The Last Games You'd Play?

Rigor Morty asks: "I am an older man (44), an avid fan of video games, and I am faced with a problem; my hands are becoming arthritic as I get older. I fear I will soon have to completely give up the console games I have loved over the years. To that end, let me ask the Slashdot Nation — if you were going to give it up, what games would you insist on playing before you had to quit? I'm willing to make some effort to do this, and spend some cash; I will buy the new consoles if I need to, or try to find obscure titles."

Comments

Me..?

[RyuuzakiTetsuya]

Final Fantasy XII.

Its' 110+ hours. If I'm not sick of gaming after that, I'll never get sick of games

Re:Me..?

[Anonymous Coward]

To be fair, 85 hours of that are cutscenes.

Re:Me..?

[nametaken]

I'd play whatever I want, via emulators, with a user input device that doesn't aggravate my arthritis.

Re:Me..?

[Hai-Etlik]

Icewind Dale and Crusader are mouse and keyboard PC games, not console games. It's possible he will be able to keep playing games like that.

Re:Me..?

[wolenczak]

Duke Nukem Forever =)

Re:Me..?

[Gilmoure]

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (SMAC/X). I've been playing this game for about 5 years now. Great variety.

Re:Me..?

[Anonymous Coward]

The Nintendo Wii has begun what I believe will be a trend of removing rigid finger manipulation from console game controllers in the future.

Re:Me..?

[bluephone]

The guy is 44. Even optimistically he's not going to live THAT long.

Re:Me..?

[aplusjimages]

That's funny because I played the Wii at a friends house and I used the buttons as much as on other consoles.

Re:Me..?

[einstienbc]

Panzer Dragoon Saga for the Sega Saturn

Re:Me..?

[8ball629]

GREAT GAME! I would probably say Mario Bros. 3 for NES... or Contra for NES... or Vectorman for Sega Saturn... or Bionic Commando for NES - hell I can't decide. I hate hypothetical questions.

Re:Me..?

[Zaphod2016]

I like playing the old FF games on an NES/SNES emulator. Not only can I save my progress whenever/wherever I want, but I can speed up the game while leveling up and skip some of those tedious battle sequences.

This way, I can play for a few minutes at a time, or get sucked in for an entire weekend now and again.

p.s. I don't have arthritis, but I do prefer a full-sized keyboard to a VG controller. I also assume that the ability to pause whenever you want is a plus.

p.p.s. You can borrow my Power Glove if you think it might feel better. It's not very accurate, but it is pretty bad.

Re:Me..?

[SP33doh]

huh? really? what game were you playing?

Re:Me..?

[aplusjimages]

Wii sports and red steel. Wii sports requires using the buttons even to get around the menu and some of the games you have to hold down buttons, like bowling requires holding and releasing the trigger button to release the ball. Holding the Wii even made my wrist hurt. I could imagine doing this with arthritis wouldn't be as enjoyable as one would think.

Re:Me..?

[SP33doh]

yeah, I also don't think it would be particularly good for people with arthritis,
however my grandpa, who has the worlds shakiest hands, beat the crap out of me at bowling, so idk.

pressing A to get through a menu, or simply holding down a large button while bowling or batting isn't the same thing as... devil may cry, where you're rapidly and successively pressing lots of little buttons so hard that you break multiple dual shocks over the course of a game (true story... >.
yeah, I can't imagine it being good on the wrists for someone with arthritis. (though my wrists haven't had problems with it ever...)

I couldn't say for red steel, as I didn't buy it after I saw it's bad reviews...

Re:Me..?

[nametaken]

That is, of course, up to the person with arthritis.

However unfortunate, this is not an unusual situation. You just have to find what works.

Re:Me..?

[Doctor O]

You see, I'm getting modded flamebait, but I was serious. What kind of input devices are there which can be used with emulators and are usable by someone with arthritis? My family is plagued with it, and I can expect to get there in about ten years, too. I tried The Google, but didn't come up with anything useful.

Think outside the xbox.

[zCyl]

Learn how to play chess. :)

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Tablizer]

Learn how to play chess. :)

Or "Go". Easy to learn, difficult to master.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Bugpowda]

Actually, go is pretty difficult to learn. It's difficult to 'get' when regions are alive or dead, or even when the game is over.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Tablizer]

Actually, go is pretty difficult to learn. It's difficult to 'get' when regions are alive or dead, or even when the game is over.

It is over when your opponent is pissed and kicks the board across the room. More drama than chess.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Kagura]

That's part of the road to mastery. Actually learning how to play the game is very easy. Here is an interactive site for learning Go that everybody who has come into contact with swears by.

All you need to do to get better in Go is to play more games. A large part of its allure is that playing more games increases your strength, starting from the very first game you play right up until you've played for 60 or 70 years straight. You always get stronger at Go with each passing game, and even this generation's top professionals are much stronger than last generation's.

(To respond to the two examples the parent gave above: As far as learning when regions are alive and dead, you should learn as part of your initial instruction into the rules exactly what makes a group alive or dead. A group with at least two 'eyes' is alive. Although you will know that definition, it takes a reasonable number of games for that to be internalized, as do many of its other niceties.

And as far as knowing when the game is over, that is something else that takes time to fully grasp. Within two months of playing, you will probably be able to say for certain, without any outside help, when the game is over. Of course that statement is a bit simplified, as lower-ranked players will miss certain plays that could gain them some points in the end-game, but the point is that true beginners often feel like they do not know when the game should be ended, whereas somebody who has play for one to two months semi-regularly would have a very good idea when to end it.)

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Kagura]

Learning Go takes 15 minutes. Mastering it takes far longer than one's lifetime. Visit this interactive site to learn Go if you are interested. A great place to play at is Kiseido Go Server, known for its great software and friendly userbase. Click "Play Go Now" to open up an external applet through your browser, or navigate through the site to download and install the client on your computer.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Randolpho]

Learn how to play chess. :)

Or "Go". Easy to learn, difficult to master.

Actually, you're thinking of Othello: "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." Perhaps it was the black and white pieces that confused you? :D

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[harlows_monkeys]

Well, if you want to think in human terms, it is hard. If you think like a nerd, it is easy. :-)

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[corporatemutantninja]

Think even further outside the box: 1) Learn to rock climb. 2) Learn to surf. 3) Go mountain biking. 4) Climb an Alp. 5) Get your SCUBA license. You are looking at your physical skills degrading and you're thinking about VIDEO GAMES?!?!!? Anyway, I gotta go raid BWL. Later.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[bunions]

there are no decent AIs for Go. Programming an artificial opponent for go is far, far more complex than chess because the possible number of moves is so much greater.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[fullpunk]

A good AI algorithm for GO has not yet been discovered. The number of states is extremely high and a board configuration is hard to evaluate, which make it hard to write good (and fast) AI for it.

Wikipedia has an entire article explaining it in details.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[GrpA]

I found Many Faces Of Go a lot more challenging than GnuGo.

But then, I'm probably about a 5 Kyu, and I let MFOG take a 5 stone handicap on Level 10.

Still, it's about evenly matched at that point. I win about half of them playing speed go. (Typical match, 30 to 50 minutes on the train ride to work).

But the Go Handicap system works well.

GrpA

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[EinZweiDrei]

A famous counter-example occurred at the 1925 Baden-Baden Tournament when Aaron Nimzowitsch swept all the pieces off the chessboard, jumped up on the table and screamed "How can I lose to this idiot?".

Chess can be just as aggravating.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Bugpowda]

You know, I missed that strategy when I was reading 'My System'.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[MindStalker]

No, "Go" is considered the most difficult game to master. A computer version can't even come close to a master in any way.
I'm pretty sure othello is computationally solved.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[zippthorne]

There's no sharks in video games.

Well yeah, that's kind of the poster's point. While he can still use his hands, he should try and do some stuff that needs 'em. Video games are for when you're stuck inside.

also, speaking as a person who paid extra for the opportunity to dive with sharks, It's not as dangerous as you'd think, and then you have the story. (the reason I paid extra is that you almost never see sharks while diving under normal circumstances. Similarly, you almost never see bears or coyotes when hiking in the woods under normal circumstances)

What's the point of being alive if all you do is watch other people LIVE.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Petrushka]

Gpp is correct, you are multiply wrong. (1) "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master" is indeed the slogan under which Othello is published. (2) Othello is not computationally solved (at least according to Wikipedia, for what that's worth).

The only point on which you are correct is that Go is computationally more difficult than Othello. If you take a moment actually to read the gpp, you will see s/he was not in fact denying this.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[bladesjester]

I don't know about where you are, but here (Ohio, of all places), coyotes are not all than uncommon. There are actually several that keep raiding the farmland around where my girlfriend lives.

Unfortunately, they run before than can be dealt with.

Bears, on the other hand, are a lot more difficult to just run into, though it does happen around here on occasion as well - largely because the area I grew up in has a lot of woodland.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[*s.panzer*]

He has found something he loves. Mayhaps he should do the above things, but if he loves video games, why shouldn't he play the rest?

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Llywelyn]

'cept that the poster said "easy to learn, difficult to master" which, while similar, is not identical to Othello's slogan and is certainly also true of Baduk/Go.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[drsquare]

If a computer can't play it then it's not much use for the 80 year old disabled gamer is it?

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Llywelyn]

Whether regions are alive or dead is a matter of practice and becoming good at the game, not part of the learning how to play. The basic rules regarding life and death (if stones are completely surrounded by enemy stones, they are dead; stones kill before they capture; the board position cannot repeat) are very easy to learn and the concept of "two eyes" naturally extends from that.

Most people I've taught the game may not see immediately that a group is alive or dead, but when it is shown to them through a series of plays it becomes very clear, even if they don't get how it got there.

As to the end of the game, its the same story. Eventually students learn the lesson of "futility," which takes a long time to master in and of itself. Its not so much learning how to play as it is becoming good.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[packeteer]

You done get licenced to scuba dive, you get certified. I have been on well over 50 dives and have never even been certified. It is nto illegal to dive without a cert.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[illuminatedwax]

Yes, you can learn all the rules very quickly. But you have attain a certain level of "mastery" before you can even begin to play and have fun doing so. When a Go beginner sits down with another beginner, they could probably play for hours even though the game was over long ago. When a beginner plays a computer, all of a sudden the computer goes "I win!" and the beginner is like "what?!! huh?"

It's quite frustrating, especially for a game they have been promised is "easy to learn." You know what else is easy to learn but hard to master? Assembly code.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[crashelite]

or learn how to play GO it will take about the same time to learn to play as it takes to beat FF XII

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[Llywelyn]

Do you even play Go? What program are you thinking of that declares "I win" without any rationale?

They will play as long as you keep playing, since the only way the game ends is by resignation (where the computer or the player say "I lose!" not "I win!") or by mutual consent (2-3 consecutive passes, depending on ruleset).

Learning how to resolve the final position is also part of learning the rules. Thus, learning how to count the final score at the end of the game. This is, again, not difficult (it takes a few minutes to show how to do it once an endgame condition is reached). It helps to do this on a physical board, but most computer programs are very helpful on this point as well--coloring in taken regions and counting the score.

Your comparison with assembly is disingenuous at best. Quick, in PowerPC assembly code what is the difference between an instruction that ends with a "." and one that doesn't? What's the instruction to load a memory address into a register? These are all part of "knowing PowerPC Assembly" (which doesn't have instructions like in x86 assembly that do six things at once), thus knowing the rules of the game. It is significantly more complicated to learn these, and how the computer treats them, than it is to learn the rules for Go.

