I'm just curious who plays video games (including computer games).
I used to play them all the time, but mostly stopped when I was in high school. They just suck way too much time out of the day. Of course, I switched to chess before eventually transitioning to discussing/reading philosophy and drinking with friends, so it took a while before the time was converted to anything productive.
I'll still occasionally play a game on armorgames.com while watching something on Netflix if I need to veg out. They are generally short enough that there's nothing to become addicted to.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I do.
Mechwarrior OnLine is in beta now, and we are having fun. It's a cool reboot of the franchise.
I also bought Rocksmith, but it's because it actually teaches you to play guitar. It's great, and a lot of fun.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I didn't get into the MWO beta.
I play Guild Wars 2 these days when I have some time.
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
I only play League of Legends with any regularity. I still own some games from 1-2-3 years ago that I've never played...
As for facebook/net/phone games, I hate them with a passion. I do have a chess and a go app on my phone, but I don't use the first since I'd rather play correspondence vs other people, and I've yet to learn the second.
I am trying to get away from just mindless internet browsing and start playing more games, but I need to find stuff that's both engaging and not hard enough to discourage me at the end of a workday.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Most of my video gaming these days is co-op, but I do try to make some time for single-player gaming as well. We also play a lot of board and card games -- not classics, but modern ones.
Posted by Szymon (Member # 7103) on :
Hearts of Iron. Looove it.
And Starcraft, always 2v2 when I see my brother once a month. It's like a family thing.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Replaying MGS3. Just beat The Fury and got a trophy called: Houston, we HAD a problem.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
Single player usually, rarely online, and never massively multiplayer.
I particularly enjoy games that have a bit of virtual tourism (Assassin's Creed for example)
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Borderlands 2 is the big game right now for me.
I'm also looking forward to Assassin's Creed 3 and Halo 4, which both come out soon.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
I play UFO Afterlight (Xcom reboot) and a little single player CoD MW2 just for fun lately.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
Borderlands 2, which has delivered many laughs
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
WoW, mostly. And mostly other computer games. Though I recently came into possession of both a 360 and Skyrim, and that was a three weeks well spent.
Posted by DustinDopps (Member # 12640) on :
I play quite a few games. If you never played "Shadow Complex" (a downloadable Xbox360 game) you should definitely try it. It's an amazing game and it is based in the same world as Card's Empire novels.
Seriously, I loved that game.
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Borderlands 2 played as multiplayer is pure (reasonably adult) hilarity.
I'm just starting to kick around in Torchlight 2 as well, which is refreshing (and somehow more enthralling than Diablo III to me).
And World of Tanks is great fun solo or with friends, usually right when I get home after dealing with rush hour traffic.
Posted by Szymon (Member # 7103) on :
And, old game, Monkey Island, especially The Curse of Monkey Island. The game is simply fantastic, best adventure game ever made.
And OSC wrote some of the dialogues.
I'm Guybrush Threepwood, a Mighty Pirate!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: I didn't get into the MWO beta.
I play Guild Wars 2 these days when I have some time.
If you are interested, I might be able to work something out. I have a group of people I play with regular, and it's cool. It's a great Beta so far, and I am enjoying it.
I think.....not sure, but think....that some of them have some accounts they aren't using that got in.
I can also let you know the second it goes public, and give you our Teamspeak server number so you can drop with us if you want. It's a lot more fun on Comms, with people who like to play. We're a Davion team, and we are one of the oldest groups of players in the MW games.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I have a variety of games for Steam, Wii, Gamecube, Playstation 2, and xBox 360 which I play. I usually spend an hour or two a day playing a game for one of the systems to take a break from studying.
I've spent a lot of time playing Team Fortress 2 for xBox lately because it's a good way to unwind. When I want more of a challenge (or game in which I care about my success), I boot up Super Meat Boy on Steam; it's one of the most challenging and satisfying platforming games I've ever played.
When I want to actually play for a longer period of time, I've been making my way through Half Life for Playstation 2 or playing the first Mass Effect game for xBox.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
Never really developed an obsession for them, other than maybe 2D Mario platformers. Just not very good at them. I always had bad hand/eye coordination.
In college I really got in to System Shock 2 and Star Trek Elite Force. Once beaten though I stopped.
Played Star Trek Online last year for a about 6 months. Stopped for lack of time.
Our Wii only gets taken out when we have people over.
