Video games are a great way to pass the time and can be a great source of entertainment for any age group. As with any other type of entertainment, there are several factors that you need to consider when purchasing a new video game.
For example, what kind of graphics do you want? What kind of gameplay do you prefer? What kinds of controllers do you prefer? How much time do you have to play the game? Is it a family or an adult-only game? This is just a small list of some factors to keep in mind when purchasing a new game.
What to consider when purchasing a new video game:
1. The Price of the Video Game
When purchasing a video game, price is usually at the top of the list for most people, especially during holiday discounts. You can always find the best deal by searching the internet for discounts at various retailers at this point.
In some instances, this argument extends to the question of whether you prefer to buy a game digitally or physically. Keeping an eye out for sales provided by your local brick-and-mortar store and their websites is a good idea if you’re purchasing games on discs.
You should keep a watch on price tracking services such as SteamDB, PlayStation Games Price Tracker, and Xbox Games Price Tracker if you prefer to buy digital games from first-party retailers. In particular, if you discover that a title you’re interested in is often the cheapest in the first quarter of the year, perhaps you might hold off until then to get the best value for your money.
As with any other online retailer, you should do your due diligence before making a purchase from a third-party digital storefront, like Humble Bundle or GOG, as they can offer great deals.
2. The Video Game Genre
As important as it is to know the genre of a game, its name, and promotional videos may not always reveal it. Because of this, players may be disappointed when they play a game and discover that it isn’t all they expected.
Knowing the genre of a game before purchasing it is highly recommended to avoid problems like this. A wide range of RPGs can be found in the middle of these two extremes, including narrative-heavy RPGs and MMORPGs.
To help you decide whether or not a game is worth your time, most shops have “genre” sections that allow you to see what a game falls under. A game’s overall length and replay value are both affected by this factor.
3. The Video Game Publishers
When it comes to games that rely heavily on microtransactions, this is an important consideration. It doesn’t matter if the game’s developer is talented; if the publisher is known for using negative techniques like microtransactions and loot boxes, things can quickly go poorly.
After purchasing a game, it is frustrating to discover that additional fees are required to access content hidden behind paywalls or remove advertisements from the game to experience it fully. If a publisher has a history of employing these tactics, it’s always a good idea to wait a few weeks following a game’s release to determine if this is a problem for you.
A label warning users of information restricted by paywalls has been mandated by various authorities, although the system hasn’t been perfected yet.
This isn’t just about the publisher’s financial plan but also their overall track record. Avoid games from publishers and developers known for launching games that never get fixed unless they get a lot of negative feedback from gamers on forums.
4. Publisher Updates History
After all, no one can expect a game to be perfect when it comes out of the gate. Almost all games are released with a few flaws, but these are usually small and are fixed in later updates. However, several games are quickly canceled after their release.
Internal problems like a small development team, the game not being as well-received as intended, or a plethora of other possible reasons are the most common causes.
It’s pointless to spend money on a broken game that’s unlikely to be fixed. Despite the fact that the existence of “update history” sections on some storefronts, such as Steam, functional parts like this are frequently absent from the gaming industry as a whole.
While it’s possible to track the game’s progress on the internet, you may want to look elsewhere if your store doesn’t provide this feature.
Although it may not be in “ideal” shape right now, if you observe that the developer routinely provides updates to address user concerns and squash bugs, you should consider giving the game an opportunity.
There are certain exceptions to this rule, such as if the developer has either abandoned the game or released updates after a long period of silence.
5. User Reviews
They are all subjective, regardless matter whether experts or the general population writes them. Some critics may have nothing but praise for a game, while the general public has nothing but disdain. Neither position is incorrect because one size does not fit all.
For this reason, it is wise to read user reviews after a game has been released, as long as the reviews are free of spoilers. This will help you decide if the game is worth your time. It’s not a bad idea to watch a few gameplay videos on YouTube, as long as you don’t read too much into them.
When it comes to assigning a score to a video game, sites like Metacritic combine evaluations from critics and players. Most brick-and-mortar retailers also allow customers to leave their reviews. It’s always a good idea to read user reviews, but you shouldn’t take them as gospel truth; rather, use them as merely suggestive evidence that a game is what its critics claim it to be.
You should avoid games that have received universally negative ratings from both reviewers and the general public. Still, if the reviews are evenly split, it’s worth investigating further to see if you should invest your time and money into the game.
6. Video Game Age Rating
In public areas like the family room or giving a game to a younger player, this is a crucial consideration to keep in mind. Depending on your family’s dynamics, it can be unpleasant to play games that feature gratuitous violence, nudity, and strong language in the living room.
Check the game’s age rating if you’re concerned about the game’s content, as some gamers themselves aren’t fans of heavy storylines. Organizations like the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) provide official age ratings for games, and it is recommended that you check their website before purchasing one if you are not comfortable with mature themes or are gifting it to someone younger.
So, What Factors Should You Consider When Purchasing a New Video Game?
There are several factors to consider when purchasing a new video game. Price is usually at the top of the list for most people, especially during holiday discounts. If a game’s developer is known for using negative techniques like microtransactions and loot boxes, things can quickly go poorly. It’s pointless to spend money on a broken game that’s unlikely to be fixed. In-depth reviews aren’t enough to tell you if it’s worth buying.
If you observe that the developer routinely provides updates to address user concerns and squash bugs, you should consider giving the game an opportunity. It’s always a good idea to read user reviews after a game has been released, as long as they are free of spoilers. Enjoy your gaming experience!