By way of comparison: What you are saying is that a person doesn't know how to play chess until they are familiar with the four-knights opening, the silent piano, etc.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[AtomicRobotMonster]

Even better - Diplomacy. Chess with lies and seven players. F (Tri) - Ven ha.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[xouumalperxe]

I'f say Go as well. But it's a lot easier to find chess partners.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[MrHanky]

Basically, you're advocating living a simulated life instead of a "real" one. Swimming in a pool instead of in the ocean, where dangerous currents may disrupt your repetitive rhythm, doing tai chi instead of a contact sport where you have to improvise instead of forever repeat, slowly, a relatively small selection of movements. I've got nothing against those things, but getting outside and doing something in a natural environment is more varied, and more fun.

If you think going outside is so terribly dangerous, you've probably been intimidated from watching too many Hollywood movies like Jaws, i.e., you don't have any real experience of outdoor life, and start believing what you see on your precious TV. Truth is, if it was so dangerous out there, there wouldn't be any humans left on the planet now.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[CohibaVancouver]

>You done [sic] get licenced to scuba dive

Most reputable dive shops will not rent you a tank of air without a certification. If they will they're not reputable and I would question the safety of their equipment.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[dave562]

+1 for Go. It is almost video game related... how many board games are there where mentioning the name of a videogame system is part of playing? =)

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[illuminatedwax]

Not at all - you cannot have an enjoyable game until you can learn to recognize the end of the game. Yes, the computer will not declare "I win" right away; they will pass. But it is nearly impossible for a beginner to understand why he or she has not won. The chess analogy doesn't compare at all - you know when your piece is taken, and you know when you have lost. You can begin playing unambiguously from the beginning. Go is a lot more subtle, and it takes a lot of time before you can even understand why you have lost. I began learning go on a small board versus a computer, and when the game finished, certainly they showed the colored areas, but it was very frustrating because the beginner thinks "Why the hell does he control that area? I have him totally surrounded!!"

I guess maybe a better way of putting it is this: Go is easy to learn, but not at all fun until your skills have progressed to a certain level. You say that learning to count the endgame is part of learning the rules - that directly contradicts the "easy to learn" mantra because endgame counting is not easy. You can't have it both ways.

Perhaps specific instruction sets are difficult to understand, but an assembler pseudocode would hold the properties I desired. Ok, let's set that analogy aside. You know what else is easy to learn but difficult to master? Brainfuck.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[D-Cypell]

Think even further outside the box: 1) Learn to rock climb.

Insightful??

Did nobody consider that rock climbing with early onset arthritis, would be a pretty fucking seriously extreme sport?!

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[RevAaron]

You're spending time replying to some schmuck, staring at a computer screen, most likely inside just like the rest of us. Get off your high horse. If you don't have any ideas for the original poster about what games to play, move on and quit being a dick.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[fsterman]

While I am a high Kyu player and only played GnuGo I would like to weigh in that computer Go seems very artificial. It doesn't play like any of the high Kyu or Dan players I know. It got me into bad habits. Better just to hop online and play real people with KGS. Better yet go to your local Go club, it is quite a different experience playing with people.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[MrHanky]

Well, why don't you come up with any ideas for the original poster, Mr. on topic not-being-a-dick guy? Or perhaps spend some time taking reading lessons instead.

Re:Think outside the xbox.

[figa]

This is great advice. I have Carpal Tunnel (RSI, really), and I gave up gaming for chess. It pushes most of the same mental buttons, and I don't find myself missing gaming too terribly. In a way, I'm happy to have made the trade, since I've always wanted to be a decent chess player. RSI has forced me to take chess seriously and put in the hours necessary to really learn the game.

If you're interested at all in board games, check out boardgameratings for ideas. I've played Settlers of Catan, and it's about as satisfying as playing Civilization.

If you like FPS, have you considered paintball?

Invent a foot-peddle game

[Tablizer]

see title

Re:Invent a foot-peddle game

[Foktip]

Hey, what about a racing game that uses a racing wheel and pedals?

Re:Invent a foot-peddle game

[Tablizer]

Hey, what about a racing game that uses a racing wheel and pedals?

Racing wheel? If you have hand arthiritous, then you probably don't want to twist your wrists. Maybe a foot slider where far is left and near is right, or that can be rotated so that one can use the angle most comfortable to them. Basically, each foot would be an axis (or one as speed control), although the direction does not have to match the physical axis. One could use far/near or left/right or an angle if that is where the least pain is.

Each "peddle" would basically be a sliding bar/board which can be rotated and then bolted down and tightened in place for the angle most prefered by the user.

Re:Invent a foot-peddle game

[flewp]

I haven't played any console games with wheels, but I can confirm that racing sims on the PC with wheels and pedals can be quite taxing on the arms/wrists. I often play GTR2, F1 Challenge, and rFactor, and after a longer race, my hands/wrists and even arms can become quite sore. I often tend to grasp the wheel rather hard, and constantly clicking of the paddles to shift up/down would probably not be all that good for someone with arthritis. Especially when your shifting a thousand times or more over the course of the race. Of course, there's always the option to enable autoshifting.

That said, I find racing sims to be some of the funnest games out there. Takes a lot more skill and practice to master than the arcade type of racers (including the Gran Turismo series and Forza). Not only do you have to practice each track and learn every nuance, but the game is ever changing, even in a single race. The car becomes lighter the further into a stint, tires warm up, and wear, among other variables. Also, each car behaves differently, so there's always the challenge of mastering the car itself, and trying out different cars. Than there's the almost endless possibilities of car setup, and finding the best setup that works for you is a challenge all it's own.

Re:Invent a foot-peddle game

[Anonymous Coward]

Not as dumb as it sounds. One of my friends lost the use of his arms in a motorbike accident, so he learnt to use a computer with his feet. And he's now one of the most skilled FPS gamers I've ever met... I'm talking regularly topping the ladder in nationwide gaming ladders.

this has got to be

[Nicky G]

just about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking. *sigh* I am so jumping into an active volcano when I start to get frail...

Re:this has got to be

[cayenne8]

"ust about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking."

What gets me...the into saying he is an old man at age 44.

I used to think that was ancient...but, man...you get closer to that....it ain't ancient. I pretty much think like I did as a kid or in my mid 20's....I just have more money now!!! Ok...so, that hangovers are a little worse...and thing creak a little, but, other than that....I don't feel old.

I didn't think arthritis normally set in till late 60's or so.....is it normal to get this in the early to mid 40's!??!

Re:this has got to be

[Paracelcus]

44, old? Hell, I'm old enough to be his father!

Re:this has got to be

[brianosaurus]

I suspect early-onset arthritis is becoming more and more common, with all the video games we play nowadays.

Re:this has got to be

[MichaelSmith]

just about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking. *sigh* I am so jumping into an active volcano when I start to get frail...

I'm 41 and I know that if I agree that 44 is old then I will be paying for it in three years time. The fact is that this has little to do with age. I am in better shape than I was when I was 20 and I plan to be in better condition by 60.

The poster may have an overuse injury or an illness which could strike at literally any age. In my case I worked around my hand problems by changing to a left handed mouse when I was ~30. It did wonders for me. I have met people who use age as an excuse not to engineer around their problems, because then you can't do anything about it.

I want to be shot dead at the age of 100 by a jealous husband - Robert Anson Heinlein

Re:this has got to be

[Bo'Bob'O]

Oooh, I can see it now, big print, big button game controllers, redesigned for arthritus for an increasingly elderly gamers market. .. hey wait... that's actually true. Any venture capitalists out there looking for a new market? ;)

Re:this has got to be

[MyLongNickName]

44, old? Hell, I'm old enough to be his father!

Yeah, but this is Slashdot, so we know you aren't.

Re:this has got to be

[flyonthewall]

44, old? Hell, I'm old enough to be his father!

Yeah, but this is Slashdot, so we know you aren't.

His father?

Re:this has got to be

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Okay. Is this before or after you can no longer play with "the bishop"? :D

Re:this has got to be

[sponga]

Who cares?

Notre Dame lost and there is gonna be a bunch of pissed off drunken Irish fans.

Re:this has got to be

[CeePhour]

:( I just said (before I saw your post) nearly the exact same thing.

A lot of people around these parts only see video games as games. Not a part of our lives like it is for many of us. Some of you have your dogs, your job, your wife, your kids, parents... some of us have nothing but our happy memories.

My plan is to develop Alzheimers. Ideally my brain falls back on the only thing it knows. Saving the world, one level at a time.

Re:this has got to be

[Ruby Wednesday]

I didn't think arthritis normally set in till late 60's or so.....is it normal to get this in the early to mid 40's!??!

Not 'normal', but it happens. I've got the beginnings of it and I'm only 24 (Genetic inheritance sucks sometimes).

Re:this has got to be

[pushf popf]

just about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking. *sigh* I am so jumping into an active volcano when I start to get frail...

Getting older has advantages

I'll be turning 50 this coming year, having worked as a software engineer since the days when having your own PC meant learning how to solder.

The best part is when someone tells you to do something stupid, you can call them on it.

For example when the 24 year-old project manager tries to get a table full of people to agree to an impossible development schedule, when they get around to you, you can smile and say "There's absolutely no way you can pull this off unless the phrase "Divine Intervention is in your Project Plan somewhere"

An you'll be right. And the project will fail, and you'll not be part of the disaster because that would have been the last project meeting you were invited to.

Honestly, the whole thread is depressing. I haven't played VR games in quite a while. I've replaced them with AR games (Actual Reality).

I have several that I really like a lot. One involves wearing a special "Alternate Environment Suit" that allows me to breathe underwater and interact with the local creatures, which is quite incredible, since it's in full 3-D WWMTHD (Way Way More Than High Def). Another favorite is exactly like VR sex, except it's in-person and there's no VR. You could also try something called gourmet cooking, which allows you to create wonderful sensory experiences Right Inside Your Own Mouth!

Don't think of it as getting old, think of it as gaining more "Experience Points" and still having close to half your life left.

Re:this has got to be

[nospam007]

In my case I worked around my hand problems by changing to a left handed mouse when I was ~30. It did wonders for me.
--
Or a vertical mouse or one of the bigger trackballs or a tablet with a pen.
Also getting a rat (mouse for very large hands available in ergoshops or similar) can help depending on the condition.

Re:this has got to be

[Talinth]

It was a joke relating to the small amount of contact with women most /.ers get.

Re:this has got to be

[hb253]

My thoughts exactly. I'm 42 and don't feel old at all. No creaks, no aches and pains - nothing.

Sometimes, though, I worry that I'm not as mature as I should be at this age. Perhaps outlook on life influences physical being.

Re:this has got to be

[flyonthewall]

A given. Was an obtuse attempt to question the old enough statement. :)

Oh well.

zelda

[joe 155]

I always say that occarina of time and majora's mask were really two parts of the same game, play both right through. Best games ever. I personally think that Majora's mask is a little better out of the two... still they are both fantastic.

I've got happy memories which will last me a life time from these games, I feel happy recomending them.

Re:zelda

[Paperweight]

I agree, and when you can't play any more... fish!

