Help me out - answer these questions!

Hey guys, I need some help for my bachelor's thesis. I'm researching the effects of reviews and word-of-mouth on videogames' commercial success. I need you guys to answer 11 short questions for me, it'd really help me out! (Obviously, any and all data is treated confidentially etc etc, I don't need any personal information. Feel free to elaborate on your answers though.)

1. How many games do you buy per year?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+

2. On how many of the following platforms do you game?
Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Windows
A: 0, B: 1, C: 2, D: 3, E: 4, F: 5, G: 6

3. Per week, how many hours do you spend on gaming?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+)

4. Per week, how many hours do you spend discussing and / or reading about games?
A: 0-1 B: 1-2 C: 2-3 D: 3-4 E: 4-5 F: 5-6 G: 6+

5. Do you read videogame reviews?
A: Yes, online
B: Yes, offline
C: Yes, online and offline
D: No

6. Imagine, a highly anticipated game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

7. Imagine, a relatively unknown game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

8. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

9. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

10. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

11. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be less inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

My own answers: FCDGAGGEEFE
Any additional comments / questions, feel free to post them!

Feel free to post up your questions here. But please, no links.

1. How many games do you buy per year?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+

D. I am an impulse buyer so I don't have an exact amount.

2. On how many of the following platforms do you game?
Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Windows
A: 0, B: 1, C: 2, D: 3, E: 4, F: 5, G: 6

H. I own 15 or so. Old schooler.

3. Per week, how many hours do you spend on gaming?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+)

C. Depends on work schedules and if my son is playing.

4. Per week, how many hours do you spend discussing and / or reading about games?
A: 0-1 B: 1-2 C: 2-3 D: 3-4 E: 4-5 F: 5-6 G: 6+

B. I'm not much of a talker about my hobbies.

5. Do you read videogame reviews?
A: Yes, online
B: Yes, offline
C: Yes, online and offline
D: No

No. Reviewers are often biased, and sometimes seem to give reviews that seem like they never played the game.

6. Imagine, a highly anticipated game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

A. Never. I find myself buying games that get almost no advertisments. Do I disapointed? Sometimes. But I often have more fun playing games with no fanfare than games that are way overhyped.

7. Imagine, a relatively unknown game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

A. Read the above answer.

8. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

C. I like playing the game myself. A game that is loved by a buddy will not always blow my skirt up.

9. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

C. I'll ask to borrow it before shelling out the coin for it.

10. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

A. We all know what opinions are like.

11. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be less inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

B. Even though opinions are worth what you pay for them, they may have an element of truth.

1.D
2.I play on Linux, 360, Xbox, PSX, Windows, Genesis, Gamecube, NES, SNES, etc.
3.F, I could do 12 hours in day if permitted.
4.G
5.C
6.A, I don't trust reviews all that much
7.A
8.A
9.D
10.C
11.C

1. I'd say E, but like Dart, I'm an impulse buyer so that number fluctuates quite a but sometimes.

2. G+ I own much more systems than just those listed.

3. G I work quite a bit but I try to game on my spare time.

4. G

5. C I read reviews from people who loved the game, hated the game, and thought it was okay. I just like to get some kind of feel for what people liked/disliked about a game. I don't usually let it influence whether or not I buy that game.

6. B

7. B

For 6/7 I don't really trust reviews of new releases because of swayed opinion from hype and whatnot.

8. A If I don't like it, I let you know. I very rarely go with the popular opinion unless I truely agree with it.

9. D

10. A Same reason as #8

11. C If I was interested in it, I would watch some gameplay videos or read a variety of reviews, but I try not to let my opinion get swayed by other's opinion.

1. How many games do you buy per year?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+

F

2. On how many of the following platforms do you game?
Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Windows
A: 0, B: 1, C: 2, D: 3, E: 4, F: 5, G: 6

C

3. Per week, how many hours do you spend on gaming?
A: 0-1 B: 2-3 C: 4-5 D: 6-7 E: 8-9 F: 10-11 G: 12+)


C

4. Per week, how many hours do you spend discussing and / or reading about games?
A: 0-1 B: 1-2 C: 2-3 D: 3-4 E: 4-5 F: 5-6 G: 6+

B

5. Do you read videogame reviews?
A: Yes, online
B: Yes, offline
C: Yes, online and offline
D: No

D

6. Imagine, a highly anticipated game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

C

7. Imagine, a relatively unknown game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

E

8. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

E

9. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

E

10. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

D

11. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be less inclined to buy it?
A: Never, B: almost never, C: rarely, D: sometimes, E: often, F: almost always, G: always

D

1.
C if we're talking new games only, probably around F if we throw in used games and Virtual Console games

2.
C of what's up there - I play other consoles though besides the ones listed.

3.
D - I try to get at least one hour a day of gaming in...the PSP makes that pretty easy

4.
E: 4-5 hours

5.
C


6.
B
I read them, but I don't really let the review be the final deciding factor in whether or not I get a game. Most of my favorite games received average scores, and games that I have hated have received high scores.

7.
D

8.
C, but it depends on who says it, and what game they are talking about.

9.
B, but it depends on who it's coming from and what game they are talking about. Mr. "IOnlyPlaySports" telling me that Madden 2009 is the best game ever does not hold any weight in my eyes.

10.
C, see #8

11.
C, but it depends on who it's coming from and what game they are talking about. Mr. "IOnlyPlaySports" telling me that Tales of Vesperia sucks doesn't hold any weight in my eyes.

1. How many games do you buy per year?
D: 6-7. Lots of times I don't buy any for a month or two, then some months I buy motre than one.

2. On how many of the following platforms do you game?
Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Windows
D: 3, but I play regularly on systems not listed here too (handhelds!)

3. Per week, how many hours do you spend on gaming?
I'm not sure, really. I usually play at least 15 minutes a day on handhelds, but it depends on what I'm playing. Mondays I usually sit and play FFXI for at least 4 or 5 hours.

4. Per week, how many hours do you spend discussing and / or reading about games?
G: 6+

5. Do you read videogame reviews?
C: Yes, online and offline

6. Imagine, a highly anticipated game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
E: often. If it's a title I am interested in, I will usually read reviews, but unless it seriously bombs across theboards I will get it anyway. Lots of titles I like aren't the most ground-breaking stellar things ever made.

7. Imagine, a relatively unknown game you were interested in is released. Do you read reviews to help you with your buying decision?
E: often, pretty much the same as above.

8. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
D: sometimes, usually it depends on the person, how closely their taste in games matches mine.

9. If others speak positively of a game, would you be more inclined to buy it?
D: sometimes, depends on the game and the person.

10. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be more inclined to do so yourself?
C: rarely, if a customer asks I will say "Oh it got a poor reception" or "I heard it's short" but unless I have played it myself I don't talk too much crap about a game. Except Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon for GBA.

11. If others speak negatively of a game, would you be less inclined to buy it?
C: rarely, really there are not a huge amount of games I get an urge to buy. People talked crap about Beautiful Katamai, and I still bought that. It isn't as good as the PS2 versions, but it's enjoyable enough.

Going nicely guys - thanks a lot!
With your answers and those I got from others, I'm up to ~50 responses. Keep 'em coming!