Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite places and tricks for finding new video games to play. It turns out the least of your problems was finding new games!
From the comments it became apparent How-To Geek readers had absolutely no problem finding new games to add to their gaming stable. Buzz writes:
I have quite an elaborate procedure in finding my next game:
For free games i simply follow the feeds on a few websites like Freegamer, LinuxGames, HappyPenguin and Penguspy. Every now and them i browse Wikipedia articles on free/FOSS games.For commercial games the procedure depends on what i enjoyed the most in that game:
– If i enjoyed the story or the general feel: i usually start with a game i like and look for sequels, prequels, mods or spinoffs. I even go out on a limb and give other platforms (than a PC) a try, even if it usually means emulation. If you really enjoy a game series/saga it’s usually worth the effort.
– If i enjoy the producer/gaming company then i seek out more of their games.
– If i enjoy the technical achievements that went into making the game or if i am concerned for the system requirements of my gear i try to play games that are built on the same engine(s) as one of the games i ran smooth and enjoyed.
– If i feel like playing a particular genre i usually start with a title i enjoyed and look for alternatives or similar games
– You can always try searching for Game of The Year winners for a particular time period or other similar accomplishments. They usually yield great results.Good websites on games are IGN and GameSpot. My game-finding algorithm usually involves starting with the Wikipedia page of a Game Engine, Game Company, Game Genre or Game i Liked. Afterwards i move on to checking reviews on GameTrailers and finally look up gameplay videos on Youtube.
Keltari, however, dives right into the problem:
Finding a game is the easy part. If you read this site, Im willing to bet you read other IT/game sites and you are deluged with game reviews and advertisements.
The hard part is deciding which game to get. Everyone has their preference for genre, platform, price, free time available, etc. Sometimes I feel like a FPS on the console, other times a turn based strategy game on the PC.
Some games are just have-to-haves. For me if Bioware made it, Im buying it.
As for other games that look interesting, the deciding factor is MetaCritic. I only look at critic reviews. User reviews are worthless to me, as they tend to be filled by kids who are fanboys or haters. The give 0s or 10s and their reviews tend to be garbage.
Thanks to modern distribution systems, abundant game web sites, and the like… it seems like it’s no problem at all to find new games. Finding time to play them? That’s a whole other problem. Weslocke echoes the sentiment:
Oh heck, finding the game isn’t hard. Between podcasts, sites and Steam sales I can’t get away from them.
Now can you help me just find time to play any of the stack that I’ve bought. _THAT’S_ the question I want answered. :-)
Where to find time, indeed. Perhaps the future of gaming is games linked across platforms so players can squeeze in a few minutes of gaming wherever they are?
Have a tip, trick, or favorite site to add? It’s not too late to join the conversation; sound off in the comments here to share your tips.