what am doing...is it right or wrong>?

I usually just download and play demos for the games. Thats a good enough indicator if its worth buying or not.XaosII

Xbox 360 has made this reality for console gamers really for the first time. Its great to have, really helps you make up your mind as 85 % of the games on it have a demo, sadly some don't. To me this is an indicater that the game is not so great, and I tend to stay away from games with out a demo. Activision tends to not have a lot of their games demo, to me I think the quality of  The big A's games are not as good as they used to be.

I am very selective of the games i buy...i think $60 is a lot of money for one game, and am always sure there is abetter offerto get the same experience of the game(used games, borrowing, special offersfor older games)and i only pick games that are highly rated, things that i cant go wrong with lke GTA and halo...basically i would only buy a game that is a 9 or high 8's , depending on the genre, for example i would buy it if its racing cause i dont like racing games...
do you think what am doing is wrong? i mean are there fun games that arent highly rated? i dont see how those games that get rated by 5's and 6's even get sold and people still get to enjoy themor are they playing them just because they got them? Do you buy any game you feel like? its a big mistake to regret it later onbecause the money already went on to waste...there are games that look like fun or with a theme that i like, but i am always afraid to buy that rated "6" game because gameplay and controls might just simply suck...Kingmohd84

Get Xbox Live, play online games like Gears of War. Simple, good fun for months and months on end. Probably even years. 

Trust me, you are not alone. The last game I played rated below an 8 here was Lost Planet or better known as bag of barf in game form.GodModeEnabled

No Way!! I collect bags of barf! 

Not really right or wrong....but I think that Scores alone arent the best way of choosing the best games....especially if you ask many gamers, many classics never even hit 9.0 here at Gamespot or at other places.

Deus Ex, probably one of the most classic first person games of all time, recieved an 8.2 here at Gamespot.

Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are cited by many people as being two of the best games on the PS2 platform, neither got a 9.0 here at Gamespot.

You ask most PC gamers whats the best and most atmospheric RPG released on the PC platform since KOTOR, and many will quickly list Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, despite the fact that Gamespot gave it a very low score of 7.7 due to the bugs at the time.

I personally prefer word of mouth from like-minded gamers as myself in combination with an average of review scores from numerous sites (like those found at Gamerankings or Metacritic) when choosing to check out or look into a game.

I just happen to be a: 1.- A giant mech nut 2.- Turn based strategy lover 3.- WWII history buff 4.- Someone who read "The Man in the High Castle", That game had my name written all over it. PS: Don´t go below 7, that´s just asking for troubleSciFiCat

Not that it has much to do with the topic, but I'm just really stoked whenever somebody drops a Philip K. Dick mention into the conversation.  Mad props for having good taste, SciFiCat.

As for your moral dilemma about game ratings: 

You have to do your homework, unapologetically, when it comes to games and you have absolutely no reason to feel bad or conflicted about it.  Not only is price an issue, but think about all the time you end up investing in games these days.  At the risk of sounding totally conceited, I just don't have the time to waste on crappy games.  Period.  And neither, I'm sure, does anybody else.

Read reviews.  Play demos. Do like your momma told you and don't judge a game by its cover.  

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Enjoy. 

Don't buy into ANY review.  Use www.gamerankings.com for a better overall unbiased opinion.

Otherwise, try the demo and use your own unique judgement.

I think that's fair. If you're going to waste your time with a ridiculous hobby like videogames, you may as well make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck. Support the publishers when their games are good, and pretend they don't exist when their games suck, which is most likely to happen.

I think that's fair. If you're going to waste your time with a ridiculous hobby like videogames, you may as well make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck. Support the publishers when their games are good, and pretend they don't exist when their games suck, which is most likely to happen.

GAMES- the ridiculous hobby that EVERYONE you know (under 45) is into...

 

CanadianEh

It's not wrong, it's commendable. All you're doing is some research before making a relatively pricey purchase...how can that be "wrong?" You may want to consider trying a few of those games that scored a 6 if they fit your personal gaming tastes, though. For example, I always have a blast with those DoA: XBV games, but they receive very mediocre scores (and rightfully so). I also frequently don't agree with a lot of RPG scores that have been handed out in the past five or ten years.

So while what you're doing makes perfect sense, you might want to spring for something you're sure you'll enjoy, despite a less-than-impressive set of scores.