Re:zelda

[fletchermemorial]

IS THAT A JOKE???!!!
Ocarina of Time is most definitely better! The gameplay lasts FAR longer, the insights are greater, the depth of the puzzles are much more involving and difficult. Ocarina of time is my personal favorite zelda, and Majora's mask doesn't even come close!
I'm sorry I had to flame this one, but i can't believe you guys!!!

Re:zelda

[Paperweight]

Calm down! I was agreeing with the general concept that those Zelda games are really good, not with his preference of Majora's Mask.

Re:zelda

[I(rispee_I(reme]

Amen. Let it be known that Majora's Mask is inferior to Ocarina of Time.

Also, I'd like to put in a word for some good ol' Quake deathmatch before your tendons self-destruct. Bonus points if you're running the PainKeep mod.

Re:zelda

[miro f]

Seconded!

If you've never played Zelda pick yourself up a Wii (if you can) and buy all of them. You should be able to get all of them. It will take you a while, but you seriously have to play them. Ocarina is fantastic, and I really loved Wind Waker. I'm not sure which virtual console games are available yet, but you can certainly play wind waker and ocarina from 'cube discs.

Ocarina of time is one of the most heavily lauded games of all time and with good reason. Wind Waker was less liked but (in my opinion) just as good.

I never really got into Majora's Mask.

Re:zelda

[Davey McDave]

I find it a very annoying trait of people that they assume the one that broke all the barriers is necessarily the better game. OoT vs MM is a very good example of this, and frankly, it's easy to see that they're both great games with strengths and weaknesses against one another.

OoT has an epic feeling but a static world, MM has a surreal feeling and a changing world. Okay, it was a bit annoying how you ran out of time, but it compensated by giving you shortcuts (you remembered songs and it was much easier to get through dungeons once you got the treasure), and that each person didn't just STAND THERE all day every day doing the same thing. Am I the only one who felt Majora's Mask infinitely more immersive because each character had a genuine timeline of their own? Also, whereas OoT tended to have segmented puzzles, MM tended to revolve around a central puzzle, which i personally much preferred, like the pillar in Snowhead or the valves in the Great Bay temple.. and call MM shorter if you like, but it also tended to have more buildup to each dungeon (often having minidungeons), increasing the playtime per area quite significantly.

Anyway, my point really isn't to prove one is better than the other. The point I'm making is I find it increasingly irritating how preferring different things is apparently OFFENSIVE to people, and that there are genuine reasons why people might prefer one thing to the other. Like one over the other as you like, but don't rip into people just because they don't like the same things as you.

Ms. Pacman

[Groo Wanderer]

Duh. You can pick up a good machine for under a grand. It is _THE_ game.

          -Charlie

P.S. You can probably play it with arthritic hands too, just modify the screw on joystick head and play it with your palm.

Re:Ms. Pacman

[kcbnac]

Speaking of which, where is our Mortal Kombat 3: Ultimate machine?

Re:Ms. Pacman

[Groo Wanderer]

Lets go and buy one tomorrow.

            -Charlie

Re:Ms. Pacman

[ElephanTS]

Or run it in MAME like I do for nothing. . . . .

Maybe someone makes a suck'n'blow joystick for raspberries?

(any cock-a-neys in the house?)

Re:Ms. Pacman

[Groo Wanderer]

You can get a kit to make a mustang look _JUST_ like a Ferrari too! Whoa, won't you be cool there too?

Call me old fashioned, but going out with a bang surrounded by imitation toys is really lame.

              -Charlie

Re:Ms. Pacman

[jadobbins]

Hehe, me and my friends used to ditch highschool to play Mrs. Packman. Ahhh the quarters and education we wasted in those days...

Re:Ms. Pacman

[UltraAyla]

I think you can also get it for like 10 bucks in one of those cheapo plug-the-joystick-into-the-tv-and-the-game-runs things.

But i know nothing about the game

What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you're truly going to be losing the use of your fingers, I'd recommend that you finger your wife as your "last game". Massage her clitoris with your thumb, while your index finger gently rubs her G-spot.

You should give her at least one shocker. Two in the pink, one in the stink. I'll let you figure that one out on your own.

But really, video games should be the least of your concerns. Fingering your wife is what really matters in life.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Morphine007]

You'd figure there would be at least a couple ladies with mod points out there who would agree with the parent... cept maybe for the shocker part.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Anonymous Coward]

Bah! Why waste your hands on a vagina when you can just as easily buy a 12-inch strapon for those random encounters with the chtulhoid-looking thing. Bonus XPs if you dress up in armor for the event, great helm and all...

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[thc69]

Why is that moderated "troll"? Sure, the words were coarse, but the point is insightful: Forget silly games and do something worthwhile with the hand ability that remains.

Or just find/make an input device that fits your mobility and keep playing.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[rkcallaghan]

Seriously, why is this modded down?

~Rebecca

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Anonymous Coward]

/. geeks don't have girlfriends...
girls have cooties
and they're way more expensive than the latest video game system

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony's working on changing that. You know what they're planning on charging for the PS4?!

Unless it's more than half of everything you own, it'll still be cheaper than marriage.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[SilverwoodUG]

Since when do 44 year old gamers who visit slashdot have wives?

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"and they're way more expensive than the latest video game system"

I bought a PS3, you insensitive clod!

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[slaida1]

Why is that moderated "troll"?

Because this site is frequented by sexually repressed freaks following their insane dogmas like "sex is sin".

How's that for an answer?

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[Sir Holo]

and they're way more expensive than the latest video game system

If you think they're expensive, you obviously haven't been following the advice of the original commenter. You selfish bastard.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[GweeDo]

Half of everything you own? You aren't married are you...all I own now is a Wii.

Re:What about fingering your wife's vagina?

[nCnt]

Don't listen to parent. If you're 44, Parkinsons is right around the corner. Then your wife will think you a god.

What about the Wii?

[no reason to be here]

i know arthritis can be quite painful. is it such that you would be unable to grasp the Wiimote? if you can, well, you might have several more years of gaming in Nintendo's brave new world.

Re:What about the Wii?

[kcbnac]

If the remote is too small, build a block around it. They've got the steering wheel, the gun - just make a bigger box to hold it in.

Heck, manufacture them and sell them for $20 to other people like you.

Re:What about the Wii?

[enharmonix]

Just speculation, but isn't there suppsed to be a new Wii controller in the works, similar to the power glove? That might be even easier on the hands than the mote.

Re:What about the Wii?

[timmarhy]

"i know arthritis can be quite painful" try every joint in your body swelling till it feels like it's going to explode. so no, the wii would be shitful because of the extra movement required

Re:What about the Wii?

[644bd346996]

Arthritis does not affect all joints equally. Different forms can have different symptoms. Depending on what type he has, the wii could be impossible to use, or painless.

Re:What about the Wii?

[NoStrings]

I just want to put my $0.02 in here. I'm 37, and have suffered from psoriatic arthritis for over 10 years now. I'd like to encourage the original poster to make sure that he's checked out all the medical options for his condition. There are some new medications that can do wonders, depending on what type of arthritis he has. I'm currently just finishing a clinical trial for Humira (created by Abbot Pharmaceutical) that has changed my life. I used to walk with a limp all the time, and now I can run, swim, play with my 2 year old, and basically enjoy life. There are downsides - like the cost. It's $800CA per injection, and I need one every two weeks. Fortunately, it's covered by my health insurance, and it should be covered by medicare sometime soon, if the government actually gets around to it. The drug is in widespread use for rheumatoid arthritis already.

Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that if you suffer from any kind of condition like this, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. If you don't get satisfactory answers, get another opinion. (I went through 3 doctors trying to get diagnosed.) Get a referral to a rheumatologist (or the appropriate specialist for your condition). I've talked to many people that are afraid to go to a doctor, despite the fact that there is obviously something wrong with them.

To keep this rant a bit more on topic, I picked up a Wii, and I've found it to be the most comfortable gaming I've ever done. Instead of sitting hunched over a controller bending my hands into strange configurations to hit all the buttons, I can recline on the sofa and keep my hands in the most comfortable position - and even change that position if I get tired the way I was.

Good luck!

Re:What about the Wii?

[DigitalCrackPipe]

Even if the original Wii controller is still too harsh on your arthritis, Nintendo has shown interest in the larger gaming market (such as the brain games on the DS). So... speak up, tell them what you need. I think Nintendo wants to keep more gamers gaming, and they're the most advanced today with alternative gaming avenues.

Advanced Gaming

[teh MrCrow]

Maybe you could try to find something you can play without stressing your fingers too much? Eye-Toy is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Depends on the type of games you enjoy

[justthinkit]

Some like quest games, others like to blow things up. I like hand-eye coordination games like pinball (may I recommend 3D Ultra Pinball Thrillride) and arcade games like Centipede and Arkanoid. If you want more from us, you have to narrow your question.

[And if you don't want arthritis, (1) give up meat and (2) improve your elimination -- I take senna leaves daily.]

Re:Depends on the type of games you enjoy

[Anonymous Coward]

Good luck with that.

                        Prolonged use of senna has been reported to cause:
                            chronic diarrhea causing excessive electrolyte and nutrient loss,
                            worsened constipation after senna withdrawal (laxative dependency),
                            enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes, and
                            pigmentation of the colon.

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/senna.html

Re:Depends on the type of games you enjoy

[justthinkit]

Any other myths you would care to add? Maybe it causes people to vote Republican, for example.

Seriously, I've used it for almost 25 years, no change in dose. Never diarrhea, let alone chronic. _If_ it caused diarrhea, one could see electrolyte and nutrient loss. I've never noted a withdrawal effect. ...Just checked my fingers and toes and it looks like Shrek's job is safe.

As to that bleached colon of mine, guess I'll have to start swallowing White Strips.

Re:Depends on the type of games you enjoy

[justthinkit]

I'm not talking about "gout", I'm pointing out that arthritis is when the body stores poisons within itself instead of eliminating them. So (1) stop eating so much poison (i.e. meat) and (2) give your system a boost by consuming a bitter herb (Senna) that we no longer get enough of in our modern diet.

As to uric acid issues, quantity is the deal. Humans are capable of dealing with vegetarian sources of uric acid (including our own creation of it). Meat has ten times what we can handle -- we lack the short "refuse tube" of carnivores, meat takes up to 24 hours to transit our system and so we re-absorb the toxins before it does leave.

What are you talking to us for?

[MillionthMonkey]

If my hands were soon going to be unable to grab things, I wouldn't be wasting my time with video games.

In 20 years stem cell technology will have progressed so that you can grow a brand new Wii controller right in the palm of your hand anyway.

Are You Nuts?

[alexborges]

Id cut my hands first!

On the other hand, there is always computer games using a keyboard/mouse or other less tension-generating device.

Do Not Quit, my friend: Take up WoW (youll see what you are missing), and trade your arthritis for diabetes.

Re:Are You Nuts?

[xouumalperxe]

I have to disagree. I find that WoW playing (especially considering how conducive it is to LONG play sessions) completely wrecks my hands and lower arms.

Go out gracefully

[Tx]

The poster sounds like the kind of guy that would respond to news of terminal cancer by starting a 40-a-day smoking habit. Personally I'm not a fan of the "it's better to burn out than to fade away" philosophy. As long as you can drag your arthritic claws over a mouse or trackball, you can play turn-based strategy games, so you should never have to quit as such, just change what you play. Plus a few years down the line, you'll probably be able to get a neural interface and be back in business ;).

