How Do You Determine Your Purchase???

[peace4myheart]

I always try to be as informed as possible about a game before an actual purchase. The reviews, from both the professionals and regular gamers, are usually the deciding factor. However, sometimes I just buy on impulse. What about you guys??? How do you determine what game is worthwhile to purchase and what is not???

[PharmaceuticalCowboy]

Sometimes I go with gut instinct (see Arcanum... amazing game!) and other times I research and research to determine what I want (some DS games like Metroid:PH and MarioKart). I usually use metacritic for games and movies too but for most Nintendo games I use Nintendo Power magazine, which tends to be biased towards Nintendo developed games but whatev... I usually like those games anyway.

[Pullmyfinger]

I play before I buy, but I know many people who buy a sequel if they liked previous installments in a series

[raztat]

i look on the back of the box most of the time, thats how i got mana khemia and i love it.

[Mozgus]

"Pirate first" <==Where's this option?

[Ack]

We're not supposed to mention that one, Mozgus...

Personally, I just see what my friends are playing, or I ask what's been recently released in specific genres at game stores.

[racketboy]

Word of mouth is most valuable to me for a lot of things.

[Gamerforlife]

What usually makes or breaks a game for me is seeing it in action, which usually means seeing some videos online of actual gameplay. I guess the closest thing to that on this poll is renting or playing the demo.

I use reviews or word of mouth to get info about a game, but I'll never base a purchase decision on other people's opinions. When I see a game in action or just play it then I know if it's right for me or not.

[Curlypaul]

I read about games a lot and I guess that is where I do most of my want list building.

I read professional reviews first but then I start to look for reviews written by some hardcore fans of the franchise/genre because then I know that sponsorship or corporate brownosing hasnt got in the way of the reviewers actual opinion. Ok so blind fanboyism might have got in the way instead but if there was a major problem with the game the fanboys will normally be shouting the loudest about it.

[lordofduct]

I voted "I don't care, I'm filthy rich". I didn't find an all of the above, I grab a game for any reason. If it interests me, if some one tells me it's up my alley, it's kinda just a weight of all of them. If enough of those things occur, or my gut just says it should be... then I buy.