GAMER Poll: Reasons why you buy video games…
There is an endless stream of new games released on the various systems every month, far too many for anyone to buy all of them. Which means we all have to pick and choose our purchases, especially around Christmas. But what are your main reasons for buying one game over another?
In our recently finished poll here on Gamer.Blorge, we endeavored to find out what reasons you all have for choosing certain games over others. This was a follow-up to an article last November in which I asked if reviews were still the most important factor in determining purchasing decisions. It seems they aren’t anymore.
Any of you who voted in the poll will immediately notice some missing answers. And it’s true, I had to abridge the results before publishing them due to the inordinate amount of unrepeatable answers given. That’ll teach us to allow you lot to add your own answers! Which is why the current poll (over to the left there) has set answers. Ha, the power! Ad now the results…
We asked: What counts most when buying a particular videogame?
Quality – 208 votes
Boobs – 164 votes
Positive Reviews – 112 votes
Story – 85 votes
Metal Gear – 72 votes
Chuck Norris – 67 votes
Longevity – 62 votes
Enjoyment Of The Experience – 57 votes
Sex – 49 votes
Online Capability – 40 votes
Graphics – 39 votes
Playing A Demo – 38 votes
Gameplay – 33 votes
Instinct – 32 votes
Friend Recommendation – 20 votes
Series History – 19 votes
Price – 17 votes
Developer Notoriety – 14 votes
Co-op Split Screen – 13 votes
Gore – 11 votes
Features – 11 votes
JRPG!!!! – 11 votes
Sonic – 10 votes
Genre – 8 votes
Interest, Supported By Positive Reviews – 7 votes
Part Of A Series – 5 votes
First Person Play – 3 votes
Kid Friendlyness – 3 votes
Fun – 3 votes
It’s Killzone – 3 votes
‘Quality’ was the top answer, unsurprisingly. But all of you who voted for it didn’t tell us how you determined the quality, which was the main thrust of the poll. ‘Boobs’ came second, which when combined with ‘Sex’ in eighth place, seems to suggest games developers can forget gorgeous graphics and brilliant storyline and just stick some naked women in their game to ensure sales. That explains why Tomb Raider still sells well.
Reviews are still clearly important, although all-important. And the story, enjoyment factor, and longevity of a game also has a big impact on sales. There were also some particular game series mentioned, with people suggesting they’d buy any Metal Gear, Killzone, or Sonic game no matter how dire it was. Which is a good job for the latter as all the recent Sonic games have been dire.
This poll didn’t really answer the question as we hoped it would. There are clearly numerous reasons people choose to buy one game over another, with a choice having to be made in relation to the budget people have. This poll may not have answered the question once and for all but it does show how people’s minds work… or not in the case of the erroneous answers.
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18 Responses to “GAMER Poll: Reasons why you buy video games…”
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January 18th, 2009
DAVE PARRACK, how many votes did I get up getting? Did I beat Sonic?
January 18th, 2009
You learned only that toy have more jokesters here. Perhaps that is because people come here more to watch/play in the article induced flame wars than for serious game news/discussion. Maybe less articles thrown up solely to incite comments flame wars would help!
January 18th, 2009
Yay quality won!
January 18th, 2009
no shit sherlock… I mean DavidB…
January 19th, 2009
Hahahaha Yeah i have to admit, i nominated for you Harry…SURPRISE?! there, thats your birthday treat.
January 19th, 2009
I voted for boobs myself.
January 19th, 2009
There’s a handful of series that I have enjoyed every single entry… Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, God of War, and a few others… Otherwise, I just sort of keep an eye on what’s coming out. If a game catches my attention and gets decent reviews, then I’ll be sure to get it.
January 19th, 2009
I voted a few times, because I happened to check Blorge on a few different computers. I’m pretty sure I added a vote for Harry too.
I would of gone just for ‘positive reviews’, but remembered that I can still miss the magic even with well rated games. The new Prince of Persia was generally pretty well reviewed, but I found it very clunky and like you don’t have much control. Press X towards that wall and then press O at the right times if you really need to get crazy. Almost no need to specify direction either. The older Prince of Persias felt like you had much more control / flexibility.
Still, I’ll keep playing it, chasing light seeds is kinda fun.
January 19th, 2009
Who put kid friendliness? Sounds kind of ambiguous…
January 19th, 2009
Royzy, I think Michael and Tito Jackson voted for that one. Not that Tito is into the same shit as Michael.
January 19th, 2009
As long as I beat Sonic…
January 19th, 2009
I liked the new Prince of Persia, but I see what you’re saying. As long as you’re paying attention, it’s almost impossible to mess up. From what I can remember about the older games, there was always a point when the maneuvers and obstacles got to the point where they were too demanding and became very frustrating.
Remember Assassins’ Creed? All of the reviews loved that game, so I bought it… it was not very good at all. That game could have taken a huge lesson from Grand Theft Auto, and have some verity in the missions. Not just doing the same 7 or so missions again, and again…
It’s not up there… but wasn’t one of the answers “Raging Bovine Boner”?
January 19th, 2009
So that is Michael and Tito – but there was a 3rd sick voter… who do we suspect? I’m pinning it on DWH – it is the suspicious glint in his twitchy eye.
Ass Creed was dire in almost all respects, except the free running itself I thought was very good and the graphics weren’t bad. Was pretty satisfying to throw knives at guards as you ran across the roofs.
I gotta say there was some frustrating bits in the old PoPs, but they made you use your brain. The satisfaction value when you realise what you should be doing was great.
I like the new PoP enough to be pleased I was bought it. I was actually bought 2 copies for xmas, but one was returned and swapped for Fallout 3. Which I am yet to receive…
January 19th, 2009
I’ve been really curious about FallOut 3. I would like to maybe rent it first, I’m not sure if it would be for me or not. Let me know what you end up thinking about it.
January 19th, 2009
Yeh I will do. My friends say nothing but good things about it constantly. Sounds like it has loads of memorable moments, as Oblivion did.
January 20th, 2009
Fallout 3 is fantastic. Don’t rush through the story though, or you won’t really get to experience it. Also, try getting the PC or 360 versions, the PS3 version is a poor cousin to the other two in terms of graphics etc.
January 21st, 2009
“…the PS3 version is a poor cousin to the other two in terms of graphics etc.”
Bit of an overstatement, wouldn’t you say? They look the same to me, and the PS3 version at least has the benefit of HDMI…
-Arvis
January 21st, 2009
I saw an article doing a side by side comparison of the two, which pointed to the PS3 version having a slight graphical edge. I’m at wok now, so I can send the exact link. I think from what I’ve heard was it was buggy at release, but has since been patched.