Re:Go out gracefully

[MijaDeus]

Not only that, you have 10 other digits you can use. - likely not for an action game, but.. think about using your foot with a trackball. I suggest the $99.00 Kensington. Works for me..

-K

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

[Volfied]

Nothing tops a good, old-fashioned platformer, and I think SMW2 was the best. Great graphics, innovative gameplay, challenging, but not ridiculously so. It even plays well on emulators, if you want to save yourself the trouble of finding an SNES to play it on.

A few other suggestions: Bushido Blade (PSX), Super Smash Brothers (N64), Katamari Damacy (PS2), Goldeneye 007 (N64), Ico (PS2), Mega Man X2 (SNES). That's just to name a few off the top of my head.

Re:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

[thc69]

Commander Keen.

Re:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

[BillyBlaze]

Yeah, that Commander Keen guy is pretty darn cool.

You need a Brain implant

[sygin]

Make a brain machine interface, plug in and play till you die!

I enjoy the occasional Metal Slug and other arcade games using M.A.M.E.
Joystick support included.

Cheers and best of luck,
Sygin

PS: One day at a time.

Eight Ball Deluxe!

[hedronist]

Eight Ball Deluxe is the damn pinball machine ever made. Or, if you like more chrome, fancier fields and a sexy android voice, try Xenon.

Re:Why even ask?

[Chaffar]

If there was only one game in the world that had to exist, that game would be Civ. I'm pretty sure I've spent 1000+ hours playing through its multiple incarnations. And I'm not the only one. Addictive to the bone, unless you really hate this type of game. In which case we have nothing to say to each other.

44 = old?

[Tablizer]

I am an older man (44)

44 is "old"? Oh shit!

Re:44 = old?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not just old, it's prehistoric.

Re:44 = old?

[MeanMF]

Maybe he meant 0x44.

Re:44 = old?

[wunchaliketano]

I just lost a good friend to a heart attack. He was 45. He died at the office, just fell out of his chair.. not how I want to go.

How about the old Infocom Games, or some recent IF games on the emulator? I've got to imagine that they have some decent interaction with speech to text now. You can take it easy on your hands, but still use your mind. worth a shot.

T

Re:44 = old?

[fyoder]

It's not just old, it's prehistoric.

True enough. Anyone born before 1970 is older than time itself.

Yikes

[hairpinblue]

If this is the biggest problem that the coming generation has to worry about and it's so distressing that they have to ask an online community about it (and the submission actually gets accepted)... then we're all in big trouble.

Get your hands on the Ultima pack: Ultima I through V were the best. Exodus: Ultima III has got to be about my favorite game in the world. The Bard's Tale series was also really good. There was also the Phantasie series--not sure if they were available on the IBM PC (I played them on Commodore 64). Those are games which take weeks (maybe months) to play and won't be so hard on the arthritis.

Linky

[xmedar]

Monkeys Control Robotic Arm With Brain Implants

Re:Linky

[Andrew Kismet]

How dare they call us gamers names like that!

Arthiritic? At 44?

[Colin Smith]

Typing wear and tear? Take glucosamine, chondroitin (they often come together) and cod liver oil. They're food supplements. Your body uses them to build and maintain joint tissues.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[ChrisMaple]

To the above add MSM. If your work involves things that heavily stress your hands, try to reduce that stress or find a different kind of work. Do some research on the subject of arthritis and alter your diet accordingly. Wear gloves to keep your hands warm. Try pain-relieving rubs, ben-gay when the odor is tolerable, aspercreme otherwise. Look carefully at your habits to see if you're doing anything to make matters worse.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[timmarhy]

if he has arthitis at 44 it's not wear and tear, it's rehumatoid arthitis and food supplements will do jack shit to help him.his hands are probably swollen and painful beyond what you can imagine, it's a horrible condition.if it was me i'd be searching for other input methods though, instead of putting up with the pain.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[sgt_doom]

The best thing for arthritis, rheumatoid or otherwise, is any form of aerobic exercise (that would be cardiovascular to the RX set) - but the suggestion of cod liver oil is most excellent - have always taken it almost daily and am now well into my fifth decade and still running the 220 in under 23 seconds and doing gymnastics' exercises daily. And I'm very sorry to hear that 44 is considered "old" - which means I must now be dead???

21st Century Reading List:

Blood Money by T. Christian Miller, Hostile Takeover by David Sirota, The Bush Agenda by Antonia Juhasz, Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast, Jacked and also Other People's Money by Nomi Prins, Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, No Place To Hide by Robert O'Harrow, What Every American Should Know About Who's Really Running the World by Melissa L. Rossi, Perpetual War For Perpetual Peace by Gore Vidal, War Is A Racket by General Smedley Butler, USMC

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[Colin Smith]

I couldn't take the stuff, myself... it gave me migraines after a few weeks.You don't happen to be allergic/intolerant to shellfish do you? Standard glucosamine is made out of shellfish shells. There are non-shellfish sources though which avoids the allergy. Also cod liver oil is good for heart problems, joints and it improves memory, reasoning ability.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[bullok]

if he has arthritis at 44 it's not wear and tear

That's completely untrue. I've had osteoarthritis (the wear and tear type) since I was 25. Traumatic injury, various diseases, bad genes, bad luck, or some combination of these can all be responsible for early onset osteoarthritis.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[AuBowser]

Cod liver oil has too many pollutants. Try a pharmaceutical grade fish oil extract. Ingest the good parts after the bad stuff is filtered out.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[Llywelyn]

SAMe is another one to consider, it has had good results on joints w/ various forms of arthritis.

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[Llywelyn]

"it's rehumatoid [sic] arthitis [sic] and food supplements will do jack shit to help him"

Even stipulating that its rheumatoid arthritis, there are several supplements that have either been shown to help or are thought to help. Omega-3 fatty acids (in particular), vitamin complexes, and SAMe are all examples of things that are thought to help. Devil's Claw and several others have had some mixed results. Several studies have shown the efficacy of fish oils, and one study stated that "Overall, there is a growing scientific rationale for the use of dietary supplements as adjuncts in the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis." (Darlington, L. Gail and Stone, Trevor W. Antioxidants and fatty acids in the amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders. British Journal of Nutrition, 2001).

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[Instine]

I have a lack of cartlage due to genetics.. I'd swear by hemp oil, and Marmite. It pricey, but hemp oil is also the tastiest cooking oil I've ever tried. Don't know where you are, but in the UK you can get "Good Oil(tm)" in most major supermarkets (Sainsburys being one).

Re:Arthiritic? At 44?

[ucblockhead]

Just after my 41st birthday I went into the doctor complaining of knee pain after running. After taking X-Rays, his diagnosis was the beginnings of osteo arthritis. He recommended glucosomine.

The first game you played?

[Kunta Kinte]

Playing the first game you played last at least seems poetic. Nostalgia may help for a pleasant send-off.

For me, though it I'd want to play the original Super Mario Bros for the NES. First game and first console I owned.

Re:The first game you played?

[JeanBaptiste]

disagree... I have no further desire to play Pong.

Re:The first game you played?

[Danse]

disagree... I have no further desire to play Pong.

Roger that. The 2600 is the first console I really got to play, but I moved on to the C64 after that. Of course if you want to give up gaming, you could always get ahold of a 2600 and go back and play E.T. until you have no further desire to touch a gaming system. Should take about 10 minutes. :)

Re:The first game you played?

[binaryspiral]

For me, though it I'd want to play the original Super Mario Bros for the NES. First game and first console I owned.

Ditto. And I'd have my wife wrap it and put it and the NES console (in original box) under the tree so I can scamper down the stairs all bleery eyed and shred it like I was 7 again... ah, good times.

But I don't think they make footie pajamas for folks my size... and if they do, well... that's just creepy.

But for the original poster - man get a Wii and play for the next decade, don't give up.

Re:The first game you played?

[way2trivial]

they do, and it is
jumpin jammerz.com

Re:The first game you played?

[segin]

I have that game, with Duck Hunt, on the same cartridge. I also have a light gun for my NES (I actually have 2 control decks, and for you people that were non-Nintendo back then, that the actual system itself)

Re:The first game you played?

[Belial6]

I never understood the E.T. hate. I thought it was a pretty decent game, and most of the complaints I hear about it would apply to 90% of the Atari 2600 games made. I've always figured that it was too difficult for most people, so they just didn't want to play.

Re:The first game you played?

[arashi no garou]

Kids these days...My first video game was Yar's Revenge on my brand-new Atari 2600 woodgrain box...and I was five years old!

(Now I'm just waiting for some old fart to come along and spew forth about how, back in HIS day, yadda yadda yadda.)

Re:The first game you played?

[binaryspiral]

Your username is spot on... ;)

44 is "older"?

[BarnabyWilde]

Since when?

44 is barely "mature", come on!!!!

Re:44 is "older"?

[thewils]

For sure - he's in his prime!!!

Re:44 is "older"?

[Lemmy Caution]

No, he's not! He was in his prime when he was 43, and he'll be in his prime again in 3 years.

Forget consoles...

[Lord Kano]

Splurge and pay for memberships to all of the adult sites that you have ever wanted to.

Do a LOT of masturbating now, before the arthritis takes away the ability.

LK

Re:Forget consoles...

[Mr. Underbridge]

Do a LOT of masturbating now, before the arthritis takes away the ability.

When it does, tell the wife you can't do the five-knuckle shuffle anymore, and you'll be expecting blow jobs like before you were married. It might even work!

Re:Forget consoles...

[WCLPeter]

Splurge and pay for memberships to all of the adult sites that you have ever wanted to.

Do a LOT of masturbating now, before the arthritis takes away the ability.

Not to mention the pain from the chaffed, bruised and blistered skin will take your mind off the arthritis allowing you to keep on playing video games.

It's Win Win!

no need to despair

[idlake]

Arthritis shouldn't keep you from playing; even quadriplegics can play games. Maybe a simple isometric joystick would do the trick for you. Experiment a little, or see a specialist.

Game

[AnotherAnonymousUser]

I'd go with Duke Nukem Forever. By then they'll have cured your arthritis.

More info

[stonecypher]

Well, it'd help to know what kind of arthritis it is. For example, if the arthritis is only in your hands, then you should be largely uncompromised on the Wii, which is largely about the shoulder and elbow. If that's not good enough, it depends a lot on the kinds of games you like. For example, if you prefer fighting games, you're pretty much out of luck. However, if you play strategy games, maybe shift away from realtime (like starcraft) and towards turn-based (like civilization.) That way you can move at a pace that's more in keeping with your hands, and you can consider alternate input devices - keyboards, tiltpads, even voice recognition software if it's bad.

Generally, if neither hand controllers like traditional joysticks nor shoulder-and-elbow controllers like the Wii suit you, then persistant speed-driven games and twitch games are pretty much out. No more tetris, no more street fighter, no more heli attack. On the other hand, timing based games like You Don't Know Jack and Jeopardy are largely unaffected, if you can type. Most turn based games - not just civilization, but traditional games like chess and poker, untimed puzzle games like bejewelled and bookworm, puzzles like sudoku and crosswords, et cetera.

