Since my other OT thread on classical music has had a great start, I figured I'd ask about another interest of mine - computer/video games. While I don't have as much time anymore to play, I do very much enjoy playing them - particularly role playing games and real time strategy games. I first got into the big online roleplaying games when I started playing Everquest in 1999 and have been involved with one or another since then. Currently it's World of Warcraft (Thrall server, Horde primarily), but am always on the lookout for a good new game. On the RTS front, I can remember playing old editions of Command and Conquer and Age of Empires, and actually finishing Starcraft. Though I don't play as much anymore (being older, I find I'm not quick enough for the "twitch" games) I enjoy the strategy involved.
I actually played some of those RTS games..starcraft was good, I liked most of the C&C's, and I used to play a good amount of Warcraft 3. But this was myabe 3, 4, 5 years ago...I haven't really played any computer/video games since then for various reasons.
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"Focus on making the 5 lifts stronger and getting enough food. There will be plenty of time to worry about glycemic indexes, PERs, and Bulgarian Split squats later. Much later."-Mark Rippetoe
I spent a lot of time playing Starcraft, the Myst series, and the more advanced Simcity games. Like you, I'm no good at the run-and-gun stuff, though I have beaten the first two rounds of Halo.
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C&C (the original completely hooked me), Red Alert, the original War Craft, Star Craft. I bought WWC when it first came out, but got busy at work, then just never could get into it. Also spent waaaay too much time on Diablo 1 and 2. Had some awesome characters!
I also like strategic first person shooters. Faves in no particular order:
Fear, Thief (the original... Thief 2 was lame), Half Life, System Shock 2, Doom 3 (and its expansion), Soldier of Fortune, Medal of Honor, Duke Nukem 3D (early version). Never cared for Quake.
Now I'm hooked on the Wii system, particularly golf games. My 9 year old son is nearly finished with Zelda, Twilight Princess. I played Zelda 2 on the Super Nintendo, then had the N64 system too, and played both Zelda games on there.
"Focus on making the 5 lifts stronger and getting enough food. There will be plenty of time to worry about glycemic indexes, PERs, and Bulgarian Split squats later. Much later."-Mark Rippetoe
I have WCIII, but I'm having a hard time trying to get past Ch 6 of the human campaign. When I start to get close to required 100 kills, I get freight trained by two hordes of undead.
I also have a turn based strategy game called "Galactic Civilizations II" that is really good. The A.I. is shrewed and the game has been called Hall-of-Fame quality over just that.
Any "Master of Orion" fans will want to check it out.
I'm also working on developing my first game. Currently, I'm trying to complete the design and development of the first game object, a scout class interstellar craft called an Assault Scout.
I'm keeping it simple to develop some key concepts for now, but initially, it will be a 1v1 capital starship combat simulation. The players will have a choice of Newtonian or Hollywood flight modeling, and solo or bridge crew command modes.
I'm drawing upon my old physics and algebra based classes to write this (and I'm thinking of going back to CompSci and math classes just to augment this). I'm also needing to study probability and statistics so I may want to take a class in this.
Think "The Last Starfighter" and Babylon 5 for the hopeful Newtonian flight modeling.
The bridge crew command mode will require more. Imagine each person has a specific job. There'll be a captain (can't leave port w/o a captain, even though all he does is say "fire" all the time), science officer (someone has to tell the captain the cause of the anomaly is of unknown reason), navigator/helm, engineer, communication officer (might get folded into the captain's sphere) and tactical (he pushes the button that says "fire").
I have other ideas, but this one must be made. I intend develop it into three aspects: free 1v1, premium campaign, premium MMO (w/ this divided into different aspects).
Since I've started doing 3D modeling and wanting to get some precision/accuracy, I've found myself recalling all my point and line arithmetic:
y = mx + b
m = (y1-y2)/(x1-x2)
I have pages of arithmetic, equation manipulations, etc. I've gotten my old model TI-89 out of the closet, dusted it off, installed all new batteries and started programming it again.
Starcraft 2 comes out soon. I remember playing marathon sessions of startcraft when i was in highschool. I remember playing for 72 hours striaght once. Never did that again lol
I also like strategic first person shooters. Faves in no particular order:
Fear,
Fear was such an awesome FPS. It felt like Doom all over again. So immersive, I found myself knee-jerk shooting at falling buckets and just kind of over-all scared to proceed into the unknown. Even HL didn't do that to me.
