I look back, and I think I made the wrong decision.

I was at my local Wal-Mart Saturday night to pick up two sets of Wii points. I was browsing through the rather excellent library of Wii titles on the shelves.

Anyways, there was a kid, I'd estimate to be 11 years old or so, who was looking through the Wii titles. He then discusses with this dad that the game is $49.99 plus tax is about $55. I stuck around a few minutes to see what he was purchasing.

The lady who had the key opened and picked up a copy of SimAnimals. That bothered me somewhat. There were some most excellent titles out there and I just stood there watching this kid picking upthis game. Now, it probably wouldn't have bothered me it were like $20-$30, but this was a full retail price.

I really wanted to jump in and say "No, you don't want this game,SimAnimals isnot worth it. I reccomend (X) game here." The problem was, I didn't know exactly why he shouldn't get SimAnimals, and maybe he really will enjoy it, and he may actually hate the game that I would've reccomended had I said something.

I was so close tobutt in and "help."I just don't know.

I was at my local Wal-Mart Saturday night to pick up two sets of Wii points. I was browsing through the rather excellent library of Wii titles on the shelves.

Anyways, there was a kid, I'd estimate to be 11 years old or so, who was looking through the Wii titles. He then discusses with this dad that the game is $49.99 plus tax is about $55. I stuck around a few minutes to see what he was purchasing.

The lady who had the key opened and picked up a copy of SimAnimals. That bothered me somewhat. There were some most excellent titles out there and I just stood there watching this kid picking upthis game. Now, it probably wouldn't have bothered me it were like $20-$30, but this was a full retail price.

I really wanted to jump in and say "No, you don't want this game,SimAnimals isnot worth it. I reccomend (X) game here." The problem was, I didn't know exactly why he shouldn't get SimAnimals, and maybe he really will enjoy it, and he may actually hate the game that I would've reccomended had I said something.

I was so close tobutt in and "help."I just don't know.

wiifan001

I understand the impulse to prevent the sale of that game, but the counter argument is that the child may very well love that game, as many others may. While It's shovelware, that doesn't always mean it's a terrible game. Mediocre perhaps, but still enjoyable for a younger player. Still, that price is really steep.

Good job, you probably killed his childhood.

People can buy what they want. Even when I was younger I read magazines and informed myself what games not to buy, Games like SimsAnimal for 50 dollars.

Hard as it is, I think you made the right choice to just stay quiet. I think we've all bought a game that turned out not to be so good, and you know what, it made us all better shoppers and probably helped to define our taste in games. Live and Learn.Arc2012

I say let the darn kid buy the crappy game. Hyuk Hyuk.

every individual gets a different level of enjoyment from a product. for all we know, that kid couldve loved the game. it really doesnt matter if the game he bought happens to shovelware. even if he does end up not liking the game, then he is beginning to learn that its best to do some research before making a purchase. id say that lesson is more important than any fun he might get out of buying a good game.

[QUOTE="Arc2012"]Hard as it is, I think you made the right choice to just stay quiet. I think we've all bought a game that turned out not to be so good, and you know what, it made us all better shoppers and probably helped to define our taste in games. Live and Learn.kardine

[QUOTE="kardine"][QUOTE="Arc2012"]Hard as it is, I think you made the right choice to just stay quiet. I think we've all bought a game that turned out not to be so good, and you know what, it made us all better shoppers and probably helped to define our taste in games. Live and Learn.psychobrew

I was at my local Wal-Mart Saturday night to pick up two sets of Wii points. I was browsing through the rather excellent library of Wii titles on the shelves.

Anyways, there was a kid, I'd estimate to be 11 years old or so, who was looking through the Wii titles. He then discusses with this dad that the game is $49.99 plus tax is about $55. I stuck around a few minutes to see what he was purchasing.

The lady who had the key opened and picked up a copy of SimAnimals. That bothered me somewhat. There were some most excellent titles out there and I just stood there watching this kid picking upthis game. Now, it probably wouldn't have bothered me it were like $20-$30, but this was a full retail price.