It's more productive to ask which games are removed, and then to just look at a game catalog or a game site, than it is to ask which games are left. All of the console manufacturers have lists of games on their websites. The internet game sale sites have lists, too, unsurprisingly. Look for games which work with input devices you can still use - mice, keyboards, the microphone, et cetera. If you can use the joystick in some situations but not others, figure out what those situations are. Sure you can't play Tekken anymore, but is that because these two specific fingers are hurting, or all of them? What about your wrists? Can you play Wii Sports? There's only one button press anywhere in Wii Sports, namely letting go of the bowling ball.

The disease you have is terrible, but it's also very different for different people. There are a lot of games that are probably still open to you, but until we know what you can and cannot do, as well as what you do and do not enjoy, we can't give you good advice.

I feel for you, man. It's awful. I'm starting to feel it; I'll be where you are in five, maybe ten years if I'm lucky. There are a lot of games left for you, but you get any five people in the room and you're lucky to find two games in common. We need more data.

Acupuncture

[rasper99]

My brother is 51 and has been getting accupuncture for his arthritis. He swears by it. If you have tried everything else it couldn't hurt.

Re:Acupuncture

[d4nowar]

"If you have tried everything else it couldn't hurt."

Aside from the needles being shoved into you.

Re:Acupuncture

[kingsean]

...accupuncture ... couldn't hurt.

Yeah. You're probably right ;)

Tales of Phantasia on PS1

[kosmosik]

But really. You should play the games you like.

Heh.

[Phydeaux314]

Try Dance Dance Revolution. You don't play with your hands, AND you'll get a workout!

Re:Heh.

[aquowf]

Last time my dad (45) played DDR, I was laughing for about five minutes straight.

no, I'm not even joking with you.

I couldn't breath.

Re:Heh.

[Vacuous]

To be fair though, most beginners at DDR are worth a laugh. I get a kick out of my mother playing myself, she refuses to play anything above novice (I play In the Groove over DDR), but she plays regularly enough that she's gotten FECs on stuff (Bubble Dancer Novice for example).

Re:Heh.

[Frumious Wombat]

The best part of this suggestion is that it will let you use your BeeGees 8-tracks again.

..and yes, I'm only marginally younger than you, (though thankfully BeeGeeFree).

Re:Heh.

[identity0]

I've actually tried playing Puyo Pop with the DDR pads - it works, though it was confusing at first, and not as fast as a thumbpad. The stepping action might be too much strain in a game like that, where you have to adjust things constantly. Find some games where you don't need quick reflexes, I guess.

Maybe get a controller that has full joysticks instead of analog pads, and play stuff like Katamari?

I know it's predictable...

[E-Sabbath]

But, well, the Wii seems like it might be decent for the arthritic gamer. ExciteTruck just needs pushing one button, and a lot of leaning back and forth.

Two

[grub]

1) Thief: Deadly Shadows (actually any of the Thief series but you specified console)
2) Oblivion.

Re:Two

[addie macgruer]

Much as the thief series (1&2) represents some of my favourite games of all time, xbox deadly shadows does require some of the most convoluted gripping outside of halo. Duck and peer round a corner while drawing back a water arrow? Feel the pain. I'd probably want something N64-based for the old non-crippling grip. Mind you, I was younger when I put in ten hours a day on Mario Kart 64 :-(

The only game that matters...

[Kadin2048]

If my hands were soon going to be unable to grab things, I wouldn't be wasting my time with video games.

I was assuming he already had the masturbation angle covered.

Re:The only game that matters...

[Tablizer]

I was assuming he already had the masturbation angle covered.

Vacuum Cleaner! Yeah, Baby! Hook it up to a blow-up doll babe and you have it made.

Re:The only game that matters...

[Laserwulf]

Did anyone else read that as "the masturbation angel"? (I need some coffee...)

What are you talking to us for? Joy-stick nation.

[Anonymous Coward]

"In 20 years stem cell technology will have progressed so that you can grow a brand new Wii controller right in the palm of your hand anyway."

Good thing too because you broke your old controller fiddling with it during your formative years.

Like DDR? (NT)

[Groo Wanderer]

#($*# /. engine won't let me post something with a blank text field. Twits.

get a wii

[briancnorton]

There is much more arm and body motion than fingers. Also, check out the prescription drugs, they made a WORLD of difference for my mom.

Secret of Mana

[LionKimbro]

I'd play Secret of Mana, straight through.

I swear, it is the most beautiful game in the world.

Re:Secret of Mana

[MrZaius]

More importantly, Secret of Mana should be played with the full set of three players. An Excessively Multiplayer RPG cannot reproduce the depth of plot of an old school CRPG. SoM is rare, in that it allows a happy medium between the conventional RPG and the MMORPG, and in a much closer, more intimate setting, as all players have to be gathered around a single monitor. If this really might be the last game you play, make it social and memorable.

If it's possible to emulate, or to run on the Wii, that might be the easiest way to run the game. Might be difficult to both obtain a working SNES and obtain the necessary 4-player adapter to add the third and final player to SoM.

Also, aren't there ways to play games with voice activation or foot pedals? When I was a kid, I played roughly half of FFI and FFIV using my toes and an NES or SNES controller, to allow me to eat or stretch my aching hands. It might be possible to get larger input devices designed for the feet, like racing pedals, that can be used to control a variety of games. Anyone remember the double-axis BMW accelerator? Two USB input devices that work like that would allow you to map both an X/Y axis and 4 buttons.

Re:Secret of Mana

[I(rispee_I(reme]

Alternatively, Secret of Mana 2 is more beautiful and requires (allows) only two players.

Re:Secret of Mana

[Boreras]

Seiken Densetsu 3 actually never released outside of Japan. As suggested, it is possible to install it on a SNES-cartridge, and play it this way. Of course you can emulate it, but that would be slightly less fun. Still it's, imho, the best game ever made, the most addicting and most enjoyable. After years of playing it, I can never resist playing it once again, and it really brings JOY to my heart. Call me a total addict, but there really is no thing in my life, that I have loved more than this. There is more to life than games, but there isn't more to life than SD3.

Mouse replacements

[PIPBoy3000]

There's starting to be a number of replacements for traditional controls. There's eye tracking products, software solutions, and a variety of hardware replacements like a Wacom tablet.

Re:Mouse replacements

[Trespass]

The Wacom is a superb interface. It takes awhile to really get used to, but if you work with it long enough to overcome the feeling of parallax it's incredibly intuitive.

Re:Mouse replacements

[OutOfMyTree]

Yes, things would have to get a whole lot worse before the OP is prevented from playing games. I certainly know a tetraplegic who both plays games and reads /. but he obviously isn't around today. I think he uses the KY mouth-operated joystick http://www.quadcontrol.com/joystick.htm, but OneSwitch.org seem to cater to a wider range of disabilities. GrpA is right that there is more support for "differently-abled" use of a PC, but playing console games is possible.

My nomination for what to do now is to practice your elctronics/soldering skills, as some of the stuff on sale is pretty expensive and could be home-built.

Consider a flight sim

[pbjones]

I'm an X-plane user, I can build, fly, go on-line. It uses my brain and teaches me something new. I have to look at many real-world (tm) things like geography weather etc. I can play hard flying through canyons or relax with a long flight across the pacific. Re-enact historic flights on-line with other flyers, dog fight, whatever. Move into building your own scenery, model aircraft etc.

Re:Consider a flight sim

[Randseed]

Agreed on that count. X-Plane is undeniably the best PC flight sim out there. Enough time with it and you could probably be somewhat comfortable getting a 737 down safely, albeit with a little damace owing to the fact that you aren't used to the 'feel' of the plane. Definately a good skill, and you can mod it all to hell by doing things like designing your own aircraft. For extra points, scale model them down and build actual models. ;)

Re:Consider a flight sim

[geekoid]

"Enough time with it and you could probably be somewhat comfortable getting a 737 down safely, "

HAHAHAHahahaha...oh man, you are either funny, or really out of touch.

hERE i CAN FIX THAT:
"Enough time with it and you could probably be somewhat comfortable getting a 737 down, "

Seriously, Flying is a lot different in reality. Of course, if your X-Plane is tied into a working and accurate flight similator(hardware), then maybe, but even then you better hope for perfect landing conditions.

My favorites...

[FlyByPC]

(Google for any that aren't familiar. None of these would qualify as "twitch" games, though some do take some coordination. At 44, I would think you'd be good to go for at least another 20-30 years with any of these...)

None of them involve the whole if-it-moves-shoot-it thing. Maybe that's your cup of tea, but if not...

Flight Simulator.
Syberia.
Chess.
Ballance (rare, but fun).
MS Train Simulator.
Civilization (or FreeCiv).
Zork (sometimes the imagination is better than any graphics).

wii!?

[Turn-X Alphonse]

Maybe you should tape a wiimote to your hand and still play the tennis games for example.. I see no reason to give up gaming, theres always something else you could try.

Resident Evil 4 and Goldeneye

[Tibor the Hun]

RE4 for gamecube and Goldeneye for N64

Tempest

[iamdrscience]

Tempest is one of the best games ever. Invest in a working arcade version and enjoy.

When you become to arthritic to play it though, you have to give it to me.

Last games

[DesireCampbell]

Q: "if you were going to give it up, what games would you insist on playing before you had to quit?"

A: All.

Tux Racer

[Svippy]

It is beyond my imagination that anything since Tux Racer should have been made, because they should just have ceased making games. I can't stop loving this game. Whenever I get that PS3, my first action will be installing Linux to play Tux Racer.

Re:I can think of one

[xaoslaad]

Planescape Torment was an awesome game. It caught every aspect of the campaign setting very nicely. It's ancient though. He'd probably have to find it on e-Bay or something. Shoot, I still have my original discs, but over time they've become so scratched I had to copy them to keep playing. One of them flat out doesn't work anymore. That is one game I definitely wished for a new version or expansion for. Sadly it never came. That and a Syndicate Wars remake would rule the day.

Got to be...

[ilikejam]

Xenon on the Atari ST.
Best game ever.

Top 100 Lists

[Herak]

The Top 100 lists that are occasionally published tend to be pretty good, in my opinion. You might try some of those for ideas, and pick what seems interesting.

Here is the IGN list from 2006: http://top100.ign.com/2006/index.html . In my opinion, the one from 2005 was better as it had more older games: http://top100.ign.com/2005/index.html .

It seems like many of the above posters are suggesting games that they've played for hundreds of hours, but I'm guessing that you're more interested in playing many shorter games. So with that in mind, some of my specific suggestions are:

• Devil May Cry (1 or 3)
• Prince of Persia (original)
• Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
• Twisted Metal (1, 2, or Black... find a friend to play with)
• Mount & Blade
• Sonic (1, 2, 3, Knuckles)
• Mario (almost any)
• Zelda (almost any)
• Grand Theft Auto (any)

But that's just off the top of my head... I would strongly suggest checking the Top 100 lists for more ideas.

Games I would want to play

[Razed By TV]

In no particular order (except for maybe the first one):
Katamari Damacy (PS2)
Lego Star Wars (Various)
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
Final Fantasy 7 (Various)

If you're partial to older consoles (and in particular, RPGs):
Secret of Mana (SNES)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Final Fantasy 6 (SNES)
Contra (NES) [Not an RPG]

You seemed to specify console gaming. If you somehow haven't yet had the opportunity to play first person shooters on a computer, that is also something I would suggest you do. I'd personally suggest Half-Life. Starcraft and Diablo are also notable computer games (not first person shooters, though). "Must play computer games" is really a whole nother can of worms, though.