I really liked how they managed common cinematics in a computer game, shadows cast w/o a visible body, split second sightings of "things" out of the corner of your eye, etc.
And then there was the action of your opponents. The A.I. in Fear has been called the best in an FPS yet. Coordinated opposition, smart use of cover, etc.
That game should be a case study on so many levels!
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Yeah, I guess I'm a gamer!
Nothing wrong with that. You obviously have a good ability to manage your time.
Since my other OT thread on classical music has had a great start, I figured I'd ask about another interest of mine - computer/video games. While I don't have as much time anymore to play, I do very much enjoy playing them - particularly role playing games and real time strategy games. I first got into the big online roleplaying games when I started playing Everquest in 1999 and have been involved with one or another since then. Currently it's World of Warcraft (Thrall server, Horde primarily), but am always on the lookout for a good new game. On the RTS front, I can remember playing old editions of Command and Conquer and Age of Empires, and actually finishing Starcraft. Though I don't play as much anymore (being older, I find I'm not quick enough for the "twitch" games) I enjoy the strategy involved.
I used to play on the same server as you before I quit my WoW addiction ;p at the moment i'm playing my Wii more than anything else
I just played Zelda and Zelda 2 on my Wii, some Neverwinter Nights 2 modules. I'm debating busting out Baldur's Gate 2 again. I love RPGs, though the online games never held any interest to me.
I just played Zelda and Zelda 2 on my Wii, some Neverwinter Nights 2 modules. I'm debating busting out Baldur's Gate 2 again. I love RPGs, though the online games never held any interest to me.
No? You never played through an online module?
I DM'd a couple and tried to play through some (I hate being under someone else's control), but I was hatin' the way NWN handled so many things.
Something about a real human opponent makes gaming so much more intense. I usually finish a FPS before doing the online playing against people. It helps me hone my skills.
I think my favorite two FPSs were System Shock 2, the first chapter, which scared the shit out of me, and the opening of Doom 3 when hell first literally breaks out. The sounds over your radio combined with the creepiness factor of zombies popping out of the dark was almost more than I could handle. I got 30 minutes into it and had to turn it off. I came back the next day and was fine. It was pretty freaky!
The single best online FPS...Counter-Strike. I've loved to play the game for about 7 years now, and it just gets better. It's a great thing to just be able to play and not have to think about things sometimes....a real stress reliever. I know people who are still playing since the beta releases.
As for other games, I really enjoy sports games: Madden, NCAA Football, All Star Baseball, etc. Also other games I've enjoyed were Hitman (Blood Money), Soldier of Fortune 2, Half Life 2, Starcraft, the Sims, Sim City, etc...
PC
I just beat Warcraft3 (frozen throne) on Thursday. For being...god knows how old, it's entertaining.
-Elder Scrolls Oblivion = best current RPG out there. It's on par with Fallout2 with atmosphere...but with much awesomeness that ten years later can do.
-Civ4 gets a lot of play time. The second expansion just came out which should make it MUCH more interesting
-FarCry is probably the first "next gen" FPS
PS2
-The Ace Combat series is cool\fun
-Katamari will entertain you
-Metal Gear = Must have...if you don't have it, get it
-Tiger Woods is always a good time
PS3
Still kind of struggling with different issues. Nothing unique to the system (360 games tend to have the same issues) it's just the game designers just don't seem to have it "down" yet.
Motorstorm is the one "great" game
NCAA 08 is good, there's a pretty steep learning curve (that I haven't quite got)
Ironically enough Virtua Tennis is the game that gets the most play time when company comes over.
I never gamed until the original C&C. Then I spent countless hours on it. Played online a good bit but I spanked so many people that no one wanted to play against me (I'd drop a guy in the corners of the screen and put 'em next to a tree so they wouldn't be so visible. My signature move was to build up a ton of grenaders then walk into a base and let 'em fly all at once. That always got people mad.
Really got into Warcraft, we'd play at work and on the road. When we went on work trips we'd play in the car...2 laptops, a power inverter and a hub so we could network. Good times.
