Flights of Fantasy discussion

Aaaand a thread for us video game addicts! Do we have a lot of video game fans here in FoF? I grew up playing console games with my mother (yes, I have a very cool mother) and got hooked on PC games years ago with Ultima Online.

Lately I've been convinced to try out Minecraft and Terraria. Haven't gotten started in Terraria yet due to my shoulder injury -- just been watching Youtube videos of it and itching to start dicking about -- but I had a lot of fun with Minecraft despite server issues on the part of the folk I was playing with. They/we have a stable paid server set up now so when my shoulder heals, my days might evaporate.

Feel free to share your gamertags, Steam names, MMO handles or whatever here as well if you're looking for folk to play with. :)

I'm what's considered a "casual" gamer. I like the types of games you find at Big Fish Games, for my various iProducts - Primarily, Time Managment & Hideen Object.

I was a hardcore Sims 2 addict but was disappointed in Sims 3 (even after I found more than a few major mods that made it fun), so I stopped playing them altogether.

I was also into the game Slingo on FaceBook until they discontinued it.

Other favorites include: Dice With Buddies (aka Yahtzee) and a couple of the Zynga games.

I was a total Sims 1 & 2 addict, as well! I shared your disappointment with The Sims 3, though the expansion packs really improve it. I tried it again when they released the final x-pack and found it way more engaging with them all installed, though it still lacks some of the visual appeal The Sims 2 had (I never liked the style of The Sims 3, it seemed less realistic, especially the character models).

I find this is an ongoing problem with the Sims series though... the games at launch just don't stack up to the previous entry in the series with all the expansion packs, because whatever improvements you get aren't offset by all the gameplay elements you lose, so it takes a few years of collecting x-packs before it's actually worth playing. I'm expecting The Sims 4 to be a similar experience, sadly -- I'll buy it, but after a couple of days' play it'll likely sit on the shelf until there are five or six expansions to join it.

I forgot there was going to be a 4...

I've thought about trying 3 again, but the fact that I have a x-pack that sat in my drive,uninstalled, for months until I finally took it out because I had to install something else, probably means I'm done w/ the game.

I like empire building games (for some strange reason). Like Ceaser and Cleopatra.

I also like Diablo (but D3 sucked ass and I'm thinking of rebuying D2 + the expansion (can't find my old ones).
Torchlight

I never really got into the Sims, even though I like other building games like Civilisation. I think maybe I need some conflict in my games and the Sims just didn't deliver what I wanted.

Love RPGs like Skyrim and the Baldur's Gate games though. Anything where I can make a character and then sink 50+ hours into it is great as far as I'm concerned. Ooh, almost forgot Fallout 3. That game was fantastic too!

Paul wrote: "I never really got into the Sims, even though I like other building games like Civilisation. I think maybe I need some conflict in my games and the Sims just didn't deliver what I wanted.

Love RP..."

My husband has out Skyrim character and now he doesn't want to play. Arrrrggghhh! I am horrible with console games and I don't do well past the point & click Diablo variety (I play on a laptop).

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I like empire building games (for some strange reason). Like Ceaser and Cleopatra.
"

I loved the Caesar series...never heard of or played Cleopatra, though. I also really liked Zeus, but the x-pack, Poseidon, never worked on my PC for some reason. The game would play up to a point and then stop. There was also Pharaoh.
I wonder if I could get any of them now for my Mac.


My husband also likes Skyrim and I think we played Baldur's Gate together, but those are more his speed.

I loved Final Fantasy VII (in fact I bought a PS2 just so that I could play it) and VIII, but kind of fell off after those. I played X for a little while. Hubby was the one who introduced me to the series, back when we were dating. I got major "geek" points for buying the PS2 - LOL. He's played all of them except XII (I think; the online one).

Neither of us play any shooters.

I have Pharaoh now and I think Cleopatra was an expansion pack for Caesar or Pharaoh.

I bought them (again) from GOG.com (plus Poseidon but I haven't played it yet).

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I have Pharaoh now and I think Cleopatra was an expansion pack for Caesar or Pharaoh.

I bought them (again) from GOG.com (plus Poseidon but I haven't played it yet)."

Seems they're PC only :(

:(

I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. I'm a horrible console player. :(

I tend towards strategy games (both turn-based and real-time, but the more my arthritis advances, the less friendly real-time is -- at least when I have to play against 14-year-olds and their teenybopper reflexes), platformers and action RPGs like the aforementioned Diablo/Torchlight/Titan Quest/etc.

