Poll: The "I want that" feeling

[SuperNashwan]

Hi there

What sales medium tempts you the most to try a new game or piece of hardware, or pick up that one you have been thinking about?

I went in PC World the other day, and began browsing new graphics cards. Something that struck me was that I had been looking at these cards online, and whilst seeing them in pictures made me feel like "I want that", seeing the thing in this brightly coloured box, just sitting there, brought up this really strong feeling of wanting the thing. Its no biggie, but it caught my interest as to why I wanted it so much more in the box, and I got to remembering toys and things when I was little in boxes. God I wanted that Star Wars AT-AT Walker so bad ....

So on my brain went, and I started thinking about online delivery of games like steam, VS ordering a boxed game online or buying the boxed game in a shop. For you, what methods of sale produce a bigger "I want that" feeling - browsing online (especially if its screenshot / preview heavy and immediate download like steam), or actually going in a shop and seeing it right there? This is for full purchase of the game as opposed to rental.

Oddly for games I think I have a small steam addiction, I tend to want games a lot more when I see them on there as I rarely get much idea of a game from the box back.

EDIT: Sorry about the poll question, I cant edit the thing. Should read "what distribution type makes you 'want' a game more?"

 

[Twaddlefish]

For casual games, I don't really care...but for games/series that I really like, it'll be a physical copy if not a collector's edition.

Unless there's a Steam sale on.

 

[Kaltazraza]

If I don't have the box it feels more like I don't have the item. And I get more tempted by looking at games and stuff in stores and such, than at the internet. Thats why I keep the plastic stuff from boosterpacks instead of throwing them away.

 

[SuperNashwan]

Curse you, Steam! I didn't even know I liked tower defense or puzzle games, but now I'm nose deep in Defense Grid and Puzzle Agent. Don't even get me started on The Witcher.

The prices... they're so low... Can't resist...

OT: Seeing the game box is actually more of a 'oh, this is why I don't have it yet' feeling.

Now I have a desire to play tower defense games I didnt know I had either :O For me its also because its so easy. Two clicks, and you have the game, and you dont even feel the pain of opening your wallet / purse ...

 

[Irridium]

Right now I'm staring at the Mount and Blade complete package.

I want it. So very badly.

 

[Palademon]

Seeing things in person does it better for me, I'd say, unless it was really cheap online, I guess.

For example, after I get christmas money I plan to buy Gundam models. I would be far more enthusiastic to do so if I could see the box easily infront of me at a local shop, like it was when I was a kid and they still showed Gundam Wing.

 

[SuperNashwan]

Right now I'm staring at the Mount and Blade complete package.

I want it. So very badly.

LOL I feel your pain. I am currently eyeing up Battlefield Bad Company 2 and ARMA 2. No cash ... sucks to be me ...

 

[SuperNashwan]

Hmm just noticed there's an article on this kind of thing on the escapist

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/experienced-points/8395-Experienced-Points-The-Future-is-Still-Retail

Similar kind of things being said there

 

[shadyh8er]

I'd go with the "box" thing. I'll go into the store saying "OK, I just want one game. I'm just gonna get Uncharted 2 then go! Weelllll, that X-Men Origins demo was pretty fun maybe I'll *slaps self* NO! NO! NO!"

 

[SuperNashwan]

I'd go with the "box" thing. I'll go into the store saying "OK, I just want one game. I'm just gonna get Uncharted 2 then go! Weelllll, that X-Men Origins demo was pretty fun maybe I'll *slaps self* NO! NO! NO!"

Lol yeah its like once you open the floodgates ... do you think its like the whole "hunter gatherer" instinct, like that article on escapist says?

How about buyers remorse? Ever get home and fall into a black hole of self rebuke at how the game shop masterfully jedi-mind tricked you into multiple purchases again? Or is that just me? **looks shifty**

 

[shadyh8er]

I'd go with the "box" thing. I'll go into the store saying "OK, I just want one game. I'm just gonna get Uncharted 2 then go! Weelllll, that X-Men Origins demo was pretty fun maybe I'll *slaps self* NO! NO! NO!"

Lol yeah its like once you open the floodgates ... do you think its like the whole "hunter gatherer" instinct, like that article on escapist says?

How about buyers remorse? Ever get home and fall into a black hole of self rebuke at how the game shop masterfully jedi-mind tricked you into multiple purchases again? Or is that just me? **looks shifty**

Well, not multiple purchases. No matter how tempting it is, I make it a point to only buy one game at a time. Although I would be lying if I said I never got buyer's remorse. The three last times I remember were when I bought Resident Evil: Outbreak, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, and Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven respectively.

 

[Sixcess]

Steam is very good at pricing games at exactly my "yeah, why not" threshold, where I'll buy a game I'd heard of and could be interested in, but that hadn't actually hit my DO WANT trigger.

Consequently I now have enough unplayed games to keep me going until about 2020.