Year-Old Games is a concept that’s been floating around in my mind for a while. Partly, it comes from being cheap, and believing that most games are not worth the prices charged when they launch.

In my opinion, here’s what happens when you buy a new game. Firstly, you’re excited because it’s new. You’ve been reading about it for ages, and now it’s finally here, so despite the price being high you reluctantly hand over your money and take home/download the game.

Firstly, it doesn’t work. There are bugs, or server issues, or there is some problem with the draconian DRM. Eventually you get it working and plough ahead. There are bugs. Maybe they are game-breaking, or maybe you can live with them. You’re not getting the best experience but what the hell, you’ve been waiting for this.

You finish the game. You are satisfied. You talk with your friends about the game. Then, there is DLC. You pay again, and you get an extra hour of game time, unless you’re a real sucker in which case you get a map or a gun or a vanity item.

A year passes. You look back on the game. Suddenly, it hits you. How much of your enjoyment came from playing the game, compared to being a part of that new-game hype? You enjoyed it so much the first time round, you go back and play the game again to find out.

First you download the patches to fix the problems you had when you first played. Perhaps you have to deal with the draconian DRM again, but you deal with it. Eventually, you get to the game. Dismayed, you realise that the game wasn’t actually that great; at best, it was average.

This is the thought process that led me to the idea of year-old video game reviews. The concept is simple; I will buy and play games that were released over a year ago, and write reviews about them. After a year, the game should be fully patched, any DLC should have been released, I will be free from the hype that surrounds a game release and I will be able to buy the game for cheap. In general I believe this should lead to better reviews and a better gaming experience.