There is a class of games that improve markedly as time goes on due to constant attention from the developer (or, in the case of heavily modded games like some Bethesda titles, the modding community). These are often among the best values in games; the buy-in price decreases as the game ages but, like wine, the game itself keeps improving.
So far as the independent marketers- game journalists- serve the function of introducing potential buyers to games they might want to purchase, the traditional approach of "reviewing" a game at or very near release obscures the kind of "fine wine" game I mention above, like TF2. It's nice to see a publication like Eurogamer relax its usual rules about flogging only the new games market and offer a look at a game that has been in the process of evolving steadily for four years now. Not that Valve needs the press; I guess I feel that it's useful to remind the gamers who read such publications that there may be better ways to spend your money and your gaming time than perpetually pining for brand-new games with the highest prices and, far too often, least polish.
So far as the independent marketers- game journalists- serve the function of introducing potential buyers to games they might want to purchase, the traditional approach of "reviewing" a game at or very near release obscures the kind of "fine wine" game I mention above, like TF2. It's nice to see a publication like Eurogamer relax its usual rules about flogging only the new games market and offer a look at a game that has been in the process of evolving steadily for four years now. Not that Valve needs the press; I guess I feel that it's useful to remind the gamers who read such publications that there may be better ways to spend your money and your gaming time than perpetually pining for brand-new games with the highest prices and, far too often, least polish.
