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As with each Holiday season, my December calendar is as sprinkled as a school boy’s ice cream cone, with festivities and events. Early this week, I had lunch with a few friends, and the subject of video games came up. The much talked about topics were; do we game too much, are games getting better over the years and Metacritic. When one friend, says,
“I do not buy games with less than 85 score on Metacritic.”
At first, I thought he was joking. My friend, name undisclosed in fear of backlash, became very animate in his defense. There is a paradigm, he argues, that will make a game worthwhile and great rather dull and lackluster. He cites, gameplay, visuals, and responsive controls as the tenet of games.
“I just do not have the time to play terrible games.”
Playstation Move reception has been lukewarm at best.
Time plays an important role in the way we consume our entertainment goods. No one wants to dine at a where they treat customer service as a rarity or stay at a roach-infested motel. Review scores, and their average collected at Metacritic, are there for folks, like my friend, to help decide if the game is worthwhile.
“It is just not games, movies, music, restarants, shows and hotels, I use aggregate sites to help determine if I want to give my money and time to them. I read the comments as well.”
Epic Mickey was a letdown on Metacritic
Continuing to listen, I come to understand him more. He wants his entertainment, not just organized, but to experience the best that is out there. The best video game titles, crème de la crème, are on the top of the list. He may miss Gran Turismo 5, but probably enjoy Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Epic Mickey is off his list, but Donkey Kong Kountry Returns would fill his Wii platforming void. As flabbergasted as I was, he did enjoy Call of Duty: Black Ops (which he bought) than Medal of Honor (which he borrowed). His glass ceiling works.
Metacritic, as other aggregate sites, can be the tipping point for many potential customers. People, as my friend, who plays games but are not ultra-fanatical in the following of previews, videos, and reviews. Do you really have to be an ultra, if you follow video games? What take do Bitmob readers have? Do you use Metacritic, or any other sites in choosing which games you buy and play? Do you go gaga for games with less than a 85 score on Metacritic?