If you are new to the world of video games, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure which games suit you best. It can also lead to buyer’s remorse and wasted dollars if we had to purchase games blindly. To help the consumer with this quandary, there are several forums online dedicated to researching and rating all new video games. In this post, we will direct you to the sites that we like and trust most.

Even though Queen of PAWNS deals only with second hand merchandise, you can still find relatively new video game releases within our inventory. Like we have said before, you just never know what you will find at a QoP showroom.

All of the sites listed below throughly review games for the three current platforms; PS, Xbox and Wii. They all also act as online forums where you can become a member and get involved many different ways. It is not necessary to join the forums to see their reviews. Without any further introduction, here’s the links to our favorite video game review sites.

Game Informer - News, reviews and previews with screen-shots from the games are found here. Game Informer also has podcasts and runs a monthly magazine that you can subscribe. They are also very conscious of avoiding spoilers, meaning they don’t give away the surprise endings to the games. Their review 1-10 system is based upon concept, graphics, sound, playability, entertainment and replay value.

Game Trailers - GameTrailers specialize in video reviews. Here you can see clips of the game in action. This is one of our favorite sites for game reviews for that reason. They are also very thorough. You have the option watching or reading the review. Original shows relating to gaming are here too. These shows are more like clips - only a few minutes - rather than a full show. Some of them are really cute, you should check them out. GameTrailers’ 1-10 rating system is based upon design, story, gameplay and presentation.

Game Spot - These folks have been into games for a long time and take gaming very seriously. Game Spot is multi-faceted with news reviews and previews like the other sites with a whole lot to offer in the original shows department. You can watch shows that range from informative to entertaining, including videos of gameplay, interviews, reviews and trailers. Their rating system is a little more complicated than the other sites. That said, they also take into consideration that not all gamers game alike and publish reviews from more than one qualified employee. If you’re really interested in how they rate games, you may want to read this.

IGN.com - IGN rates games, consoles and a myriad of other things like comics and movies. The reason the site gets a mention here is because it can be really handy if you find yourself stuck in a game and you don’t know the trick or “cheat code” to get to the next level. Walkthroughs, which is like having a tour guide through your game, are also here.

Finally, for the concerned parent, there is the Entertainment Software Rating Board that provides information such as age appropriateness about most all video games. Their website is www.ESRB.org.

To top off our ghoulish month of home video game discussions, Queen of PAWNS will be hosting a monstrous sale. From today, October 28th through November 1^st, home video game consoles will be marked down 35% at all of our locations. Remember to add a video game or two into your goodie bag while you’re there.