Not really that into shooters. The last one I played with any consistency was the original Left 4 Dead, but then everyone moved to the sequel and I didn't like it, so that was that. And I like the idea of the big open world RPGs like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout and Dragon Age, but truth be told, when I'm expected to explore and stumble across interesting stuff, I get bored and lost and go fire up a strategy game instead. I'm sure they're great for the less navigationally challenged, and possibly the more curious, but I'm coming to the conclusion that if I wanted to wander around looking at pretty stuff to see if anything interesting happens I'd probably just go outdoors.

Titania wrote: "I tend towards strategy games (both turn-based and real-time, but the more my arthritis advances, the less friendly real-time is -- at least when I have to play against 14-year-olds and their teeny..."


I'm not into group games - Im never that fast. I'm single player all day long. Boring, I know but it;s my preference.

Speaking of that, I just went digging and found my Diablo 2. I think I'll play that + the expansion rather than bother with finishing the current game/character I'm playing with D3.

Titania wrote: "but truth be told, when I'm expected to explore and stumble across interesting stuff, I get bored and lost and go fire up a strategy game instead. I'm sure they're great for the less navigationally challenged, and possibly the more curious, but I'm coming to the conclusion that if I wanted to wander around looking at pretty stuff to see if anything interesting happens I'd probably just go outdoors. "


lol!! This is the reason hubby really doesn't care for D2 vs D3. D3 is much more liner than D2 so you have to keep on keeping on. D2 allows for a lot of exploration - which he hates. Skyrim allows for all of that, too. Which is probably why he quit.


ETA: I read this to hubby and he told me this is why he hates Skyrim. *sigh*

Haha, I'm totally cut from the same mould as your hubby on this one. I even prefer D3 to D2 for the same reasons.

I remember the last time I played Skyrim -- I explored a dungeon I randomly found, it took me about two hours to complete, and then when I got to the next town I got a quest telling me to go explore that same fucking dungeon.

Grr. If the game was nice and linear like my beloved D3, I'd have found the dungeon at exactly the right time and not been kicking myself for having just spent two hours on it.

Stupid Skyrim. Mumblegrumble.

lolol! I read him this and he went off on a tangent, lol!

He's now mumbling about the bullshit wolves that kill his superior mage (we have already be the quests to become the head of the mage school).

So this looks pretty good. Really like that art style!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/237...

Paul wrote: "So this looks pretty good. Really like that art style!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/237..."

It does look good. But is the game play like? I need point & click - I use a laptop.

Turn based, I think.

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is turn based. Like the recent X-Com game. I prefer turn based games over games where it's all about your reflexes.

Looking at the requirements it looks like it would play on any fairly recent laptop without needing something really expensive. Another good thing as far as I'm concerned :)

I love WoW. The boy doesn't play so I've been on a hiatus. You know that thing where you have to spend time with a person to culture a relationship? So many sacrifices.

Paul wrote: "So this looks pretty good. Really like that art style!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/237..."

I've been playing a little of this and it is really pretty. The combat plays a lot like HoMM's strategic maps, while the rest of the game is more like a point and click adventure. The story seems really well thought out, with switching POVs like a fantasy novel. I like it so far.

Titania wrote: "Paul wrote: "So this looks pretty good. Really like that art style!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/237..."

I've been playing a little of this and it is really pretty. The combat plays a lot l..."

Sounds good. Think I'll be picking this one up!

X-COM. I was so addicted to that in university. I loved that game.

Nicki wrote: "Those of you who like retro games should check out GOG.com, who're giving away Dungeon Keeper for free over the next couple of days. I played a lot of that game when I was younger. They have a sale..."

Thanks for the tip! I got the promo email this morning but it was pre-coffee so I totally forgot.

I really should grab NWNDE and NWN2 at those prices, for nostalgia's sake. NWN was my gateway drug of gaming.

If anyone's on Steam, my username is --------. I don't do multiplayer at all, but 'tis always nice to have friends. :)

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "X-COM. I was so addicted to that in university. I loved that game."

XCOM is awesome. My other favorite sci-fi turn based is Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, a sci-fi version of Civilization. It's an oldie, but a goody.

I grabbed that myself.

I love RPGs but I've never gotten into the MMORPGs. I still play single player games. No pressure to stay leveled up with everyone else of be on line at a certain time.

I had a group of friends (including my son) with whom I played Guild Wars for a while, but the group fell apart and I was never one for "pick-up" groups.

