 9:08:23 AM
1 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:18:47 PM
Reply
Only one problem arises with this new fashion of great game quality, and it seems Sony is in the middle of it...
THERE ARE TOO MANY GREAT GAMES!!!!
Really!! Look at 2011 alone and the PS3 exclusive lineup itself!!! Now that review scores, demos and forums are easily accessed, it seems ALL games are relatively high to excellent quality, and we all can't keep up any longer!!
Look at Medal of Honor. Great game, from what I've heard, but there are so many other great or better titles out there that it didn't stand much of a chance in sales.
Also, franchises seem to be working very well. Dead Space, Assassin's Creed, GTA, Uncharted, Call of Duty, Killzone, Mass Effect, they are all guarenteed money-makers because they are all quality games with talented developers who are rich of their first game, and therefore can make a better sequel with their millions of dollars.
It's awesome, this really is the golden age of gaming. Hardcore games still exist (Demon's Souls, No More Heroes, Lost Odyssey, Bioshock, Mass Effect 2, etc) but the casual gamer has boosted the industry even further and created new ways to interact with electronic entertainment (Call of Duty, Wii Sports, Kinect, Move, Mario Kart, etc)
My wallet has certainly suffered this gen, and I can only feel sorry for the great developers whose great work won't see my cash until a price drop later in the year. (Sorry Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Crysis 2, Skyrim, Homefront and Marvel Vs Capcom 3, you guys have to wait for price drops)
0 up, 0 down
ZettaiSeigi
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:24:16 PM
I am not complaining that there's no shortage of excellent games out there. I just wish I have more time and money to get them all. LOL
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:53:47 AM
But would you really want it any other way? What would you prefer: Having at least one top-notch game releasing every month, and missing out on some of them immediately because of a lack of time or funds, OR having no more than four elite quality games per year? The latter would free up some time, and give the lesser games a chance to get a few sales, but the former is far more appealing, as not every elite game appeals to everyone.
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Sunday, February 27, 2011 @ 3:02:10 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jed
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:21:46 PM
Reply
Stay classy San Diego.
Last edited by Jed on 2/25/2011 10:22:28 PM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:29:06 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:01:37 AM
1 up, 1 down
mid10smaradoarg
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 10:32:44 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
JDC80
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:22:56 PM
Reply
Last edited by JDC80 on 2/25/2011 11:29:20 PM
2 up, 0 down
AnonWTF
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:48:28 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:01:56 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 10:36:12 AM
1 up, 0 down
MadPowerBomber
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:55:11 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:56:56 PM
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So much for bad games, but here's a great deal on a great game.....
Killzone 3(brand new) for only $46.77 & free shipping.
FYI, there's only 1 available so you had better make a rush on it before someone else snatches it up....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Killzone-3-for-PlayStation-3-Move/150568494781?_trksid=p1468660.m2000036
2 up, 1 down
___________
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:03:24 AM
Reply
bulletstorm will help me forget all about that!
0 up, 6 down
___________
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 8:17:15 AM
Kmart had it for 18 bucks so cheap i could not resist!
glad i did not though, traded it into EB and got 20 bucks for it so i actually made a 2 dollar profit!
was a good 4 hour time killer i guess, but any longer and id go insane!
not the worst ive ever played, that still belongs to naughty bear.
that games so freaking pointless!
1 up, 1 down
Alienange
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:03:50 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
akmdpc
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:12:02 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:59:30 AM
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
THEVERDIN
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 1:36:01 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 2:37:15 AM
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With today's insane dlc fiasco tho, I buy most of my new games under $30. I may be late to the party, but I'm dancing alone anyway, so it's just as fun for me. Mafia II should be here from amazon on monday or tuesday, $19.99 and it doesn't seem like it's been out all that long.
0 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 2:56:32 AM
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review scores are importantant, but we see very highly rated games that don't sell all the time. i guess all the information that's out there is great, but maybe sometimes there's a little too much.
0 up, 0 down
_valdips3_
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 3:44:55 AM
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0 up, 0 down
SvenMD
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 3:58:16 AM
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Luckily many game today have high replay value - esp if you include MP.
1 up, 0 down
Ludicrous_Liam
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 5:21:21 AM
0 up, 0 down
Teddie9
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 9:28:09 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 9:30:22 AM
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Over the past year I've become much more disillusioned by critical response, even aggregate scores from Metacritic. Does Gran Turismo 5 have any business being in the 80'ish club? Quite simply, No
Because critics can seemingly just pick and choose whatever criterion they want to validate their verdict bothers me. I know I've read or skimmed through a handful of KZ3 reviews that seem to synthesize complaints with entirely subjective reasoning, even absurd reasoning. I won't go quoting EDGE magazine's or IGN's "black screen" complaints, but it's irritating. All of this just confirms to me that too many critics are holding a disproportionate amount of power. And that power is being invested into them from those who spend their money on these products. The correlation between game sales and critical acclaim is there. It's understandable. Though, I'd imagine most gamers don't want to waste $60 on a bad game--like Ben's article expresses. And the critics are going to be there with their verdict before a game's release to direct prospective sales by gamers who want a good game.
But what happens when the motives of critics become insidious? Or what happens when games become too complicated to critique by the average critic who, maybe at best, has a degree in journalism or writing?
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 10:29:09 AM
It's just eons better than it was in the old days. You just crossed your fingers and hoped, really. It's true that with so many different critical styles nowadays, it can be tough to get an accurate reading sometimes. But most times, I'd say the Metacritic average is pretty close to right.
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 11:41:00 AM
I'd say the majority of my most recent software purchases were committed before having considered reviews. Simply because I knew already that titles like KZ3 and GT5 would deliver the goods. Which probably has a lot to do with their already respectable reputation. New games, though, like Knights Contract are a bit less predictable and it's nice having informed critical opinion before risking the expense.
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 11:59:56 AM
0 up, 0 down
hehateme
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 9:46:22 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Vitron
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 9:46:45 AM
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That was before I discovered the PSX community.
1 up, 0 down
Radiohead
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 11:28:17 AM
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1 up, 0 down
JDC80
Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 11:57:21 AM
As for really bad game I brought it had to be "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" I was at Best Buy, I had 10 dollars and my PS3 library was low at the time.
If you want to hear something crazy tho my sister got me "Dark Sector" for full price as a birthday gift and like three months later I found it at EB for 17 dollars.
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Reply
Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 9:34:04 PM
This also makes me kind of happy. Back in the days of the Master System and Atari, my parents would buy a ton of games from the second-hand store in town for like... five bucks each. Some were fun and some just sat in the box, never to be put into the systems after the first time.
Peace.