Current Events > Why do gamers usually care much more about critic reviews than moviegoers?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Have heard from many people and some articles that this is usually the case, do you believe it is true?

because movies generally don't have a weird cult fanbase that has to argue with opposing weird cult fanbases

Personally, I think it is because movies are much less of a time and money commitment, so people research less

bsp77 posted...

Personally, I think it is because movies are much less of a time and money commitment, so people research less

Its this. If I see a bad movie ive lost 15 bucks and 2 hours (and at least I can laugh about it afterward with the group that went), if I buy a bad game ive lost $69.99 and possibly hundreds of hours depending on when I throw in the towel.

So yeah I definitely read reviews before buying a game.

Plus movies are highly subjective, where glitches, bugs and malicious microtransactions are objective flaws in video games.

EmilyTheCEman posted...

if I buy a bad game ive lost $69.99 and possibly hundreds of hours depending on when I throw in the towel.

While I agree with the overall sentiment of what you're saying I feel like if you play a game for hundreds of hours you probably just like it and are unwilling to admit it to yourself regardless of how "bad" it is

either that or you are extremely indecisive

kirbymuncher posted...

While I agree with the overall sentiment of what you're saying I feel like if you play a game for hundreds of hours you probably just like it and are unwilling to admit it to yourself regardless of how "bad" it is

either that or you are extremely indecisive

i've beaten games i don't like. i've beaten a game i hate twice.

pauIie posted...

i've beaten games i don't like. i've beaten a game i hate twice.

I've beaten games I don't like too but certainly not ones that took hundreds of hours

that's a really long time!

kirbymuncher posted...

While I agree with the overall sentiment of what you're saying I feel like if you play a game for hundreds of hours you probably just like it and are unwilling to admit it to yourself regardless of how "bad" it is

either that or you are extremely indecisive

I played TotK for 500 hours. I don't dislike it but I didn't like it either.

I'm playing Fire Emblem Three Houses again, I do like that game. I just passed 2000 hours.

I think more people have come to realize movie critics poorly represent the general audience. Seeing a huge divergence on RT or IMDb is pretty common and no one really minds anymore. Games for some reason aren't there yet and critics are seen as a proxy for consumer opinion.

pauIie posted...

i've beaten games i don't like. i've beaten a game i hate twice.

That's me and Drakengard. Game is shit, still beat like 4 times.

One takes days to weeks to finish while the other is done in less than 3 hours usually is why.

aside from time there's also the console wars to think about. if you had to pay $300 and choose between 2 or 3 theater companies to then be able to watch a selection of movies, that might trigger some sort of "team" that you're on

EmilyTheCEman posted...

Its this. If I see a bad movie ive lost 15 bucks and 2 hours (and at least I can laugh about it afterward with the group that went), if I buy a bad game ive lost $69.99 and possibly hundreds of hours depending on when I throw in the towel.

So yeah I definitely read reviews before buying a game.

Plus movies are highly subjective, where glitches, bugs and malicious microtransactions are objective flaws in video games.

This, especially the price aspect. Plus the fact that you can find any movie for free on the internet after a month or two of its release if reviews suck and you don't want to pay. It's not that easy with games. You have to make a decision. And some people want to buy deluxe editions and stuff.

ssjevot posted...

I think more people have come to realize movie critics poorly represent the general audience. Seeing a huge divergence on RT or IMDb is pretty common and no one really minds anymore. Games for some reason aren't there yet and critics are seen as a proxy for consumer opinion.

Critics seen as proxy? Idk, do most of you agree with this?

Though the above mentioned reasons are valid, its also just a growing pain of gaming becoming an artform on the level of movies.

bsp77 posted...

Personally, I think it is because movies are much less of a time and money commitment, so people research less

This. Movies are two hours. Even short games can be 20. And open world RPGs can take hundreds. It is a much steeper investment, especially of time.

I will say though-movies are one of the reasons I shrug my shoulders at rising game prices. Taking a family of 4 to a movie with a few buckets of popcorn is expensive AF for a two hour night. Even if I pay full price for a game (rare), I can get hours of entertainment for the whole family for so much less money.

Westernwolf4 posted...

This. Movies are two hours. Even short games can be 20. And open world RPGs can take hundreds. It is a much steeper investment, especially of time.

I will say though-movies are one of the reasons I shrug my shoulders at rising game prices. Taking a family of 4 to a movie with a few buckets of popcorn is expensive AF for a two hour night. Even if I pay full price for a game (rare), I can get hours of entertainment for the whole family for so much less money.

yeah a good pt that you make about the cost of games. Many gamers disagree with you though

EmilyTheCEman posted...

hundreds of hours depending on when I throw in the towel.

If you give hundreds of hours to a game you don't like, that's a you problem, not a review problem.

Smallville posted...

yeah a good pt that you make about the cost of games. Many gamers disagree with you though

Its a bit of a double edged sword. Criticism about VG prices can definitely be valid but its important to not forget the baseline that the medium as a whole is way more affordable and bang for your buck than others.

IceCreamOnStero posted...

Its a bit of a double edged sword. Criticism about VG prices can definitely be valid but its important to not forget the baseline that the medium as a whole is way more affordable and bang for your buck than others.

yeah i do agree with you. But i would say that the majority of gamers do not share this view

Smallville posted...

yeah a good pt that you make about the cost of games. Many gamers disagree with you though

Yeah, I know. And even though I have my own thoughts about this, I completely understand other views on this. There are so many factors that vary so much by individual, I would never second guess how people spend their money.

For me: the price of games was static for such a long time (as costs kept rising), if you are patient you can buy most games at a significant discount, and you get way more bang for your buck from a game than almost any other form of entertainment. So I dont mind higher prices for new games.

But that is just me. Other gamers have every right to determine how they want to spend their cash.