I play quite a few so I'll answer them in order (sorry if my answers are longer than your journal):

- I like a good storyline for starters, though if the gameplay is well done, sometimes I will excuse a horrible story. A easy to use user interface is also one of the first things I notice, and will often be the root of my frustrations in a game (such as the case with the XBOX360 version of Oblivion and Free Realms). For visuals, I like vibrant colors and a coherant theme. As a genre, I prefer RPG and adventure games.

- I would love to see new orginal adventure games. As much as I love the Zelda series, it has worn itself out. I love pretty visuals and a well-written storyline and prefer the gameplay to be smooth and challenging, but not so hard and montanous that I will never finish the game; those features would be amazing in a game. Personally, I would like to play a good mythology based adventure/RPG game (I know there's Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, and Dante's Inferno - I just have yet to play them).

- My favorite games are adventure/RPG, but I like the occational shooter, minigame(like Warioware), puzzle, or simulation game. I enjoy adventure games for their storytelling and the ability to choose how you want to play the game, as is the same with RPGs.

-This list is long - Capcom and Atlus adventures, SquareEnix, Katamari, Left 4 Dead, Little Big Planet, Cooking Mama, everything from the Forgotten Realms (NWN, BG, ID), Jak and Daxter series, Okami, Zelda, et cetera...

Hope this is helpful.

Actually, this is helpful. Thank you! ^_^

Stories are nice, but good gameplay should always be a must. Games are doomed to fail if a player can't even operate it!

I think it's interesting that you mentioned you like vibrant colours. One of Fallout 3's biggest criticisms (that I've heard) is that it's very dull and generally depressing to play. People are responsive to colour, and I think that they're crucial to many gamers.

I think that a mythology-based game could work well if done right. I've never played it myself, but the game "Legendary" was supposed to have all manners of mythical beasts in it, but the game was terrible and no one that I know of liked it. I think that this is still unexplored territory for game developers, but it could be promising. Once I get into the field, I'll have to see about pitching ideas for one. (;

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"Why should their pain produce such marvellous beauty?...Or is all beauty created through pain?"

One of the things that causes me to lose interest in a video game is the controls, or character commands. For instance: Kingdom Hearts. I couldn't get comfortable playing it. There was something about the gameplay/fighting in it that wasn't satisfying to me. I guess this is kind of weird, considering how popular KH is... I liked the game okay, I just didn't like playing it myself...

But, as long as they're explained well enough, complicated controls don't bother me much. Okami is a game I absolutely love! The ability to "pause" and draw an attack was a briliant idea! This game was simple enough to play and gave the player a long enough chance to get comfortable with executing a new brush stroke before throwing them into a major battle.

So, I guess when browsing for a new game, I tend to let the art or title catch my eye. When I see a cool cover etc. I read the summary on the back to determine if I might like the storyline. This also clues me in on gameplay... Character design is also important to me; if the main character's design seems cliche, overdone, or even too simple, I may become skeptical. I also try to see if the summary tells about the main char's personality (if they have one (Link of LOZ doesn't really)). If a main char. is whiney or absolutely stupid, then I may not like playing because I'll feel the need to kill him/her... That, and you can almost alway rely on the same few companies to make good games. Like CAPCOM, Square Enix, Nintendo (seems to be going down hill slightly...), Nippon Ichi, etc.

I guess overall I'll play almost any genre, as you already know. I like adventure, RPGs, tactics, puzzles, and fighting. I'm not very good at first person shooter games, or any other 1st person game for that matter.

But, I guess to summarize this; storyline, characters/character design, graphics, and controls all matter to me. They can balance each other; if one's lacking, than another can make up for it.
That doesn't sound helpful... But like a rambling bit of pointless chatter...

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No one understands you, but you. And no one understands me, but I.

Cover art sometimes catches my attention, too. The only problem with that is, the game developer doesn't always get to pick that sort of thing. Marketing companies are the ones who deal with packaging and so forth, and big name publishers sometimes can get a hand in their own marketing, but more often than not, developers don't have a huge say in what goes on the box. Sure, a lot of times it's concept art, or something done by someone on the team, but marketing companies are the reason why games look different across the world. Games that release in Japan have different covers when they come to the states (back in the day, they would adopt bad American art to don their covers and boxes).

I know what you mean about annoying characters. A lot of games would be more enjoyable if you didn't feel the need to wring one of you party's necks throughout it all (I'm lookin' at you, Aurica). I've been playing Ar Tonelico lately, and one girl I have running around with me is such a complainer. She acts like she's always in the way, like she can't help, she cries about dragging everyone down and not being talented or smart. She'd be fine if she toned it down a little! I mean, I understand having a confidence issue, but it seems to me that she just wants attention.

Character design is a big thing with me. If I'm playing a game with a character that I'll be looking at for hours, they better be appealing. I don't like games where I'm always shaking my head at the wardrobe of my main character (Tidus).

And this is helpful. ^_^ I appreciate the input!

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"Why should their pain produce such marvellous beauty?...Or is all beauty created through pain?"

Yeah, I knew that about the cover art pickins.
Tidus... ha! He's annoying, too. "Let's play Blitz Bawwwwwl!!" Derrrrrrrr!

Jj: The cookie deflects you

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No one understands you, but you. And no one understands me, but I.

I'm a male about to turn 35 which means I am leaving the typical target demographic for video games. For me, I;ve never been much of a gamer, though I've owned systems like a PS2 a PSP and a Wii. I buy the games and then lose interest without really getting my money's worth. The fun ones for me are the ones you can play with your wife or friends, so Wii Sports is good, or MarioKart. I always think I will get into the RPGs since that is what I loved as a kid but they are never as good as a book. So what was your question? Oh yeah. I've never played Okami but I lvoe the aesthetic- more of a painterly look than the endless polygons of all the other games, no matter how hidef they are today. Give me games that are works of art.

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Does a bear Poo in the Woods?
Yes he does.

Casual games and party games are a great way to have fun, with either friends or family. I think that general content and playability help make games like this so much fun; you wouldn't be having fun with a game that has sloppy controls. ^_^

I like that you mention games that are works of art; there are a lot of companies that are all about profit, so they work quickly to make something mediocre. I prefer games that have been made to tell good stories, look beautiful, and exude quality in general.

Thanks so much for your input. ^_^

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"Why should their pain produce such marvellous beauty?...Or is all beauty created through pain?"