Re:Games I would want to play

[the dark hero]

i really agree with this list. kudos to you man!

Re:Games I would want to play

[CronoCloud]

For Half-Life, Starcraft and Diablo, he could even stick to the console versions if he wanted to.

Re:Games I would want to play

[I(rispee_I(reme]

Tack on Super Metroid, Tetrisphere, and Goldeneye:007, and you pretty much have my list. Also, I would recommend Contra III: The Alien Wars over the original.

myst series

[mephistophyles]

I've always been a huge Myst fan, but it takes some doing to get through it all. Just get your hands on the whole set (you can skip URU,) and play it. It's essentially a mouse oriented game, where you point and click 99% of the time. The games are timeless, last forever, satisfying and also, it doesn't ruin your joints. That's what I'd play if I had one last game to play, Myst.

Fallout 1 and 2

[Anonymous Coward]

Two of the best RPGs ever made, and possibly the best non-fantasy RPGs ever.

The Last Game You'd Play

[Slammer64]

Morty, I feel your pain, I am a 47 year old gamer...go figure? LOL. I would recommend turn based games, say, use a SNES emulator (ChronoTrigger!) on a comp, try Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, etc. All the years of typing at a comp, I'm a network admin, have left me with hands that go numb if I type too long, carpal tunnel, no doubt. But nothing should leave you unable to enjoy yourself, there are work-arounds to every problem, it's just up to us to find them. And while there are a lot of humorous comments (and some not so humorous, I agree) you just have to have the determination and will to keep having fun..............'nuff said.

Three words:

[JazzLad]

Duke Nukem Forever

(That is if I live that long)

a good game

[kmkz]

Lode Runner. What could be better than running away from deranged monks, looking for loot, and making your own maps all while doing it on a Mac OS 7 computer that is over 10 years old? Nothing!

Arcade Pac-Man

[AlphaBrav]

The best game where you never had to put your drink down! You could probably play this with your feet if you really had to. And even better - table-style Mrs Pac-Man!

The Game of Games

[information_storage]

Quake 3 Arena is by far the best game I have ever experienced, and I have tried nearly every computer game at one point or another. Furthermore, If you would like to be emersed in a technologically interactive world, I would highly recommend Deus Ex (the first version only).

Play

[xaoslaad]

Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II. These are awesome games, but my wife and I cry about our fingers falling off within a mere hour of starting play taking turns. It's great for laughs with multiple players. My wife is ruthless about laughing at me playing, and it adds to the fun when you're getting boo'd off stage to a riot of laughter. You might want to play these before your fingers can't handle it anymore.

Re:Play

[GregThePaladin]

I'm 17 and that game is giving me arthritis.

You didn't really say what kinds of games you like

[GrpA]

What games you should play depends on what you like. Simple. I'm suprised you didn't mention the sort of games you like to play.

Additionally, you haven't described the limitations of your medical issue.

Firstly if you like playing games, why stop? Is it only the button mashing games that you like? There are so many games that you don't need to stop playing. Just find something you enjoy that doesn't aggravate your condition.

Second, forget consoles. They are more likely to cause CTS or other issues than support a medical issue. Go PC. Just PC. Unlike consoles, PCs have hundreds of interfaces designed for everything from people with disabilities through to being ergonomic to support sufferers of similar ailments. Even without knowing what your issue is, if you can move a part of your body, you can buy something for a PC that lets you emulate mouse and keyboard.

PCs cost more, and you'll need to aim high for a games box, but the disadvantage of consoles is that they are designed with a difficulty level around the controller for normal people. This is something you clearly are not (by your own admission). So if you already have problems, then why waste it playing games on a controller designed for hands without medical issues.

Also, use the benefits of age. If you don't want to mash buttons, play more adventure games, where reaction time isn't critical. And when you play action games, choose games where you can play in a way that suits you.

As an example - consider BF2 for the PC. Even if you were nearly crippled, you could still play commander online, without any difficulty at all... Just with a voice interface alone. No keyboard or mouse. Of course, you'd probably want a Push To Talk button set up for your headset, although you could just use VOX. And if you want to get into the action, play sniper... Just sit, wait and take your time on each shot.

Additionally, for flight sims, you can use full size controllers... Joysticks. No rapid movement needed there. If you can still drive a car, you can use a wheel interface. Again, nothing complex there. (And Wheel interfaces are available on most consoles.)

But as I mentioned, console games tend (though not always) be designed around the console controller and controller limitations to provide an element of difficulty. PC games are designed around a keyboard that no two people seem to have the same one of, mouses that vary from house to house and the odd USB connected device that someone bought on special. The only thing left for PC game designers to challenge is your mind.

Avoid games that require precise timing and button mashing. They cause issues for those older players amongst us that don't have arthritis too!.

Finally, don't take the attitude of playing games quickly while you still can. That's pessimistic and you're setting your own limitation. Work to enjoy games for as long as you live and while you still enjoy them. For most of us, that's as long as we live.

Anyway an opinion. I'm not that far of where you say your are. I am starting to feel something in my fingers that I suspect is the onset of age. But unless I end up so crippled I can't live a normal life anymore, I don't ever think I'll stop playing games, and often I remind myself they are one of the few things I can still enjoy even if I do.

GrpA.

Zelda, Ocarina of Time

[kiwioddBall]

Would be my choice. I've been playing video games for years, but when I played that game (nearly 10 years ago now?) It moved things to a whole new level. When I first got out onto open spaces of Hyrule field and heard the cool music and saw the sun setting it was pretty good as far as video games go. Little touches like the music when the sun rises etc. I haven't had a go on Twilight Princess yet (Wii comes out here in about a week).

That said there are plenty of other games other than video games. You can't beat a game of cards with friends.

If you haven't travelled, get your buzz from seeing other cultures before little things get too difficult.

PINBALL

[Joe The Dragon]

You can still play pinball they even have a video pinball game (Ultrapin) that can play many different games on one cabinet.

Ultrapin features the Patent Pending U-Shock Board which allows players to interact with the cabinet for a totally realistic pinball experience. You can BUMP and NUDGE the cabinet to affect the ball in play - just like real pinball.
http://www.globalvr.com/products_ultrapin_intro.ht ml

I like real games as well and I have played many prototype and Rare games play The Pinball Circus if you can!
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4354

eliminate the time factor

[cbc1920]

I've played tons of games, and if I had to play one of them one last time, it would have to be Rome:Total War. Nothing can compare to the feeling of power you get from commanding 5000 Roman troops going up against the barbarian horde. All of the "Total War" games are amazing, but this one is my favorite.

For the future, let me take the chance to plug my favorite turn-based MMORPG, Kingdom of Loathing (kingdomofloathing.com). This game may seem very "silly" at first glance, but the game has two wonderful levels of play. At first, you can become very involved in just solving the complex puzzles needed to complete the game. After you have mastered all of the puzzles, character building takes over. The game's world is constantly evolving, with new content every week. The community around the game is almost universally friendly and supportive, and is one of the best parts of the game. The whole thing is free with a few special items that cost money (gotta run servers somehow), but they can also be purchased with in-game money.

Re:eliminate the time factor

[cbc1920]

One more comment- the "Total War" games, when played against the computer, are not dependent on your speed with a pointing device. The battle can be paused at any time, at which any number of orders can be issued. While it may take you a little longer than real-time battles, it still lets you play a very engaging strategy game, complete with first rate 3d graphics.

Re:eliminate the time factor

[clickclickdrone]

>Nothing can compare to the feeling of power you get from commanding
>5000 Roman troops going up against the barbarian horde.
Why do I get the feeling this is Bush's favourite game too?

My top 5

[Jim Hall]

I suppose it says something about me that my recommended games are mostly platformers on the Playstation2:

1. Ico
2. Ratchet & Clank (if you can, play the trilogy)
3. Jak & Daxter (if you only play the first game, you're doing okay ... play the others as you see fit, but Jak 2 has a bunch of frustrating bits)
4. Killzone
5. Spyro the Dragon (on the original Playstation ... the other 2 games in the original trilogy were okay but not great.)

Okay, I said I'd post 5, but here's another few for you. Consider it a "bonus":

• Shadow of the Colossus
• Tomb Raider 2 (on the original Playstation ... probably the best in the series, including the 'Legend' game on PS2)
• Thief (on the PC ... I know you asked for console games, though)

Re:My top 5

[Jim Hall]

I'll also add that if you're going to stop playing games forever, the last game to play should be 'Jaws: Unleashed'. You'll throw your controller aside, possibly smash it to pieces, and swear off games forever. Seriously, it's really that bad.

I bought the game because it was supposed to be terrible. Sometimes, you just have to re-set the metric on "bad".

How bad is it? I mean, you play as Jaws, a huge eating machine. Your goal is to eat people and destroy things. How can you mess up a game like that? Fairly early in the game, you find yourself trapped in a lab pool. To get out, you need to open an underwater door, but it's locked by electronic cardkey. And only the scientists in lab coats have them, but fortunately they're walking around the perimeter of the pool. You have to jump up onto the deck, grab a scientist but not eat him, wave his body in front of the card reader. Then you have to avoid the school of piranha (which are freshwater fish) as you make your way to the orca boss. No, really.

I think I played a few hours after that, upgraded all my shark stats, before I decided I'd had enough punishment.

Don't give up anything

[iminplaya]

You'll just have to make better use of your feet. (Hey, if a guy with no arms can play the guitar for the pope...) Or just wait for FDA approval of some direct brain link device.

No hands-- MINDBALL!

[Grisha]

I think you probably want to switch to this game instead:

http://www.i-p.se/index.aspx?page=mindball&mId=1

Strategy

[Randseed]

I've always been a big fan of strategy style games anyway. No, not the RTS type which I abhor, but games like Space Empires V, Galactic Civilizations, Master of Orion, or hell, Chess. Honestly, I'd invest in Space Empires V and Chessmaster, though I know that my likes don't parallel that of most gamers.

Fallout 1 and/or 2

[Superpants]

That'd be my choice anyway.

Re:Fallout 1 and/or 2

[Zantetsuken]

Those games truly kicked ass. I'll admit I was the type to save and reload (if I didn't get a high damage critical hit) for pretty much every shot towards the end of the game(s) - but in my defense, that was just about one of the only ways to get through that part of the game... Also, did anybody else experience MASSIVE game crashing bugs towards the end - you know, kinda like the game didn't want you to finish?

There's nothing more fun than to shoot somebody's ribcage out or turn them into a blackened/fried skeleton with an electro-pulse rifle. Longlive the PiPboy!

Re:Fallout 1 and/or 2

[scribblej]

Fallout 1 and 2 were truly two of the best single-player RPGs to be released. Loved them.

But I'd think these are games that would be simple to play no matter how arthritic you are. Their combat systems are turn-based. They only require the equivalent of a mouse and one or two buttons. Nothing like an action game which often require four axis or more, and upwards of six buttons, plus insanely strict timings.

My point being -- they're great, but they aren't the kind of game he's probably worried about missing out on.