I grew up being a fan of JRPG´s like Final Fantasy / Chrono Trigger / etc, then moved to the PC, specifically Warcraft and the other Blizzard games. Then I pretty much surrendered my college years to WoW, did the hardcore raiding guild and everything. I have conflicted feelings about this. At least I had a steady girlfriend at the time.

I´m playing the open beta for Hearthstone these days. Kinda takes away from my reading time but it´s good fun. Curse you Blizzard and your fucking addictive games.

I'm annoyed but still waiting for the expansion for Diablo 3...

I'm a playstation gamer currently waiting for more titles to be released on ps4 before i purchase it. I usually play 1st player shooters and RPG. Have to say final fantasy vii is my all time favourite.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'm annoyed but still waiting for the expansion for Diablo 3..."

You know, I was going to get the expansion but then I realized that Blizzard sucks. They removed the RMAH but refuse to take away the always on requirement.

:(

I hate that to. I haven't played D3 for a while, I played it through with 3 or 4 characters. Let's see...Barbarian, Monk, Wizard and demon Hunter. But I do want the Crusader and the new chapter. Looks like the "standard game" will be about $40....$60 for the Grand High Golden Diamond Special Elite Edition...

The Humble Bundles are killing me. Well, okay, not really, because I've gotten a ridiculous quantity of games for a total of like $20 spent. But I get steam keys whenever possible and my brain hurts from trying to sort them into categories.

Please, Steam, let me assign a game to more than one category. My OCD will thank you.

That aside, I seem to be going back and forth between "big games" (Skyrim, DXHR, FO3, etc) and puzzle / P&C / HOGs.

I think I've slowed down a lot. I'm spending most of my time time playing Titan Quest trying different power combinations and such. It's an old game and I think it's that I don't have to think about it a lot, LOL.

I've slowed too. Mainly because I refuse to go look at whats being sold.

Good plan.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I've slowed too. Mainly because I refuse to go look at whats being sold."

I check my Steam wishlist for markdowns every day. My meager entertainment budget goes to games now. Of course, I have enough books to last me a hundred years, plus the library, so it's not like cutting into my book budget is a bad thing.

What's sad is that I love those point-and-click mystery and puzzle games but I SUCK at them. I'm pretty good at problem-solving in real life, but that doesn't always translate. I always need walkthroughs. So sad.

Well, enjoy. I hate having to go to a walk through to find something, but I've had to do it...several times.

:)

@Nicki - how is Banished? Have you fired it up yet? I've wishlisted it, but I'm not sure if I should rank it as "yes, buy" or "only on massive markdown".

And I just discovered Blink Bundle and other bundle sites. Good golly. I mean, I knew they existed but I had managed to avoid them until...

Well, it's like this. I also "discovered" the Steam Enhanced (or is it Enhanced Steam? whatever) extension for Chrome. OMG. It tells you way more info on the Steam pages, like if there is a known bundle containing the game you're looking at. Also, price history, steamdb info (on your profile, too), steamcharts info, etc. ALSO - it shows a big red warning if a game has 3rd party DRM like Origin or UPlay. (I don't mind Origin so much - Mass Effect FTW - but I've had issues with UPlay.)

So that's how I discovered Blink - from the store page of a game I was looking at.

Nicki wrote: "I haven't had a chance yet but I'm probably going to give it a shot tonight -- I'll post some feedback when I have! "

Welllll... I went ahead and bought it anyway. :D I read an interview with the developer and I totally wanted to support him. But I still look forward to hearing your thoughts once you've tried it. I think I'll like it, though.

I may not get around to playing it tonight. I've been organizing my Steam inventory - turns out I was able to complete two badges just by cleaning out my inventory and selling dupe cards to buy ones I needed. Even came out a few cents ahead. :D

I know what you mean about the bundles - I never thought I'd turn into a collector, but I have, and if I wasn't building my inventory with the bundles, I'd be buying either those games or other games instead.

Right now my games list is sitting at 98. I'm practically sitting on my hands not to go for 100, because next week two bundles I got will be adding bonus games but it's sooooo hard! I like nice even numbers.

Nicki wrote: "I don't think I'll confess what my number is here in public. Six years of Steam sales have taken their toll. ;)"

LOL I'll just say that I'm impressed. :D

I've been trying to get in the habit of reviewing games. Did 11 today and revised an old one. I discovered that Steam's obscenity filter blocks the word "moron" as in, "I didn't feel like a hitman, I felt like a moron". (I didn't get along very well with Hitman: Absolution.)

I didn't know they had reviews. O_o

I wish part of the spec information included controls.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I didn't know they had reviews. O_o

I wish part of the spec information included controls."