I really wanted to jump in and say "No, you don't want this game,SimAnimals isnot worth it. I reccomend (X) game here." The problem was, I didn't know exactly why he shouldn't get SimAnimals, and maybe he really will enjoy it, and he may actually hate the game that I would've reccomended had I said something.

I was so close tobutt in and "help."I just don't know.

wiifan001

I don't know why, but i've been asked about Wii games a lot here lately, whether in BestBuy or WalMart. In one instance in WalMart, I was looking at their collection, and a 70+ year old man began asking me about the games that I owned, and which games did I like best. I pointed out the majority of the games that Iowned, or at least the ones that WM had, and tried toget a feeling of what kind of games he was into, which was weird because this man was extremely GREEN (new)at gaming. Well, a WM employee came up and started throwing his input in, which is why he works there. But, the old man was dead set on getting SMGalaxy. I didn't encourage or discourage him from it. I just told him that I 'dug' the game and that he might or might not. But, I told him up front that I didn't want him to buy it based solely off of my decision. Because, if he paid the $50 and tax for it, gothome, and didn't like it, then, i would feel bad. Funny thing is, I almost volunteered my SMG copy to him to borrow, almost. See, the old man lived in a retirement neighborhood less than 5 minutes from my house. Looking back on it, I prolly should have let him, but he ended up buying it anyways. So, I hope he's enjoying it.

When I look at my childhood i can remember epic times with sholveware

I was at my local Wal-Mart Saturday night to pick up two sets of Wii points. I was browsing through the rather excellent library of Wii titles on the shelves.

Anyways, there was a kid, I'd estimate to be 11 years old or so, who was looking through the Wii titles. He then discusses with this dad that the game is $49.99 plus tax is about $55. I stuck around a few minutes to see what he was purchasing.

The lady who had the key opened and picked up a copy of SimAnimals. That bothered me somewhat. There were some most excellent titles out there and I just stood there watching this kid picking upthis game. Now, it probably wouldn't have bothered me it were like $20-$30, but this was a full retail price.

I really wanted to jump in and say "No, you don't want this game,SimAnimals isnot worth it. I reccomend (X) game here." The problem was, I didn't know exactly why he shouldn't get SimAnimals, and maybe he really will enjoy it, and he may actually hate the game that I would've reccomended had I said something.

I was so close tobutt in and "help."I just don't know.

wiifan001

This happens to me all the time, but I never have the guts to step up.

When I look back at the games I have bought for the Wii, I have noticed some games that make me go "why did I waste my money?" Sometimes I wish that someone had cut in and told me that I should'nt buy that game. But, what can you do eh?

My mate is the same, he buys crap like EA Playground and Carnival Games, I try to tell him that there are awesome games like MP3 etc but he just doesn't listen! :x

You didn't.

There are two likely scenarios that took place here.

1. The kid went home and enjoyed the game. (My 12, 8, 5 year old siblings love BAD games, so it is quite possible this kid liked simanimals)

2. The kid hated it and learned a lesson that we all learn eventually.

either way he benefits.

He might have enjoyed it. When i was younger i made a few bad purchases but i thought they were great. At that age almost everything seems awesome :P.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="kardine"] It does not help some though. I have a friend who is ridiculous with the games he buys. He buys very bad games eventhough I lightly suggest good ones, but he does not listen. He will buy a game then play it once then revert back to WoW.kardine

Hard as it is, I think you made the right choice to just stay quiet. I think we've all bought a game that turned out not to be so good, and you know what, it made us all better shoppers and probably helped to define our taste in games. Live and Learn.Arc2012

ya never know....the kid might end up loving the game!

