Video Game Buying Guide

There are thousands of games on the market for video game consoles  and that's not even counting PC games.  So how does one decide how to choose the best titles? For starters, if you're giving a gift, find out what sort of system the gift-ee has. You could get your football-loving nephew the newest Grand Theft Auto 4  or Madden  game, but buy it on the Xbox  and he's out of luck if he's got a PS2. 

Here is a basic breakdown of what classifications of games there are, plus a brief explanation of what they are like as well as a few of the most popular games of the genre.

• Compatibility. Remember that each gaming system has proprietary games, so if you know that you are buying for a Nintendo owner, make sure the game is for the particular type of Nintendo  the gamer owns. Same even within a series of game consoles from the same manufacturer, PalyStation 3 and Playstation 2 games may not be cross compatible. Likewise, if the game is for PC, check to make sure that you choose the right operating system, either Windows or Mac.
• Age Appropriateness. Be sure to check the ratings for choosing an age-appropriate game. Many of the shooter games are likely not appropriate for younger players and should be avoided. Go to ESRB for more information.

Adventure
	Emphasize problem-solving skills and exploring. Basically the main character goes around a virtual world looking for certain items and completing various tasks. Can be of the violent sort, so be careful to use discretion if shopping for a child. Indigo Prophecy,  Still Life,  Grand Theft Auto 3,  Prince of Persia,  Myst 3,  Wario-Ware,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Adventure Games.

Planning/Strategy

Lead a city or region as the mayor or emperor to develop the land and community. Control the budget, build infrastructure and other essential elements of a growing society. There's nothing more addictive than power, and you can be your own master of the universe in these games! Vary in theme and difficulty. All of them are violence-free. Caesar IV,  SimCity 4,  Children of the Nile,  Populous,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Planning/Strategy Games.

Driving/Racing

There's nothing like being behind the wheel of a Ferrari, even if it is only virtual. Games can be raced with one or two players (one-on-one, championship mode or against the clock). There are also battle-car races. Diverse and suitable for gamers of all ages. Just don't be surprised when your kids start driving and are constantly getting speeding tickets. Gran Turismo,  Need for Speed,  Formula 1,  Mario Kart DS,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Driving Games.

Fighting
	Focus on arena combat. Some may find these games too violent and are probably for an older audience. However, they are primarily based on hand-to-hand combat instead of using guns. Discretion should be used when buying for children. Tekken,  Guilty Gear,  Street Fighter,  Mortal Combat,  etc. Check out the Shopwiki guide to Fighting Games.

Multiplayer Online

Nearly all in the genre are geared towards PC gaming because they require the Internet to interact with other players. Almost all of them will work over a home LAN, and could even work on a home wireless network set up with WiFi.  They sometimes require extra fees for playing. Range among Fantasy, Sci-Fi or FPS (First Person Shooter) styles. Final Fantasy,  Battlefield,  Lineage,  World of Warcraft,  PlanetSide,  Control Monger,  etc. Check out the Shopwiki guide to Multiplayer Online Games.

Music/Rhythm
	Involve matching and tapping out rhythms either on a gamepad or on a dancepad or other type of controller. If you want to be a rocker, there's some great games for Wii,  Playstation 3,  and Xbox,  check out Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,  Rock Band,  or early versions of Guitar Hero  Dance Dance Revolution,  Amplitude,  The Groove,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Rhythm Games.

Platformer

Usually 2D or 3D, very simple to play and only require minimal skills, such as running, jumping and climbing. They are called platformer games because the character progresses from one platform, or level, to the next. Most are availble on both PC and the popular game consoles. Traditional games good for all ages and especially for children. Donkey Kong,  Mario World,  Sonic,  Donkey Kong,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Platformer Games.

Puzzle, Board, Card, Arcade, Party
	Classic arcade games are household favorites, typical board games get converted to console and PC format, and puzzle games keep you thinking. Fun for the whole family. Mario Party,  Asteroids,  Jeopardy,  Trivial Pursuit,  Lemmings,  Monopoly,  Tetris,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Puzzle Games.

RPG (Role Playing Games)

Strategy is usually the term used for PC-based games, however, these are all basically the same as role-playing games for consoles. They tend to feature imaginative worlds and creatures and an epic saga to complete. Often real time games are played online or on a network against other gamers. Mario and Luigi Partners in Time,  Fable,  Guild Wars,  Dragon Quest,  Star Wars,  Warcraft,  The Elder Scrolls,  Arx Fatalis,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Role Playing Games.

Simulation

Basically there are two types: flight simulation and ones that emulate real life. Flight Simulators : These focus on flying a plane. Sometimes they involve shooting targets. Tycoon style: They range from building a house and community, to creating a zoo or amusement park, to running a motion picture studio. Depending on the title, these can be safe bets or slightly too adult for children. Most of the titles are PC-based. The Movies,  Zoo Tycoon,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Simulation Games.

Shooter

FPS (First-Person Shooters) are typical action games mostly made for PCs that are particularly popular amongst male gamers. The purpose of them is to play "shoot 'em up", thus they often tend to be on the violent side, so make sure to check their ratings before buying for a child. Basically, from a first person's perspective, the character goes around finding weapons, fending off enemies, and trying not to be killed. Some people have complained that they get nausious from the constant movement, so if giving as gift, check to see if they get sea sick. Doom,  Half-Life,  Metroid Prime, Quake,  Halo,  Halo 3,  Far Cry,  Call of Duty 4,  PlanetSide,  BloodRayne,  etc. Tactical Shooter games are similar to FPS in that they usually tend to be violent and/or based on war simulation. Battlefield,  Counter-Strike,  Freedom Fighters,  etc. Third-Person Shooter Grand Theft Auto,  Tomb Raider,  Max Payne,  etc. Stealth Metal Gear,  Splinter Cell,  Beyond Good & Evil,  etc. Survival Horror Resident Evil,  Silent Hill,  Fatal Frame,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Shooter Games.

Sports
	Suitable for all ages since they don't feature any violence and often allow gamers to play along side their favorite sport stars. FIFA Soccer,  NASCAR,  College Hoops 2K6,  Madden Football,  etc. Check out the ShopWiki guide to Sports Games.

Related Buying Guides

• Xbox 360 Games for your Xbox 360, Xbox elite and other versions
• Xbox Games for the first Xbox
• GameCube Games for the first Nintendo GameCube
• Nintendo 64 Games for the next and last version of Nintendo's GameCube
• DS Games for Nintendo's portable system
• GameBoy Advance Games
• GameBoy Color Games
• PlayStation 2 Games for the previous and still in production system from Sony
• PlayStation Games for the original Sony game console
• PSP Games for the portable Sony system
• Sega Dreamcast Games for the last Sega game console
• Computer Games for your PC (Personal Computer)
• N Gage Games

External Links

• ESRB -- Get the low down on game ratings to find what it suitable for a gamer's age of and maturity.
• The Greatest Games -- GameSpot's take on the greatest games ever made.
• Filibustercartoons Greatest Games -- A humorous take on the best games in existence.
• GameFaqs -- Cheats and codes to help you get through tough games.