by Jade Stephen

Created on: March 23, 2010   Last Updated: March 24, 2010

From a Gamers perspective, it is often a hard task sifting through all the new titles to locate a game worth our attention. Every week a new stack of titles come out, all with their own advertising campaigns boasting their dominance over other titles. As if this was not enough, there’s a plurality of categories those titles can fall into, and every gamer has a different preference. Do they like RPGs? Is their preference a good first person shooter? With all of these things in mind, it becomes a rather daunting task when choosing a title for someone else, but don’t despair yet. Here are a few tips on choosing a great game for any gamer you know.

1)      Stick to what you know:

Don’t let yourself get talked into the game that’s being promoted the most. Just because there are posters of God of War everywhere does not mean you should buy it. There were a lot of posters for Water World and look how that turned out. Instead, focus on what you have seen that person playing. Try to identify their genre. Often a player will stick with a few categories and avoid the others. If you have seen them play racing games for instance, it is a good bet that they will likely enjoy another one.

2)      Do Some Homework:

Video games are quickly becoming a multi-billion dollar a year industry. This being said it is no wonder that there are now countless magazines, websites, and publications on the topic. Take some time to read the reviews of games you think your target audience will like. Places like http://www.gamespot.com often have reviews of new titles months before they come out.  Read them over, and separate the tripe from the titles that are more quality. Focus on aspects like graphics, and game play ratings.

3)      Ask the staff at your local video game spot:

The staffs at many locations that sell video games play themselves. They have stood their looking at each title scratching their heads wondering what to play this weekend. Pick their brains! They have familiarity with most of the titles on the shelf, and are paid to help you make an educated decision. Tell them what’s on the shelf of your loved ones and see what they suggest. Often times they will be on the money.

Keeping these suggestions in mind you will find the task far less daunting. Just remember to look at what they already have and use it to your advantage. A little homework goes a long way.  Read the titles they have, and isolate their genre, and you will be picking out the perfect game in no time!

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