I played Portal all the way through on the PC and loved it. Briefly played Portal 2 on a friend's system, and I am sure I would love it if I had the time.
Posted by 777 (Member # 9506) on :
I used to play a lot of computer games. I mean, a lot. Too much. Grades suffered. Social life was preferable, but not necessary. I didn't have to leave my room for hours at a time. There was no such thing as a good night's sleep, because it was morning by the time I went to bed.
I went on my mission. Things changed a bit. I no longer game heavily.
But--I do play games. Warcraft III is a good standby, especially custom games with the Frozen Throne expansion. I swear, I haven't played that game in four years, until last night--then I downloaded Frozen Throne and got back onto Battle.net, and found myself in a good ol' round of Castle Fight within half an hour.
Blizzard just about never disappoints.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I do. Mostly RPGs.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: I play UFO Afterlight (Xcom reboot) and a little single player CoD MW2 just for fun lately.
I loved X-COM, back when it was new, and still give it a spin every now and then. Brilliant game. How does UFO Afterlight's gameplay compare?
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
I'm currently playing a lot of The Secret World and Civilization 5.
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
The only game I've put any serious time into lately has been Dark Souls. It's probably the least hand-holdy game I've played in this console gen, and that's just one of manifold aspects I love about it. It's also quite difficult, harkening back to the games I used to enjoy as a lad.
Other than that I haven't had much enthusiasm for video games lately, though my interest often ebbs and flows with this particular pastime.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Hope we get Dark Souls 2 next year.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Isn't Dark Souls more or less already a sequel to Demon Souls?
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Yes.
(the name change was because From Software didn't own the license)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kwea: I also bought Rocksmith, but it's because it actually teaches you to play guitar. It's great, and a lot of fun.
I've been eyeballing this ever since it came out.
Is it really that effective? I mean, if you didn't have the game in front of you and you were handed a guitar, could you conceivably play something?
I really want to get it, but it's expensive if it's just a fancy version of Guitar Hero. What I really want is a teaching aid.
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
quote:Originally posted by Magson: I'm currently playing a lot of The Secret World and Civilization 5.
I've yet to try Civ5. I've played Civ4 more than could be considered healthy, but somehow Civ5 didn't attract me. Are their any extensions to it? Because they seemed to have simplified the game a lot compared to 4.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Civ 5 was actually a pretty big change, but I liked most of the changes. I like that you can't stack units. The graphics are on another level in comparison, and it really does look nicer. They use a hexagonal grid now, which I think works just fine.
I think they simplified it, but not in a way that makes it simplistic, it merely cut out the elements that made Civ IV annoying. And I say that as someone who played a LOT of Civ IV.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I had to delete Civ IV off my computer. When I would play, hours would disappear without me even realizing it.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I've gotten more into video games in my 20s than any other period in my life. Even though I've owned all the major consoles (except the nintendos and xbox360) of the past dozen years, I would, on the whole, end up neglecting the systems after three or so games. But I bought a gaming PC in 2010 and SC2 in the fall of that year and have been quite absorbed since.
But one thing is true -- games can be a huge time and energy sink, especially a game like Starcraft 2 where, to be competitive, you have to learn and memorize build orders, watch people better than you play, etc, but the payoff is facing an opponent as nearly good as you and having to struggle and give your 100%: you get into a state of what some psychologists call "Flow."
I find that to be a pretty blissful state, wherever I can find it, and a good SC2 session always triggers it.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
The Civ games always interested me, but they seemed like too much of an investment. If they could streamline the process a bit, maybe I'd get more into it. I don't want to look at statistics and population size for hours, though. That just seems boring.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
You don't look at statistics and population size for hours in the Civ games. Each of those games is pretty streamlined and can be played casually. Spend $5 on one of them when some digital game vendor has a sale.
I was quite fond of Civ III. I loved getting to the Modern Era because of its theme music:
Gotcha, well Sa'eed maybe I will give it a try. I've heard nothing but good things about it. Can you (or somebody) tell me a little about the playtime involved? I played the second game a long time ago (mostly when I was at home sick from school, back in 8th and 9th grade), and that game was a bit outdated compared to what's out there now. How fast paced is it now, because the older stuff was slow?
On another note, I wonder how many of you will be getting Halo 4 when it comes out. Assassin's Creed 3 has my money next, but then it's Halo. I'm stoked about both games, but I'd like to find something different until then (I've already beaten Borderlands 2 twice now). Any suggestions?