Looking forward to SCII. The new C&C is pretty good also, I'm not home enough to game now.
Bought a Wii over the winter, my daughter and I play golf often. She loves boxing, has all of her friends hooked on it.
I like the sports games - Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (winning eleven i think its called in the states) is amazing. Virtua Tennis, Tiger Woods etc. Trying to get into NBK2k7 but I don't really understand the game enough to do anything above the basics.
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***************************** My Log - PC Plod
C&C (the original completely hooked me), Red Alert, the original War Craft, Star Craft. I bought WWC when it first came out, but got busy at work, then just never could get into it. Also spent waaaay too much time on Diablo 1 and 2. Had some awesome characters!
I also like strategic first person shooters. Faves in no particular order:
Fear, Thief (the original... Thief 2 was lame), Half Life, System Shock 2, Doom 3 (and its expansion), Soldier of Fortune, Medal of Honor, Duke Nukem 3D (early version). Never cared for Quake.
Now I'm hooked on the Wii system, particularly golf games. My 9 year old son is nearly finished with Zelda, Twilight Princess. I played Zelda 2 on the Super Nintendo, then had the N64 system too, and played both Zelda games on there.
Yeah, I guess I'm a gamer!
JP,
You get a 360 yet? Bioshock, made by the guys who did System Shock, is coming out next month, and HALO F-in 3.
PC
I just beat Warcraft3 (frozen throne) on Thursday. For being...god knows how old, it's entertaining.
-Elder Scrolls Oblivion = best current RPG out there. It's on par with Fallout2 with atmosphere...but with much awesomeness that ten years later can do.
-Civ4 gets a lot of play time. The second expansion just came out which should make it MUCH more interesting
-FarCry is probably the first "next gen" FPS
PS2
-The Ace Combat series is cool\fun
-Katamari will entertain you
-Metal Gear = Must have...if you don't have it, get it
-Tiger Woods is always a good time
PS3
Still kind of struggling with different issues. Nothing unique to the system (360 games tend to have the same issues) it's just the game designers just don't seem to have it "down" yet.
Motorstorm is the one "great" game
NCAA 08 is good, there's a pretty steep learning curve (that I haven't quite got)
Ironically enough Virtua Tennis is the game that gets the most play time when company comes over.
the ps3 is going to be getting a lot more games coming soon, cant wait.
My favorite FPS is Team Fortress Classic, I like it 100x more than I do CS.
Im looking forward to Assassins Creed, Lair, Too Human, GTA IV, and a couple more. Im not a huge halo fan in anyway. STarcraft 3 is being worked on
PC
PS3
Still kind of struggling with different issues. Nothing unique to the system (360 games tend to have the same issues) it's just the game designers just don't seem to have it "down" yet.
Motorstorm is the one "great" game
NCAA 08 is good, there's a pretty steep learning curve (that I haven't quite got)
Ironically enough Virtua Tennis is the game that gets the most play time when company comes over.
PS3 has nothing great to offer yet, especially when it comes to exclusives. Games like GTA IV, Assasins Creed, Resident evil 5, all are coming to 360 too. MGS 4 is coming April/May of next year, but many rumors have it coming to 360 as well.
PS3 has nothing great to offer yet, especially when it comes to exclusives. Games like GTA IV, Assasins Creed, Resident evil 5, all are coming to 360 too. MGS 4 is coming April/May of next year, but many rumors have it coming to 360 as well.
Motorstorm is sick though.
True enough. Sony seemed to be asleep. Exclusives in and of themselves don't get me too excited but they just didn't release much of anything. What did come out where the movie games that you know will suck anyway! I'm all about taking your time and all to make a good product but come on guys...get it together.
Lair has potential to be really cool or really crap. Ratchet and Clank really looks good. Grand Turismo is looking nice. I think I seen somewhere where Unreal Tournament is going to be an exclusive. None of them really have any OMG factor.
Probably the only games that are going to hit the buy list in the rest of the year is Tiger Woods and the new Need for Speed. Everything else will be on play it by ear status.
GTA will almost certainly be cool but for what ever reason I just can't seem to care. Metal Gear will be awesome...hopefully Final Fantasy will be decent again.
Computer/video gamers here?
I'm all about taking your time and all to make a good product but come on guys...get it together.
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