The first thing you do when you start a new game.

[dweomermaster]

Watch the opening cinematic that starts when you put the disk in the machine.
No exceptions. Have to watch it.

EDIT: But even before that, I have to check the achievements.

yep, all that while I settle in usually with a nice big bag of chips and a beer or 3 - well I can't always get to a game til after work

oh, and after a first bash at a game I tend to see if there's a ZP review for giggles

 

[silver wolf009]

watch the intro cutscene to figure out the story

 

[shini]

Check settings.
Check character options (if available).

First thing once actually in game: move around aimlessly. If possible look up and down - even in third person view I should be able to see the sky.

 

[newguy77]

Press buttons and figure out the controls. Or just get started if I already read the instruction booklet.

 

[Osaris]

Read on 10 different forums why Hardware/Driver or Similar makes the game unplayable and you can fix it by reinstalling windows and go through 2 hours of manually trying to make it work.

Then i uninstall the game and buy it for one of my consoles if that is possible.

 

[Solstrana91]

I like to sniff inside the box to get that new game smell.

As for the game itself, try it on both the highest and lowest graphics settings. This can be a ***** with single player games with unskippable opening cutscenes, but I do it anyway.

NEW GAME SMELL
Sorry for the caps. But I do this too.
What do you think is better, the box smell or the guide smell?

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[TheFacelessOne]

Spin around.

Don't ask.

 

[Batfred]

I like to sniff inside the box to get that new game smell.

FREAK!

As for the game itself, try it on both the highest and lowest graphics settings. This can be a ***** with single player games with unskippable opening cutscenes, but I do it anyway.

But you have to watch the opening cut scene AND pay attention. That's how you know if the designers made an effort or not.

 

[Herklethehoboking]

i find the best way to commit suicide

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I explore every nook, cranny and physical possibility in the first level/mission.

I find it gets me a good sense of the game mechanics.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

lets see, it is pretty much the same for every game
After I leave the shop I open it on the bus and read the manual.
When I reach home, I always install it if the option is there
Change the settings to my liking (on PC I put everyting on high settings then I turn them down one by one until I reach good FPS and all, my PC is quite good so most pc games end on high settings)
Watch the opening
If the game has a character builder I migth be there for a while.
start game.

 

[GrahamN]

I work out whether I want to invert the Y-axis or not. No matter how many games I play, I can never decide until I actually try both!

 

[NoNameMcgee]

Mess around with the options. Turn subtitles on (I'm not hearing impaired but I like subtitles to read in case I miss something) set the graphics and resolution to my liking, etc.

I find it kind of satisfying actually, especially if I know I can max a game out. One thing I don't like when I play a game on a console is the lack of any real options except volume control and subtitles, it always leaves me feeling a bit disappointed.

I don't do anything special when I start playing a game though... Just play it how it's meant to be played.

 

[Babitz]

If it's an RPG, I usually delete my save and start over after a short amount of time. Then I create another charatcer and continue doing so until I create a character I like and find efficient.

 

[Azellus]

i would say i look at the achievements first then run around the area while learning the controls

 

[driveBYargument]

Besides restarting constantly on RPGs until I find something I like(RPGs with character creators), I watch all opening cinematic and kick all distractions out the door before I start so I can watch them uninterrupted.