Posted by capaxinfiniti (Member # 12181) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sa'eed: But one thing is true -- games can be a huge time and energy sink, especially a game like Starcraft 2 where, to be competitive, you have to learn and memorize build orders, watch people better than you play, etc, but the payoff is facing an opponent as nearly good as you and having to struggle and give your 100%: you get into a state of what some psychologists call "Flow."
I find that to be a pretty blissful state, wherever I can find it, and a good SC2 session always triggers it.
Have you tried poker? What you stated above explains why poker is so much fun to me. The bliss and the "Flow" are intense in that game. But it can be consuming as well, at times. The lows come with the highs, the hours disappear like minutes, and the money (if you're playing with it) can become an issue if aren't responsible. I can easily see why some find it a hard game to leave.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jake:
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: I play UFO Afterlight (Xcom reboot) and a little single player CoD MW2 just for fun lately.
I loved X-COM, back when it was new, and still give it a spin every now and then. Brilliant game. How does UFO Afterlight's gameplay compare?
Afterlight is set on Mars, after aliens have kicked us off of earth. The tactical game play is superb, although after you have played it a few hundred times the maps and alien behaviors tend to get a bit repetitive.
The characters are a bit cartoony, but excellent tactical options and the wonderful solider training makes up for that completely (although playing "iron man" without going back to a save is nearly impossible as unlike the original xcom, you do not have an endless supply of soldiers waiting to be hired). The 3D flying camera is freaking awesome, it allows you to see the whole map from nearly any angle, including the individual unit's perspective (Youtube vid of gameplay). Weapons and space suits are upgradeable with modular equipment like different scopes, under-barrel shotguns, shields, etc, with an extensive research tree (and different scientist trainings).
You own territories and build mines to get resources (the way they set it up is a bit confusing as there is the number of resources you -have- and the number of resource levels that equals, like 3 crystals = level 2 Small). Also you terraform Mars.
There are numerous mods available (I highly recommend Total Rebalance mod v2.00 which adds a bunch of weapons and equipment and missions and is awesome). The game itself is $10 on steam (I got it on sale for $5). You can use the mods on the steam version, you just install them into the steam game file instead of the normal one.
Some of the choices the designers have made are a bit silly, such as, it takes four people a day and a half to build a rocket launcher, but one guy by himself can make a self sustaining mine in about 8 hours. *shrug* That kind of stuff you just have to swallow whole and let go.
One pain in the butt is that when something new (manufacturable item, base building, new training, etc) becomes available through research (or new level of resources being achieved) the game doesn't inform you, so you have to check manually.
Part of the fun of the game is that several times you will "hit a wall" where a new enemy will kick the living crap out of you until you find a new (weapon/training/armor/tactic) to deal with the problem.
You can also build, equip and upgrade your own robots (as well as several alien ally troops) as well as a few different classes of human (soldier/scientist/tech).
I can unabashedly say this is one of my absolute favorite games, ever.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
anyone else getting unfinished swan?
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
You guys know that a reboot of the XCOM franchise comes out on like, the 9th, right? The demo is already out, too.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
I didn't know the date, but I knew one was in the works.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Knew but didn't care.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
quote:Originally posted by umberhulk: Knew but didn't care.
I'll give it a whirl eventually. Can't right now. Playing other games.
Dishonored comes out on the 9th.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I intend to get Dishonored eventually. Though, I can't help thinking it reminds me of a crossover between Bioshock and Assassin's Creed.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
2013 is going to be the best year in the history of life.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Downloading demo now.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samprimary: You guys know that a reboot of the XCOM franchise comes out on like, the 9th, right? The demo is already out, too.
What's XCOM?
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
2013 is going to be the best year in the history of life.
Paper Mario is AWESOME! I love the Wii version. It was a lot of fun. I hope the 3DS is just as good.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
So.
I will hate myself if I miss out on the next Zelda game, so here are my options.
1: Buy a Wiiu because hey, it's Nintendo and being an early adopter is awesome.
2: Just wait until Zelda comes out to get one. I may not have the funds then to do it, and it could be years.
3: Get a Wiiu when it comes out and take advantage of the Christmas rush and short supply. Resell for EZ profit. Get another one and pocket the change when the hype dies down.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Option 3 sounds like a solid idea, Blade, although it might be risky.
