Opinions regarding the 'best'Follow

I think that most if not all of the "such-and-so is best" threads are generated and supported by young players who need to feel validated by being a part of whatever is deemed "most hip" at that particular moment in time.

That kind of "guilt by association" can be important when someone is young and has yet to develop a significant amount of self esteem.

Yes its sophmoric... an integral part of the "I rule and you drool" mentality. But after all, these games aren't only played by adults!

This is just my opinion... I could be wrong...

I do have a slight sypathetic tangent to those that always ask. If they are asking about the game to determine if the investment is worth it, then that's cool.

How many games have you obtained in the past, legally or illegally, and later said (1) "Man, that games sucks, I'm glad it was free." or (2) "Man, that game sucks, I wish I knew it before I wasted my money."?

If I was considering playing a new game, I would probably scan the forums, looking for people talking about the quality, graphics, and everything else that makes a game good. And if it is between two games, a comparison is especially helpful.

Side Story: When I first got into EQ1, I did all my research at the store, with EQ1 4-disk set in one hand, and UO in the other, comparing the flahy write-ups on the box. Yea, it wasn't the most informed decision, but I guessed correctly. Actually, the initial driving reason was to get a virtual-house to be able to build and customize, which EQ1 didn't have...but I digress...

It is useful to find out the goods and bads of a game to help you make a decision...you won't find that at the official web site (companies won't slam their own product). You will find that info on the forums, especially those that are venting and have very emotional posts.

By doing that and reviewing the game web site, I can make a pretty good determination if its one that I want to try. I already know the style and genre that I enjoy, so I filter out those that I know I will not play.

If folks are looking for the "best" to play, then they do not really have a vision of what they want to play. They are more material oriented, the goal is the reward.

If Ala fixes the forum search function, maybe we will not have anymore of these "which is better" threads started.

I think people just don't understand how to do research on a video game on the internet. I mean, whenever I hear about a new video game I do an open internet search for game reviews. Many of those sites have player comments also. Once you look at every one of those sites you possibly can, you can start to get a feel for a given games relevance and popularity.

Coming here is probably a last resort or it may be that some people need personalized validation for making decisions. I always throw them a bone, because I love to talk about things I love. I also love to talk about things I hate, but that's besides the point.