Obviously, (especially noticeable on these boards) everyone has different tastes. Let's say some kid was going to buy the Conduit, I'm sure some people would feel like they were in the same situation as you, and feel they should say something. (just using the Conduit as an example, no hate)

People too often think they know what best, video games are like books, movies, television, etc. What one person may not like does not mean everyone else shares that opinion. Like you look at these license games made from kid shows and the reviews give them a 4 and older gamers say their crap, but young kids who the game is meant for actually like them. For all the TC knows, that kid could have been watching that game and really wanted it. This is not a gaming dictatorship, people need to stop making decisions for what others, especially people you don't know would want. Sepewrath

Little kids have different tastes in games. When I was younger, one of my favorite psone games was Star Wars Episode 1 Jedi Power Battles, which if I am not mistaken got mostly bad reviews. Here is another example. My girlfriend's little sister bought her carnival games for christmas. Most of the people here would consider it shovelware, and i dont think any reviewer gave it over 5/10. My girlfriend works with kids for her job, and kids are always coming over to our house to play the wii. The youner ones have a blase playing carnival games. They will play it for hours. I showed them Galaxy, Brawl, and Mario Kart but the younger ones (9years old and younger) mostly prefer carnival games. Most of the people here, as well as most reviewers, are rating games based on their own preferences, and do not really understand what is fun for little kids. One man's shovelware is another man's gem.

simanimals is a great game for kids. one time i showed a kid, who didn't know what to buy at gamestop, how great Meteos is and he didn't understand it and thought it was "boring." some people (especially younger people) just don't appreciate certain strokes of genius. when i was a kid, i loved rocko's modern life on super nintendo, but older people and critics probably said it was bad (edit: i just looked this game up and remembered that it was the first game with voice-acting, and it had classic platforming elements...but you get what i mean). most of the time it's better to just let the natural order take its course, unless a kid is buying sonic and the black knight. that's a game i saved a kid from. then, when i got home i found out that nintendo power gave it an 8, even though ign gave it a 3.7...so i think it's best to just leave it alone.

[QUOTE="Sepewrath"]People too often think they know what best, video games are like books, movies, television, etc. What one person may not like does not mean everyone else shares that opinion. Like you look at these license games made from kid shows and the reviews give them a 4 and older gamers say their crap, but young kids who the game is meant for actually like them. For all the TC knows, that kid could have been watching that game and really wanted it. This is not a gaming dictatorship, people need to stop making decisions for what others, especially people you don't know would want. wiifan001

[QUOTE="wiifan001"][QUOTE="Sepewrath"]People too often think they know what best, video games are like books, movies, television, etc. What one person may not like does not mean everyone else shares that opinion. Like you look at these license games made from kid shows and the reviews give them a 4 and older gamers say their crap, but young kids who the game is meant for actually like them. For all the TC knows, that kid could have been watching that game and really wanted it. This is not a gaming dictatorship, people need to stop making decisions for what others, especially people you don't know would want. Sepewrath

[QUOTE="kardine"][QUOTE="psychobrew"] There are some highly recommended games on this forums that I really do not like (Fire Emblem, Batalion Wars 2, Mario Galaxy, etc.). I'm not saying they are bad games, but everyones tastes are different and what's bad to you may not be bad to someone else.psychobrew

Bad games make us good gamers. Or at least that's how it was in the NES days. The first crap game I ever owned was Micky Mousecapade, and I logged so much time and effort into it. The game was punishingly hard. Unforgiving and sometimes just plain torture. But working on it made me improve my skills. Now I scratch my head when people complain about Mega Man 9's difficulty.

Bad games make us good gamers. Or at least that's how it was in the NES days. The first crap game I ever owned was Micky Mousecapade, and I logged so much time and effort into it. The game was punishingly hard. Unforgiving and sometimes just plain torture. But working on it made me improve my skills. Now I scratch my head when people complain about Mega Man 9's difficulty.

Wonkyman

You should be happy, he could have done a lot worse than Sim Animals. At the very least Sim Animals is a mediocre/passable experience which is far more than I could say for a lot of other garbage he could've gotten.

