This is a really good topic. I think it's really interesting and thought provoking. Kudos.
That being said, I don't think that I put much stock in a feature list. By itself, it means very little and is often nothing more than twisted marketing buzzwords. Back in the day I would read game magazines that I trusted for reviews, but I find actually being able to see the game in action much more useful for my eventual purchasing decisions. The advent of Let's Play has changed the landscape of video game marketing, and to me it's much more useful than PR spin claiming "multiple branching stories" or "Over 100 hours of gameplay"
The only thing that really stands out to me at this time are when we're told we're getting "more" of something, or something that's "improved". For example, I'm a sucker for the Football Manager games. Have been for years. Each year we're told that we're getting "More interactions with the media" or an "improved match-day engine". I guess this grabs me because I already know that I like these things, and having more of things that I like is always a good thing.
It's kinda like the new Star Wars movie. Sure, The Force Awakens a lot like A New Hope, but I liked A New Hope, and having "more" of it is alright by me!
That being said, I don't think that I put much stock in a feature list. By itself, it means very little and is often nothing more than twisted marketing buzzwords. Back in the day I would read game magazines that I trusted for reviews, but I find actually being able to see the game in action much more useful for my eventual purchasing decisions. The advent of Let's Play has changed the landscape of video game marketing, and to me it's much more useful than PR spin claiming "multiple branching stories" or "Over 100 hours of gameplay"
The only thing that really stands out to me at this time are when we're told we're getting "more" of something, or something that's "improved". For example, I'm a sucker for the Football Manager games. Have been for years. Each year we're told that we're getting "More interactions with the media" or an "improved match-day engine". I guess this grabs me because I already know that I like these things, and having more of things that I like is always a good thing.
It's kinda like the new Star Wars movie. Sure, The Force Awakens a lot like A New Hope, but I liked A New Hope, and having "more" of it is alright by me!