How much marketing material do you see before making a decision?

[moonbits]

From initial announcement articles, cg trailers, gameplays, livestreams, beta/demos/ previews, reviews, etc.
Do you seek every available media regarding an upcoming game before making a decision?

I personally just read announcement articles, if it catches my eye I add it to my Wishlist.
If it's a franchise I dearly love I just wait for it to release, not caring about marketing material (I delight in my ignorance in this hobby)

 

[Waffles]

I actually never base my decisions on marketing material.

If someone whose opinion I value recommends a game, then I usually get it. If someone makes a good case for why I should get it, I can at least look into it.

If the company who made it tells me how awesome it is, then I just stay out until someone echoes their feelings.

 

[moonbits]

I actually never base my decisions on marketing material.

If someone whose opinion I value recommends a game, then I usually get it. If someone makes a good case for why I should get it, I can at least look into it.

If the company who made it tells me how awesome it is, then I just stay out until someone echoes their feelings.

Understandable. But if, for example they announce "A Hat In Time 2" (based on your profile picture) would you wait for someone's opinion or would you make your decision on what you see?

 

[Waffles]

Understandable. But if, for example they announce "A Hat In Time 2" (based on your profile picture) would you wait for someone's opinion or would you make your decision on what you see?

I still wouldn't get it right away because that actually happened to me... got Deus Ex blindly and loved it, then bought into both Invisible War and Human Revolution without looking into them and felt a bit blindsided.

 

[guppy]

I have experienced issues in buying something instantly because I liked its prior game. So I don't do that anymore. I guess in general, being patient and thinking about if I am in the mood for x-game is important. I hate marketing, and want to burn it to the ground. Including the "cool" game/device reviewers who are all part of the marketing machine. But I tend to like what I like and it's sort of always just been that way. An example is I think I've played The Wind and the Wilting Blossom 680xs when it's a pretty "on-rails" and to be honest relatively mediocre experience.

I guess I will actually say though, if I am circling a game - I will look up gameplay of it. From at least two people. Preferably without commentary, although sometimes I can't find that. Also preferably from someone who's played it at least 3+ hours. I will look for long chunky videos first, then look at playthroughs second. I avoid common faces outside of that one middle aged blonde guy who seems like he's from the noreast and plays retro-inspired games. Cause he makes me =)

*** I guess I should also say I have experienced getting burned by buying something based off of nostalgia more than anything. I tend to try and think - "Would I really like this x-thing?/Do I need this x-thing?/Do I have other x-things that I could enjoy instead?" It helps a lot. There's a lot of creepy consumer culture stuff going on with video games, and it's good to take a step back and see what's making you happy outside of what you're doing out of compulsion. *Shrugs

 

[Don Patch]

That's an interesting question.
I wonder if folks have a set amount of consumption before they dive in?

I'm like you but maybe pickier, lol(?) It just needs to grab me else it's just background noise.
I actually am more keen to look into something based on suggestions by people more so than baseline marketing or even reviews.
My tastes are perhaps eclectic

 

[It's Thinking 2]

Used to see ads in magazines and on G4TV, but these days they randomly pop up on YouTube channels. Sometimes it's the channel that makes the game, sometimes it's a compilation channel that plays different indie games.

 

[guppy]

I thought about this more earlier. Didn't a ton of people get stinky-burned by Bloodlines 2? I feel like this is a good example, because I saw there was a new VtM game out and I think past me would have instant-bought it. But present me is just kinda *shrugging at the cleaner graphics of this go round. (Not sure what I can link here so I'll just put the name: Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York)

Used to see ads in magazines and on G4TV, but these days they randomly pop up on YouTube channels. Sometimes it's the channel that makes the game, sometimes it's a compilation channel that plays different indie games.

One funny thing about gaming nowadays is that things you were advertised 100xs over when you were younger you can check out now. You know, see if things are pewp or actually were good.

As for streamers as a whole, I am so insanely weary of them. I have weirdo tastes like that person up there. I am mad shamed when some person "awesa-talks" me into believing in a game so hard that I actually purchase it. And hate it.

 

[eroguro]

Nothing. I tend to buy one or more games each month for each collection of physical copies I maintain. I have never bought any game on its release date.

 

[Sayo]

If there's a demo then that's the best way to judge a game within legal realms.