I have only a few questions to ask you:

1. Have YOU Personally played SimAnimals or are you just saying it's a bad game based off other people's experiences?

2. What game would you have preferred the "Kid" buy, MadWorld perhaps? Maybe, The Godfather? What about Manhunt?

I personally hate when people try to tell me what is a good or bad game (Even though I'm not a kid) especially when it's a game that I've personally seen and liked, then they try to recommend me a so called "Good game" like GTA, Madden *Yuck* or some other game that is good only because it's popular. It makes me want to slap the crap out of them. Now, I've sorta been victim to what you are saying because I've seen people looking towards getting a game and I tell them the bad and the good about it (If I've actually played the game) but I don't try to persuade them out of buying it and recommend them a different game. I think that's like forcing your opinions on them so I'm actually glad you didn't butt in. My point is, let people buy what they want.

I have only a few questions to ask you:

1. Have YOU Personally played SimAnimals or are you just saying it's a bad game based off other people's experiences?

2. What game would you have preferred the "Kid" buy, MadWorld perhaps? Maybe, The Godfather? What about Manhunt?

I personally hate when people try to tell me what is a good or bad game (Even though I'm not a kid) especially when it's a game that I've personally seen and liked, then they try to recommend me a so called "Good game" like GTA, Madden *Yuck* or some other game that is good only because it's popular. It makes me want to slap the crap out of them. Now, I've sorta been victim to what you are saying because I've seen people looking towards getting a game and I tell them the bad and the good about it (If I've actually played the game) but I don't try to persuade them out of buying it and recommend them a different game. I think that's like forcing your opinions on them so I'm actually glad you didn't butt in. My point is, let people buy what they want.

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="kardine"] But at the very least, games I do not personally like (very few), which are highly regarded and well done I can look at those postitives and realize why they are good games. I do not know how you could not like Super Mario Galaxy, but you cannot deny it has very good graphics on the technical side and great art direction, you may not like the platforming but there are aspects of the game that can be admired. kardine

you DO know that vigilantes are illegal? you did th right thing.garrett_duffman

How is telling someone that they are buying a crappy game being vigilant?

When it comes to other people buying games, I shut my mouth because it isn't my business what they are buying even if I know its garbage. When it comes to my friends, I'm critical as heck about what they buy because they absolutely know better than buying soulcaliber legends and stuff. I rip on them for it and I am usually right because I know what they would like and not like and I know what is crap and what is not. That comes from sharing siimilar interests and knowing them, some kid in a store isn't a person I can make a decsion for hence why I shut my mouth. I can only make the perfect choice for myself, can't really decide what is right for others so I don't try.

[QUOTE="garrett_duffman"]you DO know that vigilantes are illegal? you did th right thing.snover2009

How is telling someone that they are buying a crappy game being vigilant?

Pretty sure that was a joke..

[QUOTE="kardine"][QUOTE="psychobrew"] Most people love Galaxy so I'm willing to give it the bennefit of the doubt, but for me, it just didn't have the Mario feel and it was too hard to accurately control. I thought the story was strangely done too. I guess I just prefer Mario in a 2D world back when Nintendo concentrated on gameplay instead of concentrating on a poorly implemented story.psychobrew

There were cut scenes in the beginning and end of the game. That's it, what exactly are you talking about. I love 2D mario and think its better than 3D but your complaints are no existant in mario galaxy. The contols are fine, there is nothing inherently flawed about them to the point where they would be a problem.

This happens to me all the time, but I never have the guts to step up.

TheSmitto

I prefer to stew in bmy own bitter resentment than risk causing a scene in public, lol. I mean, what happens if they object to your interference? You would be screwed than - although im sure ost people would appreciate the advice.

Good job, you probably killed his childhood.

Yoweeh

[QUOTE="garrett_duffman"]you DO know that vigilantes are illegal? you did th right thing.snover2009

How is telling someone that they are buying a crappy game being vigilant?