Dance Dance Revolution

[Salvance]

If you can't use your hands, why not do something that doesn't require your fingers much? Dance Dance Revolution is fun and gives you a good workout, some of the Nintendo Wii games don't require fine motor control, etc. Just because you can't hit the buttons like a madman anymore doesn't mean you have to stop gaming.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[I Like Pudding]

Way to recommend the 44 year old arthritic the two most activity-heavy game types, douchebag.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[xenocide2]

It's never too late to start exercising. And the Asker indicated that he was only facing hand arthritis, which DDR may not trigger very much, if at all. There's been a ton of suggestions on the Wii, but I can't imagine being able to hold something while swinging it madly, or lightly but rapidly, would cooperate with arthritis.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[grammar fascist]

Way to recommend the 44 year old arthritic the two most activity-heavy game types, douchebag.

Actually, getting a lot of exercise is one of the best things you can do for arthritis.

I'm 30, I also have arthritis, and it's worst in my fingers. Good muscular support around my major joints is one thing that keeps me from feeling the effects there. I'll never be able to play golf, but if I keep in good shape I should be able to swim, bike, and run well into my 70s.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[MBGMorden]

Depends on the type of arthritis. Exercise is terrible for Gout in particular. It only flares up occasionally, but the pain from gouty arthritis comes from having excess ulric acid deposits create crystals in the joints, which then tear at the tissue inbetween the joint as it moves (believe me, it's one painful mutha #@#!#. Been dealing with it since I was 19). Excess movement during a flareup just causes more tearing of the joint tissue and this can cause problems in the long run. Since it only affects one foot or the other at a time, I usually will take a day or two off from work and resort to crutches around the house when it flares up.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[tsa]

Instead of working out, which gets you tired, you can also play adventure games. They don't usually require much in the form of interaction with the computer. To get you started, you can try the Carol Reed mysteries, or Syberia. Look at Adventure Gamers or Just Adventure for more information.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[witcher]

um, if you are already feeling the affects of arthritis, why are you still trying to run all the way to your 70s? I think you should slow down your chronological travel.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[Eternauta3k]

So? He said he was 44, not 84. It's not like he's ready for a nursing home or anything.

Oh really?

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[NormalVisual]

I'll agree that gout sucks the big one. I've dealt with it since I was 22 and unfortunately I've had attacks in a bunch of different joints. It's mostly under control now with *big* doses of allopurinol (and watching my diet, of course), so it only presents very occasional problems now.

I'd recommend one really good gout attack and one bout with kidney stones for folks that want to test their pain threshold.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[Angostura]

You speak as if 44 is old, you insensitive clod. ... a 42 year old writes.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[I Like Pudding]

Wow, that comment generated a mod frezy. PROTIP: the parent is not a troll. Should you feel the need to mod it down, do so with flamebait.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[suckmysav]

Gout is caused by an excessive buildup of uretic (sp?) acid which is generally caused by excessive consumption of tomatoes. The only episode of gout I had was caused by a sudden fad I embarked on that involved drinking large amounts of V8 vegetable juice for breakfast. As soon as I stopped doing that it went away and hasnt returned since.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[Insipid Trunculance]

You speak as if 44 is old, you insensitive clod. ... a 42 year old writes.

I hope ,you are , not bitter....

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[woobieman29]

Sorry to hear that someone else has had to deal with this crap since their teens. I am currently having a gout attack (left ankle is pretty much immobile) and have been having attacks since 17. I keep hoping that science will come up with something better than Allopurinol, Probenicid, Indocin, Colchicine, etc... but lately it seems like there isn't much going on as far as Gout research is concerned. I just hope my son doesn't end up with it... :-(

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[winwar]

"Gout is caused by an excessive buildup of uretic (sp?) acid which is generally caused by excessive consumption of tomatoes."

And this is why you shouldn't take medical advice from strangers on the internet :)

It is caused by the overproduction of uric acid or the insufficient elimination of it. It can be aggravated by a diet high in purines. More likely would be dehydration and injury. Best method of prevention is medication.

Re:Dance Dance Revolution

[suckmysav]

LOL!

If you are gonna use Google in an attempt to sound knowledgable on a subject you know nothing about son, you should pay more attention to what you are reading. Prunes? Surely you mean purine, which is found in many types of food and is a major contributor to gout.

From http://www.recoverymedicine.com/gout_wellness_tips .htm

    The following is a more complete list of purine rich foods:

        * Organ meats such as liver, kidney, heart, brain, etc.
        * Selected fish and shellfish ie. ikan bilis, sardines, mackerel (including selar,
            tenggiri & kembong), herring, salmon, fish roe, cockles and mussels
        * Meat & yeast extracts such as Bovril, Marmite, Vegemite, essence of chicken, brewer's
            and baker's yeast
        * Meat soups & stock cubes especially Bak Kut Teh
        * Game meat ie. venison, black chicken, pigeon, goose, etc.
        * Beans & lentils such as tofu, soya bean, bean fillings, etc.
        * Selected vegetables ie. spinach, rhubarb, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms & peas
        * Strawberry, strawberry jam, durian, tomato & tomato products

Oops, no prunes.

Advice from a young'un

[irishstallion]

Warm your hands up before you do anything with them that hurts. This advice came to me via a juggling forum, from a mildly arthritic juggler that said it works like a charm. He said that he either warms his hands up with hot water, or just some quick chafing if the water is unavailable. Your problem might not even be an issue if this works for you. It might be worth it to pursue eliminating your arthritis instead of listnin to what them fancy city doctors tell ya.

Talk to an occupational therapist

[lagerbottom]

It's doubtful they will not have some device, dohickey, strap that will allow you to manipulate some controller or other. In the mean time...I'd play the games in genre I found most appealing from all three of the console makers and the PC.

planescape: torment

[tekunokurato]

planescape: torment is, in my opinion, the greatest videogame I've ever played. Tycho, of Penny Arcade, at one point noted on PA that he feels the same way (I can't find the actual post offhand). We're both RPG fans, of course, but I'm pretty sure anybody who has any appreciation for plot would feel roughly the same. That said, it's pretty exclusively a point-and-click adventure, so to be perfectly blunt, you might save it for last...

PS2

[WasterDave]

Jak and Daxter (not Jak 2 under any circumstances)
Ratchet and Clank 2
Rez, for an evening, get some weed in
Wipeout Pure if you can borrow a PSP

XBox bar none.

[Vegeta99]

The XBox mod community is one of the best out there.

The XBox in my apartment drives my HDTV, and has the ability to:

-Play any video that can be played under Windows.
-Emulate about every system you could ever ask for (yes, even arcade systems via MAME)
-Store ROMs/ISOs directly on the HDD
-Can access the internet to stream video, and can also stream over WiFi straight from my server.

Now, getting ROMs can be a problem. However, you have to make the choice: Lose your games to commercial obsoletism, or you can get yourself a ROM package (I have the complete libraries for the Master System, NES, Genesis, SNES, and the N64), and enjoy them for life. I feel that since it is very hard to get these games these days anyway (and even when you do, the copyright holder will get nothing, except in the case of the Wii's emulator), that holding on to a little piece of my past is worth the risk.

I'd say I spend four times as much time playing the emulators than I do new games.

Re:XBox bar none.

[Vegeta99]

Holy hell. I missed the problem completely. Sorry.

Don't let arthritis make you give up: Just find the right controller. You can even use your keyboard if you like!

Guitar hero!

[punkr0x]

Play guitar hero. Give those joints a good, painful send off! (Seriously what do arthritic guitarists do? There must be a solution!)

Duke Nukem Forever

[Supp0rtLinux]

Of course... your arthritis may lead to death and armageddon may come before its available. But if you're willing to spend money, perhaps you could convince the powers that be to make the game we've all waited for for years and that, at this time, has more vaporware-of-the-year awards than any other... :)

Try this

[DrLov3]

eve-online .... n'uff said!

It's all in your mind

[hoggoth]

> I am an older man (44)

Damn! I am a younger man (41) and I hate to think in the next three years I'm going to become an arthritic old fart planning my life around my decaying body.

I climb mountains, jog, work out, roller blade, and jump in leaf piles with my kids.
Maybe you should put down the controller and take a walk around the block. You'll feel like you're 43 again.

Descent!!!

[Supp0rtLinux]

Forget the consoles, go old school on a new PC and play Descent. It absolutely rocked. You can still find new-in-box copies on Ebay http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=ht tp%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&sati tle=video+game+descent&category0=&submitSearch=Sea rch And FWIW, it rocks on newer hardware and CPUs. A 44 year old that plays video games? In 20 years, you'll be the best granddad of them all...

Re:Descent!!!

[simstick]

A 44 year old that plays video games? In 20 years, you'll be the best granddad of them all...LOL. 44 won't seem so old when you get there.

Re:Descent!!!

[autophile]

A 44 year old that plays video games? In 20 years, you'll be the best granddad of them all...

20 years into the future...

Kid: You have to use your hands?!
Other Kid: That's for babies!

--Rob

Surely you jest!

[Anonymous Coward]

Star Ocean The 2nd Story. I've spent over 100 hours on this game, and I still love to play it as often as I can.

You make it sound like 100 hours is a long time.

Kid, I've spent more time on Civ in one sitting. :)

Don't you have some homework to do?

No pain no game!

[Oronar]

Get it? No game? Hahaha!

And you're not very old at 44. If you're in that much pain now, it's going to be a bitch in 20 years.

REZ, Katamari but wait ....

[dindi]

but before you give up, I would recommend trying other genres, that require different controls : flight sims, driving games can be used with wheels and joys, and are not as bad as the vibrating tiny controls, especially when they are paired with button-smashers....

Also keyboard + mouse games, like FPS games (slower, tactical games) are not that bad for your hands ...

in fact I play sometimes with a group (beerdrinking assassins) on their Ghost Recon (AW) server, where they have a seventy-something old guy playing as a regular .... and he is good :) and never complains of hand pains :)

Tetris!

[xandroid]

Tetris!

It's Not the Game, It's Who You Play With

[eldavojohn]

Alright so I could flip through some old memories and recommend you an obscure title and tell you to go play it. But I've come to a realization about a lot of those games. General Chaos for the Sega Genesis was a great game. Until I got a hold of it a few years ago. I had this memory of me and several of my friends taking turn on the multi player campaigns. Great memories. But when I started playing it solo, it lost a lot. Still a fun game but lost a lot.

I also remember Golden Eye to be a great game but--well, it really lacks a lot of features that FPS's of today have. But in high school, I played that non-stop with all my friends. It was the time spent with them that give me an over-evaluation of the game.

Now, I'm not saying the arguments of one game being better than the other aren't warranted. In fact, I still find A Link to the Past just as fun as I did when I played it many many years ago (I recommend the DS Lite version for portability). The funny thing about my childhood is that I was always at a friend's house watching them play their system. Back then I cursed this as I could never play at my house. But in retrospect, it turned what would be single player RPGs into fun play along and plan together social games & every chance to play was well savored. Maybe I have some sacred view of console games that others lack because they were a haven from working the fields. But I digress ...

So this is the part of the post where I get all wishy washy and I don't suggest a game. I suggest you think back to all the games you played with people. And you take the time to dig these games up and play them with those people for the last time. I'm sure they wouldn't mind a few hours just for old times sake. A lot of my friends are spread across the globe and I don't have enough money right now ... but when we retire, I may do the same thing for nostalgia's sake.

As for the new games that are out there? Play them with your kids & family (if you have them), enjoy them with the people of your life right now. Enjoy them and be done with them for the sake of your health. Learn to enjoy other things in life--watching movies, reading books, bird watching--whatever you could enjoy.

Now, I'm only 24 so there's a lot I could be missing. Considering what I've been brainwashed to believe about older people, it is I who should be asking you what I should be playing right now ...