Personally, I'll be waiting until a price drop before I get a Wii U. Zelda, Smash bros., and Paper Mario won't be out on it for a while, so I don't see much of a reason to jump on the launch, personally.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
quote:Originally posted by Kwea: I also bought Rocksmith, but it's because it actually teaches you to play guitar. It's great, and a lot of fun.
I've been eyeballing this ever since it came out.
Is it really that effective? I mean, if you didn't have the game in front of you and you were handed a guitar, could you conceivably play something?
I really want to get it, but it's expensive if it's just a fancy version of Guitar Hero. What I really want is a teaching aid.
It's nothing like GH at all. It teaches you the basics, but it is fun, and you start playing some very familiar songs.
I too 4-5 lessons when I was a kid, but that was literally in 5th grade, and I am 42. I don't remember any of it. Yet I am learning "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)" by the Rolling Stones right now. I've only done it for 3-4 lessons, and it is cool.
It automatically ramps up the difficulty, which can be jarring when you redo a song. But it means you've done well on what you have already learned. 3 lessons in it started actually started sounding like the song.
Best $60 I've spent on a game, maybe ever. After playing it I will actually have a RL skill that I have wanted for most of my life. I will have music back in my life. And it's on sale for about $40 including shipping right here.
[ October 05, 2012, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: Kwea ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'd need the guitar too, alas. I have an acoustic, but no plug in. But I'm still considering it.
Thanks for the review, now I'm pining for it all that much more. Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
I'm getting a Wii U the second Bayonetta 2 comes out, and then I'll get Pikmin 3 and Rayman along with it (and maybe Zombieu)
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Here is my review of the XCOM demo:
It doesn't run on XP.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Here is my review of the XCOM demo:
It doesn't run on XP.
I think the only things that run on XP these days are our hopes and dreams.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Here is my review of the XCOM demo:
It doesn't run on XP.
XP's dirX support is already end-of-lifed and microsoft is dropping literally all support for it forever in about a year.
It is over a decade old.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
Also, you get the following rewards if you pre-order on steam:
quote:Reward 1
Elite Soldier Pack*
The Elite Soldier Pack will provide the ultimate tools for soldier customization in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, including:
Classic XCOM Soldier Players will instantly receive a new recruit in their barracks inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense. The iconic soldier with the blonde, flattop hairstyle will return fully modernized. Soldier Deco packs Players can customize their soldier with several aesthetic upgrades to armor suits, including the new Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits. Complete color customization A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets in the game allow players complete control to customize their squad’s look.
Reward 2
Everything Above, Plus:
3 Exclusive XCOM TF2 Items*
The Crafty Hair If you're ever planning on fighting aliens, this is the hair to have.
Area 451 If aliens ever invaded Badlands and used their special alien powers to make all of our heads look like alien heads, this is a scientifically accurate representation of what Pyro would look like.
The Vigilant Pin This pin proudly states to all that you are at least vaguely aware of the possibility that maybe aliens exist.
Reward 3
Everything Above, Plus:
A Free copy of Civilization V!* Already own Civilization V? Gift a copy to your friend.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: I have an acoustic, but no plug in.
Huh...didn't even know this existed, but even if it only kind of works, that saves a ton of cash. Thanks.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
De nada.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Dishonored comes out tomorrow.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
BlackBlade, if you are interested in MechWarrior Online, PC Gamer has a deal. Buy this months copy and get an invite to the closed Beta, plus a skin for your Mech and a Coconut Monkey for the dash.
They have a great write up of the game, and I have a team you can run with if you want. We use Teamspeak for comms, and most games run about 10-15 min a whack. I play Davion, and the team is HeadHunters of Davion, one of the oldest groups playing. Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I am in MechWarrior Online as well, though I haven't played for a bit. I want to try it now that they've fixed up the graphics some.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
MWO would be nice if it didn't heat my computer to a glowing, semiliquid state.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Is anyone else playing Borderlands 2? I've been playing the new Mechromancer and I love the ability to toss out my very own tank whenever I want.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
What platform do you play it on?
I've a couple hours of dishonored. It's alright. Wish I was playing it on PC. Exploring a lot. Teleportation is fun, even if it feels cheap when you get a stealth kill with it.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
XCOM is like the best game I have played in a long time.
I am so damn glad they made the tutorial intro optional. They knew.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Now I'm kinda sad that the only puter in my household with the vid card to handle it is running XP.
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