What makes you, as a consumer, buy and play video games. Is it the advertisement? or the reviews? or another reason entirely? Today (April 29, 08) I'm going to get GTA4 because the GTA series has always been what I expected and then some. Not everyone likes GTA, but the main reason I buy video games is to challenge myself to see how far I can go. I want to see how many ways can I do something. I love video games and I always will. So, I want to hear your reasons on why video games consume not only your wallets but also your time.

Popularity, decent graphics, which video game company was made, the genre, price, platform, if it's a game in a long series/sequel (if I've played the first, I feel like I should play the second). That's about it

For the most part, it's the company, re-playability and gameplay.

For that reason, I don't tend to buy a lot of single player games, such as Oblivion, Assassin's Creed and Bioshock. (I usually just borrow them from my friends). As for multiplayer RTS games, I don't tend to enjoy them online, and usually end up (again) borrowing them from my friends and playing LAN games with each other.

The only game I tend to spend my money on is MMORPGs (right now my salary is going into World of Warcraft ) and even then, I usually find a cheap alternative (such as Private Servers).

I guess I'm just thrifty in general

It's the rating, replayability and most of all the graphics!

What makes me buy and play videogames are mostly from trailers I've seen. If I see the graphics and the premise is really drool-worthy, then it's mostly possible I'll buy. It depends on the type of genre of the game as well, since I mostly play RPGs, action-adventures, and fighting games. I'm also a sucker for limited & collector's editions (especially if it includes artbooks and accessories), 'cuz I feel that it's a must-have.

If it's also a continuation of a certain series, then I'll also buy/play them as well.

For me there are a lot of factors.

One of them is the Company. I am a very loyal Capcom, Namco, Tecmo, SquareEnix fan.

Another is the fan service. Sex sells me.

Another is the voice talent. I import alot of games because I like the work of particular seiyuus.

There are more, but those are my top 3.

I have absolutely no reason as to why.

It varies from game to game. If it be something that peaks my interest, or if it's something I've heard about that's absolutely good/terrible or just something at random. I would specify if there was a pattern, but it always varies from game to game and it's never consistent. When it comes down to the game itself, a rather large amount of factors come into play. Graphics, gameplay, story and voice acting are to name a few.

I'm open to pretty much any game out there and willing to give it a fair shot as well. I usually weed down the process as well depending on how many games have how many good factors going for it. If it's more expensive, the higher amount of factors it'll need to have to convince me of considering the purchase. Price plays a pretty big point as well.

The main reason I buy/play the way I do is because there is no consistency in the gaming industry. Famous companies can product shitty games and a great series can churn out a turd, so it's hard to really go off of those reasons alone. It's also difficult to simply because a game is big. For example, Halo 3 is huge, but I doubt I'll be playing it until it drops down significantly in price because I don't do multiplayer and I don't think it's worth the money as is. Yet, I'm somewhat of a fan of the series and am rather curious to see how it all ends.

Usually, it takes a series I know well to make me immediately want the game. Or, from a developer I know will turn out something amazing. After that, it's uniqueness and story line

I usually buy a game by mostly looking at the reviews, the genre, or the company itself. I love RPGs and First-Person Shooters. And Square Enix is usually the company I buy from. If the the game is anime-influenced, then it makes me want to buy it even more than usual.

Depends on the type of game - rpgs i play based off a good story line - first person shooters i play for realism - fighting games are bout the only one i can say i really play for graphics lol tho fighting styles and realism are also good here as well

Well, one thing that always proves very important is the premise. You have to be able to "catch my eye", so to speak, if you intend to sell me a videogame. This is generally not done through graphics, though, despite the "catch eye" expression I just used - I am not really interested in photorealistic games. The visual cues that lead me to think "let's look for some info about this thing" tend to be mostly about genre - easily deduced from the couple screenshots in the back of the box (incidentally, that's a reason I HATE it when games only have screenshots from FMVs there) -, general game design, and the basic plot of the thing.

If these things have withstood the first sight analysis, I will search for a bit of info, maybe a couple gameplay trailers, and get a few details on the game stlye. If all this proves interesting, the game is already at a good place in my "to buy" list.

And finally, there's the impulse. I'm what D&D would designate as a "heavily chaotic" person. I can think for weeks "I really should get that game..." and never get it, and then look at another, try it, and instantly buy it if I liked it (like it happened with Valkyrie Profile Silmeria - awesome game, by the way - recently) on a completely non-reasoned impulse. This is borne mostly of me knowing perfectly well that, once I get that feeling, I will either end up buying it or feel pretty bad, so why bother postponing it?

Know thyself, as applied to videogame consumism :P

Funny how people pick company or graphics because there are a lot of other games that don't have the greatest graphics, but have a really good game.

Anyway, what makes me get a game is the box art. Really, I love colorful box art. Several games from Atlus make me want to get their products, but sadly I have no money.
But seriously if companies like Square Enix would improve their box art I would be so psyched on getting it. Like the re-release of Final Fantasy i, on the DS, they just plastered a FFi logo on a white background. How unoriginal is that! I saw the japanese box art and theirs was a lot more colorful. Shame on Square Enix.

Second, what make me buy a game are from reviews from other people. Like playing Phoenix Wright for the DS. I thought it would be a stupid game, but I quite enjoyed it. Despite it's goofy name I really liked it. If someone didn't mention it to me I probably wouldn't give it a second look. "Never judge a book by it cover" in this case a game.

Okay.. for me, there are 3 factors for me to consider in buying/playing a game.

1)Gameplay & Review
First things first, if the gameplay of the game can "catch my eye", for example "Call Of Duty 4", i will want to get it. And with positive reviews, the more i will want to get the game.

2)Graphics
Games with stunning and beautiful graphics like "Crysis" will amazed me on wanting to know more of the game. Amazing visuals will never fail to amaze me. Who doesn't want to play a beautifully stunning game?

3)StoryLine
A game should have always have a nice storyline, which will always make the use want to follow the story and keep on playing the game. Even if it isn't very graphical, a good storyline will always keep the gamer entertained.

Yea, these are a few factors i will consider in buying/playing a game. By the way, games that have a history of sucess like "Red Alert" will make me want to look forward to other games related to it.

Isn't this very similar to the already made 'What Makes A Good Video Game' topic?

A good story line is key
and also i think that there should be a good multi player gaming
I never buy a game if it has no multi player, because then i cant play with my friends =]