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Joystiq presents

DS Daily: Official websites


We often let you readers know when websites for games go live. That got us to wondering, though -- just how many of you like to look at official game sites?

If you do tend to visit these websites on occasion, what brings you to them? Do you often check them out for titles you're really excited for? Or, do you normally wait until a gaming blog has something to say about a particular site before your curiosity makes you venture over? Also, has an awesome (or terrible) website ever pushed you over the fence on whether or not to buy a game?

I guess what we're asking is, just how important are game websites to you when all is said and done?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LordGek1

2-09-2008 @ 10:59AM

LordGek said...

They're often a great way to get early word on an upcoming game but, with few exceptions, they almost always seem to promise the world in updates and new content but are invariably abandoned the week of the game's release (only to MAYBE get updated with a link to the game's latest patch).

Like how many have seen an official site with a Strategy section stuck with a "Coming Soon" only to NEVER receive any content even after the game is released?

I would FAR prefer a less flashy animated site that receives regular updates.

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ArmiMaan2

2-09-2008 @ 11:12AM

ArmiMaan said...

Most of the time, I don't bother going to official web sites unless I'm looking for desktop wallpaper based on a game I'm currently playing. I find the content on most official sites to be very disappointing, with no really compelling reason to visit. It's far easier for me to go to a gaming news website to get the details of a game.

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Tom3

2-09-2008 @ 11:23AM

Tom said...

Couldn't have said it better myself man.
Honestly, the official website ofer almost no interesting info or blow their game out of proportions, making it sound 100 times better than it turns out to be.

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RupeeClock4

2-09-2008 @ 11:22AM

RupeeClock said...

Official websites are often not worth visiting, simply because they're often simple flash based sites that only provide basic information and downloads about the game, against gaming websites like GameFAQs and Gamespot.

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Gerwurztraminer5

2-09-2008 @ 12:01PM

Gerwurztraminer said...

It completely depends on the game. For SSB Brawl, I've been checking that site everyday for forever it seems.

Occasionally Square would have interesting teaser sites for their FF games, and usually I would visit those.

But that's about it, really.

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Blue_Falcon6

2-09-2008 @ 1:12PM

Blue_Falcon said...

I can't remember the last time I went to a game's official website for game information, with the exception of the Dojo.

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Matdredalia7

2-09-2008 @ 1:48PM

Matdredalia said...

The only game website I go to (frequently) is WorldofWarCraft.com, as it's actually useful for players.

I go to other MMO sites when playing htem, but that's about it. Very rarely will I go to a game's official website, and it's usually just to stock up on things like wallpapers and whatnot. Usually official sites provide very little in the way of actual game footage or coverage, and they aren't updated very often.

I'd much rather camp out the game's page on GameSpot & read up here at DSFanboy, since you guys aren't just trying to sell a product, you're actually trying to help us find games we enjoy.

I luff DSFanboy.

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Matdredalia8

2-09-2008 @ 1:50PM

Matdredalia said...

Err, that should be "the only official game website I go to" in the first sentence, lol. I go to lots of Game Sites, just not a game's "official" page.

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Brello9

2-09-2008 @ 3:01PM

Brello said...

If it's a game I'm really looking forward to I might check it out, other than that, no. As for purchasing influence, by the time the official website exists I already know if I want the game.

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hvnlysoldr10

2-09-2008 @ 9:24PM

hvnlysoldr said...

Best official game site has to be Smash Dojo. Just for sheer updates and content.

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manaman11

2-10-2008 @ 2:52AM

manaman said...

Yeah,

Sites have pushed me over the fence. I find them extremely helpful and often very fun. If it's a site for a game that I'm particularly interested in or have and really enjoy, I also like checking out all the extras like wallpapers and things. If there is an official site, often that's the first place I'll look.

Cheers,

manaman

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Cheese Muffin12

2-10-2008 @ 3:56AM

Cheese Muffin said...

I used to visit the GC Animal Crossing Website an obscene amount of times way back when...

...the last time I visited a game's site was for the Apollo Justice demo. I normally don't go to them because there's often not any -new- content. I've seen most of it on blogs/forums/websites already...

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Kefka13

2-10-2008 @ 7:04PM

Kefka said...

I would probably visit game sites a lot more if they weren't almost always made of stupid annoying Flash/Shockwave balony which made you sit through loading screens (which are always inevitably longer than plain HTML) whenever you dare to click on something.

If you're relying on animations and background music to make the site cool, your game isn't good enough.

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