Hi all...

When I buy a game I am always influenced by the Box cover
or jacket of a game.I know its not a good point..Hence the old saying don't judge a book by its cover.

What makes you buy or trade for a game?

For me it would have to be plot --- and screenshots
inferno

Subject matter
Good reviews from trusted sources and/or player feedback
Pretty screenshots
If I've bought one of the developer's earlier games and enjoyed it
If it's an action/adventure that looks interesting, I always check and make sure there are cheats available before buying it.
I usually also check the type of copy prevention a game uses.

Box cover/gameplay/graphics/leading character/storyline.

same things as JEnny, basically. Storyline and game type--whether its a kind of game I like, like horror or fantasy or mystery. If I've played a game by that developer and liked it. If it's one of a series I've liked. Screenshots. And reviews by others I trust, like th reviews here.

WW

First thing is what kind of world & story will it take me to... and am I in the mood for it at this time? Sometimes I need a laugh; sometimes I want an eerie scare; sometimes a mystery; or some combination of these. I guess that'd be the storyline part. The artwork determines the 'world' I'll be in, so it has to be a place I want to 'visit'. And, it's gotta be mouse-controlled. If I see "keyboard", the game's not for me. I prefer 1st person so I can do the roaming around & interacting.

Before I knew about GameBoomers --or any online AG site, for that matter-- it was the box art & whatever storyline I could glean from the description on the back.

What influences me the most are the discussions I read right here on Boomers. It works out just right 99% of the time.
Marion

Good choices...
But for some reason I always revert back to the Box cover & or screen shots..I almost never base my views on reviews about a game..Only because some people like different things then others..

I will ask for opinions,but I always rely on what I like in a game...Its always Graphics....Never story,never music...

mostley screen shots and if I can I try the demo-- I do read what others think-- the 2006- favorites- thats why I have stock piled some 90+ games to play

If the reviews and/or box say that it is truly an adventure with puzzles and not action with skilled or timed tricks. If it works on my Mac I'll buy it no matter what. If it's PC, I want a good price.
Have y'all tried Azada at Big Fish? It's fun even with timed segments. Made me eat my words.

Hi

An intriguing story would be a major persuader for me - and fancy graphics wouldn't make up for it if there wasn't one

Cheers.

Mad

Interesting previews, positive reviews and screenshots help to make up my mind. I never buy without doing a bit of research first.

If buying new, definitely the graphics reach my purse-strings first.

If buying used, price and reviews help me decide.

If the game is a sequel to one I really enjoyed, I will even pre-order it.

Linda

Hey Linda..

Very good points

Hi guys. For me I guess it's like when you're looking for that "special person". Looks aren't the MOST important thing, but I think they are the first thing I notice, and that's true for games as well. I love boxes and the covers of them, so that'll usually be the first thing that draws me in. Then I'll scrounge around the internet for screenshots so I can imagine what it'll be like to play the game, and if I'm dying to climb into my monitor, then that's another thing that's got me. Then if I hear great things on Gameboomers and know that others who tend to like the games I like are "into" this game, I usually will go ahead and buy it.

Oh, also, if I can find a good demo and enjoy playing that, then it's guaranteed that I'll buy the full game. (LOVE demos, btw!)

Thanks for the topic!

Cat

Speaking of demos -- when I first starting playing adventure games, it seemed to me that there were TONS of demos available for me to try. I even tried some action/adventure demos, and bought the games as a result (the game "Rune" comes to mind).

Lately, though, I can't seem to find any adventure game demos. Is it just that when I first started there were years worth that I had never before heard of or played, lol, or are there really no new adventure game demos available? Anyone have any suggestions as to sites which have good, free adventure game demos? Or links to the demos themselves? Please?

My first thing to look for is it a point and click game.Hate keyboard no matter what game it would be. Great graphics and plot. Not a lot of hard inventory based games, that take the fun away from the game by fiddling around putting things together & taking them apart so many times.
Then it must have a walkthrough, because sometimes I just stink at finding things.
I check out reviews from several sites & ratings.
That's what I look for.

Hi-

First of all, they have to be a point and click game, I have a couple that are not and I still have not finished them. Then the game itself, I love adveture and RPG's, games like Myst I have tried, but I can't seem to finish much. I am waiting for another Kate Walker game and I would love another Dungeon Siege and Titan Quest.

Maggie

I'm with Elli...hate keyboard controlled games! You're too busy looking down at the keyboard to really enjoy the game fully. Imagine my disappointment after receiving and installing Dead Reefs when I realized it was all keyboard controlled. That's just wrong! Had I known I wouldn't have bought it! But, now that I do have it, I would like to finish it...just don't know if that's going to happen. Same thing with conspiracies. Sometimes it's worse if you have to use one hand to walk and another to control the direction of the walk...then deal with inventory...UGH. Wish there were more games like Syberia I & II, Keepsake, Secret Files of Tunguska and Still Life. I do agree that there aren't as many demos available anymore.

Dee

Point & click & no action sequences at all ! A good plot & lovely graphics. I am really looking forward to Lost Crown ...

I do agree that point & click is my all time favorite in a game.

But I have been playing Dead Reefs...Started to except it.
Glad I didn't know about the keyboard cause I wouldn't of wanted it..
But then again this game turned out to be on my Great list..

Also the only reason I got it was because of the Superb graphics