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Are Older Games More Satisfying?
Kwirl asks: "While the computer and console gaming industry is growing at a remarkable pace, the focus is usually on better graphics as opposed to stronger gameplay and plot development/story arc. I personally have several titles (Sims2, Half-Life2, Doom 3, MSFS2004, Unreal 2004) sitting on my shelf that were amazing games, but just couldn't hold my interest for long enough to really be considered a worthwhile investment. In the last couple of years I had thought that the answer to my gaming needs would come in the form of MMORPG's. I have purchased and played many of them, but all seem to come to a stagnant point where I recognize that only addiction would drive me deeper into the game, and not better gameplay (Dark Age of Camelot, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, Everquest II). In truth, I have found myself spending more time playing old MUD's (TorilMud, Medievia) again, or even amusing web-based games ( KingdomofLoathing, PimpWar, NeoPets). I am curious to know how many other people here find themselves walking intentionally backwards along the technological timeline of games for your personal expenditure of free time? What games/sites do you feel give you the best return of satisfaction versus time spent playing the game over the long haul?"
Yes
Longer story, my favorite all time game is the old classic Chess. Whether it's getting cremated by my computer or playing and even occasionally beating humans online or offline. The depth and amount it makes me think is just great.
Favorite dedicated computer game you ask? Try Civilization 2. Civ 3 for some reason seemed more fluff and the same amount of meat as Civ 2 (hence making it slower and doing nothing really for gameplay). Though I need to try FreeCiv one day.
In general I just like games that make me think more than anything else. FPS games amongst others are interesting for about 10 minutes then I just walk away.
...in bed
I disagree - I think the older games inherently had better gameplay simply because there wasn't anything else to devote resources to devloping. "Here's your tools: 16k of RAM, a 1.77 MgHz processor, 240x120 pixels in eight different colors. Go nuts!"
To make an analogy, if your board and gamepieces are essentialy a piece of dirt, a sharp stick and a handful of pebbles, the game you come up with had better have some damned good play value if you expect anyone to play it.
Case in point: How many people can remember all the secret doors on the umpteenth map in Quake 2, vs how many people can remember to get the Babel Fish in Infocom's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? And when all is said and done, which was more satisfying to beat?
ouch. as one of the girls who regularily cruises slashdot, I'd venture to say that we mix just fine, thank you.=)
More on topic though...you are right in a way...there don't seem to be a whole lot of women on slashdot in general (no worries...I know you're out there, but statistically, we're in the minority). Ditto with gaming - it's a rarity to find a girl really into some of these new games. They are out there, but on the whole, I've noticed my friends are MUCH more likely to fiddle around with the older games like tetris or arqanoid, or some of the less action-based games. I'm not sure why - societal thing maybe? who knows. But I personally only know 1 woman who really gets into the first-person shooter or RPG type games, but I can name off like 30 guys off the top of my head who just eat it up. Personally, I lost interest with "shooter" games with DN2 (if that even qualifies), but some of my old DOS based sharewares are still going strong.
...no two people are not on fire.