The new Sonic games suck. Sequels are usually better than their predecessors. When in doubt, NEVER buy a movie based game. These are some of the things us gamers just know. It's a knowledge that we build throughout our gaming career. It's the knowledge that keeps us from buying bad games and making poor decisions. I'm sure that at least once, one of you might've bought a game that you might've regretted (curse you "Hey You Pikachu"!), and you've learnt since from that experience. With new generations of people coming into the gaming industry (thanks in large to Nintendo's marketing), many will surely be lost at the vast choices avaible. If you are a new gamer or want to become one, this blog, a guide if you will, can hopefully help you avoid some poison mushrooms in your journey through what many consider to be the entertainment of choice of the 21st century, the video game.

(*ahem). Welcome to...

NailBail's Tips to Gaming!

1. WHAT CONSOLE SHOULD I BUY? (Wii, Xbox 360, Platstation 3)

I'm afraid I cannot make that decision for you. A lot of factors should be considered when deciding to take the plundge on a $200+ system. Who is going to use it? How often do you plan on using it? How much do you plan on spending, and what extra features are you expecting? Will you be going online? Make sure to do research on each console, noting pros and cons for each one. Also, since you'll be buying this to play games, you will also want to check out the exclusives, ie. games that are made for one specific console. For example, Super Mario Galaxy is only for the Nintendo Wii, while Halo 3 is only of the Xbox 360. To relieve some of the pressure, please note that there will be multiplatorm titles that appear on all three systems, such as the Guitar Hero games. Once you find a console that you feel satisfied with, the hard stuff comes next: Building your game collection.

2. AVOID MOVIE BASED GAMES.

So, you're saying you just saw Iron Man in theatres? Was it awesome? It was?...Great! I bet you can't wait to go and buy the game so you can relive all those epic set pieces. Before you go however, you should know that video games based on hollywood flicks almost never turn out as good as the big screen. This is because developers usually don't have enough time to work out glitches and bugs in time for the movie release. Making a video game takes a fair bit longer than a movie, so when game developers have a less than usual timespan for a game, don't expect it to be a hit. If you really liked the movie that much, just buy the movie and save $40.

Notable Exceptions: Chronicles of Riddick:Escape from Butcher Bay, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Rebublic.

3.THEY ARE SEQUELS FOR A REASON

Unlike my previous tip, this is where games beat film. Where Hollywood usually screws up sequels to an established franchise (I'm looking at you, The Matrix), game developers thrive on sequels. Not to discourage original games without sequels, but when a game becomes a series, that means that the first one did really well. Many games that started out as new IP's (Individual Properties) such as Bioshock and Uncharted are getting sequels because the first one sold well (and of course when it sells well, that means a lot of people liked it). Sequels are usually a safe bet for new comers, and most of the time they end up better than the original. I do urge you however, to take this lightly. While more games from fun franchises are great, I do encourage buying new original games as well. After all, it is buying original titles that create even more sequels, thus more variety of fantastic games to choose from.

Notable Exceptions: Sonic, Tomb Raider, Silent Hill

4. $70? FORGET IT.(*)

Sorry Capcom, but no game should be over the limit of $60. Not even Street Fighter 4. As of late, quite a few new releases have had a price increase of between 5 to 10 dollars. Some would argue that it is because of the economy but I don't buy that. If that were really the case, every new game would start at $70, not just some of them. Look at Killzone 2 and Madworld, both of which are priced at $60 and $40 respectively. I would recommend that if you see a $70 game, just skip it. There are plenty of other more resonably priced games to choose from, and it lets the developers know that consumers don't like spending the extra cash. I'm especially disapointed at Capcom for doing this because they are a multi million dollar corporation, so don't tell me that they can't afford it.

Notable Exceptions: None. Just don't spend the extra cash.

5. BECOME A SCAVENGER

This one will take a bit of work on your part, but the outcome is rewarding. This tip simply means that many retailers have many different prices, especially when talking about used games. You should be accustomed to shopping around, always looking for the best deals and sales. Where Microplay might have a copy of Mass Effect for $35, Blockbuster has a copy for only $25. This is just an example, but you should see where I'm going with this. Shop around, and before you know it you'll be saving hundreds of dollars to put towards other great games, and that's no exaggeration.

6. PLAY THE WAITING GAME

Is there a game that you're interested in, but just don't want to put down the full cash for it? There is a very simple answer to this: Be patient. At some point or another, all games will drop in price. You'd also be surprised at how quickly too. Games like Pure, Soul Caliber 4 and Ninja gaiden 2 have dropped in price to around the $30 point; a much more attractive purchase if you ask me. All three of these games aren't even a year old, showing a little patience can go a long way. Let the game sit there for a while, and before you know it you'll be saving in no time.

Notable Exceptions: Mario Kart DS, Twilight Princess (I can wait Nintendo...)

7. NOT SURE? RENT IT

Not that I need to tell you this, but there is no shame in renting games. It can keep you from wasting a good chunk of cash, and you can at least say that you tried it. Renting is a cheap, fast way to learn if you like a game or not, and if you do end up loving the game you can always buy it. Even if you already know you won't buy a game, but want to try out some of the main features people hype about, you can rent it and form your own opinion. I want to check out Madworld, but don't want to spend the cash for it, so renting it seems like a good choice.

8. READ REVIEWS!

This will undoubtibly be the most valuable tip and thing you can do to have a happy gaming experience. Who would know the game better than the people who play it? Note what the reviewer says about high points/lack luster factors of the game, and decide with the info whether or not the game is worth your time. A decently written review is worth more than gameplay footage in terms of usefulness, because the user can be up front with what problems he had, where gameplay footage will only display visual set backs like frame rates and glitches.

9. SO...MANY...

Once you enter a gaming store and take a look at the shelves, a very obvious fact takes point: There are a lot of freaking games. Even after reading reviews and narrowing down the must-plays, you should notice that there are still so many to choose from, and you may be tempted to just buy them all. While I commend you for being so enthusiastic, let me say that if I bought every game I wanted, I would be several thousand dollars in debt. Try and keep spending to maybe one game per two weeks; more if you can manage it. This will keep your cash from seeping from your pockets and it will make sure that you enjoy that game to the fullest.

* I am Canadian, so prices will vary.

I hope that might help with your gaming quarrels, as I enjoyed recapping some knowledge that gamers take for granted. Thanks for reading, I'll see you guys next time.