G+ Gaming/FLAILSNAILS

So I read this page awhile back, which has prompted me to set up my +James MacGeorge g+ account, (which also explains why I've abandoned purestrainhuman, in case you were wondering - if I wanted to link my blogger account with my g+ account, I had to use a real name, not my nom de plume).  I followed all the directions on the page, and have started engaging in the online g+ community, and I'm interested in the idea of gaming via hangout and such.  While I've read the information , I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it conceptually.  I think I might need to observe a game, see how it works mechanically.  I see people talking about playing talking alligators wearing sweaters, and others playing half orc paladins, my brain turns to mush.

I haven't seen any negative reviews of the process, so it must be working for others, and I'd love the opportunity to play more games, I just need to figure out the right trajectory from which to approach it.