Yep. With you being a click-move gal and me being a WASD nut, stuff like that is helpful.

You know what else? I wish they had save system info. Like "multi saves outside of combat" ala Mass Effect, "multi saves anytime" ala Skyrim, "checkpoint only" ala Hitman: Absolution, and so on, as well as whether or not there are multiple profiles. Like Bookworm Adventures has a single ongoing autosave-on-quit per profile, but you can have multiple player profiles, which is cool if you have more than one person who wants to play, or really smart cats or something.

Some games I simply can't get into because I need to be able to quit at will, especially since alt-tabbing is unpredictable at best, and constantly having to replay content because I had to quit between checkpoints gets REALLY old REALLY fast.

Advanced warning - anyone who uses the term "save-scumming" in a critical manner will receive a verbal bitch-slap. Not all saving is about endless do-overs. I'm not asking to change the game devs "vision", I just want fair freakin' warning.

(Hmmm. I might be a bit sensitive about that, eh? Too much time on the Steam forums will do that to a person.)

Aaand a double post. So I did end up firing up Banished earlier, and I just posted my review. Already? Yes, already. For anyone who cares...

----------------------

"Oh my. So I just got this game. Played less than two hours so far, and most of that was going through the tutorials. I thought the tutorials were excellent. They don't cover every detail, but rather give a functional overview of the basics, and most people can sort out the rest from there, I'd think. So then I start. Building my first town, going along nicely, staying on top of food needs and such, and... and...

Someone died.

He froze to death. A man FROZE to death because he didn't have enough firewood! I felt awful. It... it actually hurt. So soon? So sad.

WAIT! WHAT??? I have a woodcutter that should be handling that sort of thing. What the heck is my woodcutter doing over there???

I click on the woodcutter. He's not working, he's idling. He's messing around while people are freezing to death! I started yelling at the computer. You lazy jerk! Get back to work! Are you insane????

Yeah, I probably didn't build the woodcutter as early as I should have, but that's not the point. The point is that any game that can get me that involved, that invested, is doing something very right."

Christa wrote: "Aaand a double post. So I did end up firing up Banished earlier, and I just posted my review. Already? Yes, already. For anyone who cares...

----------------------

"Oh my. So I just got this game..."


O_o

He died?

I know I hate it when disease starts in my towns and people die.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "O_o

He died?

I know I hate it when disease starts in my towns and people die. "


IKR? (I swore I'd never use that abbreviation, but there ya go. I've been assimilated into all the interwebz.)

Anyway. Yes, keeping them alive into old age is pretty much the motivation for the micromanagement required in this game.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, I read an interview with the dev. One guy made this game, including the custom engine that it runs on. He originally made the engine for a zombie game but decided there were too many zombie games out so he decided to create the city builder he always wanted. He adapted the engine and created Banished.

It just so happens that the city builder he always wanted is ALSO the city builder I always wanted. Your enemies are time, climate, disasters and yourself. Your citizens each have names, they pair up, have kids, work, and if you do things right, they eventually die of old age.

One of the main points is to get invested in keeping the town alive. It's not a "god game" because you're not a god or mayor, you're more like the spirit of the town, the heart of it, if that makes any sense. Though I was pretty clear on the game's concepts before I hit the "buy" button, there are plenty of people complaining because it lacks "stuff". On one hand, I understand the complaints, but on the other hand, the "stuff" they are seeking isn't really what this game is about. But he's looking at how to open it up to modding, so that should take care of many of those people.

I played some more last night after I posted. Started my town over because of some already-apparent noob errors. Despite doing much better, I still found myself singing, "If We Make It Through December" every time winter rolled in. And that's what drives me to keep playing. So far on this attempt, no one has died prematurely, but I will soon be dealing with the original founders passing of old age and that will be sad. Especially Lizbethel, because I consider her to be the town matriarch, mostly because she and her husband have had more kids than anyone else and because they moved into the very first house I built.

I'd say it definitely falls into the "easy to learn, hard to master" category. It does have some bugs, but it's been out less than a week, and the bug count is pretty low.

I LOVE video games, although I'm stuck in the past. The only gaming consoles I own are my beloved PS2 and just about every incarnation of the GameBoy, then my DS Lite. I play a lot of games on my nephew's 360 (even though I'm a Playstation girl at heart) and I play Sims 3 a lot(I get really into it with CC and mods xD)

I'm unhealthily obsessed with the Silent Hill series (especially the first three) and I LOVE me some Final Fantasy :-D

I love the final fantasy series especially ff vii