The Legend of Zelda

[jeffasselin]

I'd play the Original, Link to the Past, and first and foremost Ocarina of Time. Best game ever.

don't become arthritic

[DragonTHC]

you heard me.

don't become arthritic.

it's a choice you know.

eat your oxtails and keep on playing.

Activity Is the Best Therapy

[bandmassa]

You know, Rigor Morty, the best way to treat arthritis is to keep the painful parts moving. Yeh, it hurts, but it'll hurt way more if you stop using it. Get out walking, cycling and canoing when you're not gaming, too. So, play your games, just be mindful of increased risk of overuse injury, and choose games which rely more on skill and strategy rather require high-speed button pushing.

The last game I'll ever play is TetrisMAX. I haven't played a computer or console game in probably 10 years because I got burned out on TetrisMax ;-)

For those of a "certain age"...

[jezor]

There's always "TV Pow" (or Pix, as it was on WPIX in NY). No hands needed, if you're using a speakerphone! :) {Prof. Jonathan}

O RLY?

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

 

Re:O RLY?

[AndreR]

Oh yes, Alt-0160 powa!

reverse the aging process

[cytg.net]

aint nothing to it aiiiight ? ask your doc to shoot you up on human growth hormone. seriously. sorta.

Which part of your hands? top 30 games

[Nightspirit]

Your wrist? DIP or PIP joints (fingers)? Do you have of a problem with typing compared to using a mouse?

I would say consoles are pretty much out of the question, with perhaps the exception being the wii, unless you are having wrist pain.

In addition, you can visit meta ranking sites such as gamerankings.com

Top 30 games (not counting old-school games) meta-rated (from the above site):
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64
2. Soul Calibur DC
3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess WII
4. Metroid Prime GC
5. Tekken 3 PS
6. Metal Gear Solid GBC
7. GoldenEye 007 N64
8. Resident Evil 4 GC
9. Super Mario 64 N64
10. Halo: Combat Evolved XBOX
11. Resident Evil 4 PS2
12. Half-Life 2 PC
13. Chrono Trigger SNES
14. NFL 2K1 DC
15. Grand Theft Auto III
16. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GC
17. Championship Manager 4 PC
18. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PS2
19. Gran Turismo PS
20. Halo 2 XBOX
21. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty PS2
22. The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition GC
23. Half-Life PC
24. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 DC
25. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City PC
26. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 PS
27. Perfect Dark N64
28. Gears of War X360
29. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic XBOX
30. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn PC

If the main problem is your fingers, then you can get mouse intensive games, such as baldur's gate I/II, neverwinter nights 1 or 2, and most strategy games such as the civilization series and galactic civilizations II. You probably want to avoid most MMORPGs.

I also recommend playing games outside your favorite genre. Pick a great racing, sim, RPG, strategy, sports, FPS, etc game. You'll probably get more enjoyment doing this than playing through all 12 final fantasies or x amount of zeldas.

Hold on there Nic.

[fuego451]

The trick is, you never give up. You let the pain or minor disability piss you off enough to fight beyond letting it hold you back.

I won't bore you with all the injuries I've suffered in my life from sports to Vietnam to the fire service or tell you about my arthritis or skin cancer and other minor problems. I will tell you that I am a month and a few days shy of 62, I run 6 miles every other day, surf whenever I can get to an ocean and I can sport a nice rod just thinking about shanking my neighbor's girlfriend; I'd never do that because he is a brother firefighter....on the other hand......

Sorry to get off on a tangent. My point is, you can not let pain or the disability that comes with older age rule your life. It can be overcome with spirit and determination.

Re:Hold on there Nic.

[Anonymous Coward]

> I will tell you that I am a month and a few days shy of 62... and I can sport a nice rod just
> thinking about shanking my neighbor's girlfriend

Note to self: Wait until you've finished breakfast before going online.

Get a Water Softener

[UtilityFog]

I'm ten years ahead of you and have had some trouble with arthritis. The thing that was most strongly correlated with the attacks was iron in my (private well) water. A softener with iron-control salt pellets has virtually eliminated the arthritis. Your mileage may vary, of course, if it's something else teeing off your auto-immune response... but at least have your water tested.

A really terrible one

[RealGrouchy]

Play a really bad game. Either one with bad gameplay, or which crashes every five minutes, or which makes you lose a life without any reason, etc.

That way, you won't regret it at all when you quit.

- RG>

Re:You're missing the point a bit. And you forgot

[FlyByPC]

Actually, these are the games I play now (at 33) and have played since we first got a PC, back in '83 or so. YMMV, like I said -- not everyone's taste is the same as mine.

Old?

[mike3k]

At 44 you're an old fart? I'm in my late 40s and I refuse to grow old. It depresses me when people like Douglas Adams were younger than me when they died.

Re:Old?

[cruachan]

Mid-40's here.

The problem I have though is I increasingly feel like an outcast from my generation. I've hacked code since my 20s, played games as long and was working at a University when the Internet was growing in 1995. I hung out on IRC for years, MSN to my clients. I pride myself in being able to give the kids a run for there money on any shooter or RTS (which I adore). And I read /. and suchlike so I know what MySpace and similar are at around the same time, if not before, my kids. None of this is at all exceptional for anyone under 30-35, but I find that everyone I meet socially in Real Life who are around my age just don't have a clue. Sure they've now got to the stage where (most) use the net for shopping and the like, but the actual online culture just passes them by and a good proportion are still proud of the idea that they don't 'do' computers.

Sure there's a lot of people online of my skills, generation and interests (although swamped by the young'uns) and I have the advantage that I seem to get respect from my kids friends (which is a better position to be than the contempt most hold for their parents abilities and understanding) but I simply find it a bit sad sometime that nearly everyone I meet will not have the faintest clue if I talk about a large portion of my life.

Re:Old?

[mike3k]

Same here. Most of the people my own age I know in real life don't have a clue about computers and most haven't even heard of Linux. I find most kids know more about programming than people my age.

Re:Old?

[cruachan]

A bright spot is I just discovered Second Life seems to have got to the point where it's interesting. I had a look about a year ago and it didn't grab me, but following some comments here last week about the scripting language being Turing Complete I decided to give it another go.

And I'm hooked. Now about 3 days into laeval phase, and I havn't even touched the scripting yet ;-)

that's easy...

[botkiller]

A short list...

Super mario bros. 1 and 3 (NES)
Sonic 3
Chrystalis (NES)
Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy III, F-Zero, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda: Link to the past (SNES)
Final Fantasy 7, Xenogears (PS)

And probably some other old school stuff that I'd dig up.

older man

[Placebo Messiah]

I don't like it when a 44 year old guy calls himself an older man I'm tagging this "FUD"

Re:older man

[Killjoy_NL]

Ah keep your shirt on, if he feels older, that's his right.

I'm 27 at this moment but often I feel like an 80 year old man, don't know why, but that's just how I feel.

Must play list

[ghostunit]

Final Fantasy VI (best RPG)
Einhander (best space-shooter action game)
Silent Hill 1 and 2 (best horror games)

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Better Idea

[alburnett]

Instead of retreating, attack! Or better yet understand that if you stop using your hand your arthritis will become worse, or at least feel worse. Using your hand will force your body to lube your joints, including the ones that don't work so well. I'd suggest, besides Guitar Hero 1 & 2, to read "The Arthritis Action Program" ISBN: 0684868024 and "The Arthritis Cure" ISBN:0312990634. Both books have tought me a lot about my arthritis and arthritis in general. -- -alburnett P.S. I'm not a Doctor. And I'm in my 20s with arthritis.

Change what you eat, drink more fresh water.

[leonbrooks]

Yes, really.

That way you can be dealing more directly with the arthritis, which may allow you to game for much longer.

Eat everything as fresh as possible. Start with more calcium (dodge meat, the calcium & acid ratios suck). Sulfur-containing foods are helpful (asparagus, eggs, garlic, & onions) as they help calcium assimilation as well as repair in general, as is fresh pineapple for the bromelain in it. Stick to green, leafy vegetables, oatmeal, whole grains (especially for the Vitmain K). Add potatoes, lots of veggie juice, bananas, food with histidine (wheat, rye, rice), & some vitamins (B-12 & C, at least).

Avoid milk, fatty foods, salt, caffeine, anything really hot, tobacco, sugar & of course avoid meat as much as possible, since they all do nasty things to arthritic suffering. It helps to view arthritis as a class of diseases instead of just one way of suffering; what you’re trying to do here is axe the whole class.

If you can do that, a lot more than the games will benefit, but they’ll be amongst the first.

Re:Change what you eat, drink more fresh water.

[Glonoinha]

OP : What did the /. guys say?
Me : They said if you eat healthy foods like fresh fruits and veggies, and give up caffeine, salt, fatty foods, spicy / hot foods, tobacco, sugar and meat - you should be fine.
OP : So basically I'm fucked.
Me : Pretty much, yea.

in the same boat

[MantecaMan]

for abt 2 years i've been feeling the same kind of pain in my hands and wrists...but i refuse to yet it get to me!!! GAME ON MAN!!!

Change your titles, not your hobby

[lowe0]

Get a racing wheel and a copy of Gran Turismo HD (or a 360, the MS wheel, and Forza 2). Get a Wii. Get a DS (though be careful about what games you pick for it).

As someone with a similar problem, you don't have to give up every game - just the ones that make your hands hurt. I gave up PC FPS a couple years ago (with exceptions; I'll deal with it for stuff like HL2) and while it sucks to think, "Can I play this without it killing my wrists?", it's not the end of gaming if you choose your titles properly.

Ergonomic Alternatives

[Rankiri]

If regular input devices cause you so much distress, perhaps you should look for some less painful alternatives. I don't know much about arthritis, but I do know that your controller options shouldn't be limited by regular keyboards and gamepads. There are trackballs, head trackers, eye sensors, one button joysticks, large button keyboards, speech controlled mice, etc, etc. Instead of thinking how to spend your 'last hours' with regular controllers, I would advise you to do some research and get an input device that will help you overcome this horrible disease and keep enjoying the things you like in the future.

There are some links you may find useful. I wish you good luck and happy gaming.
http://www.naturalpoint.com/
http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum/viewforum. php?id=2
http://www.3m.com/cws/renmouse.html
http://www.aroga.com/com_access/comaccess.asp
http://ablegamers.com/component/option,com_facilef orms/Itemid,26/ff_name,ReviewList/ff_param_section ,5/ff_param_cat,allcat/ff_param_limit,20/ff_param_ order,SubmissionDateNew

Fighter Ace II

[ubercombatwombat]

The game I really like (don't play now) is Fighter Ace https://fighterace.ketsujin.com/. You fly WWII planes with good physics in WWII scenes. The cool part was that you could fly alone or join sqauds. Having spend time in the military, a place where you really learn how to make and be a friend, most of the players in a good squad approximate some of that bonding. Oh, and when you work as a team it is easy to domonate the skys. Anyway, I would give that one a shot. It is likely I'll take it up again. Robert

Games to play Before your Hands desert you

[CAsBurning]

I can't recommend the Thief trilogy enough. The setting and story is superior to almost anything else, ever. And there there is always the original Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros 3 to play one last time.

There might be alternatives

[heresyoftruth]

I am a nurse, and one of the patients I took care of was paralized from the chest down. He had only partial control of his arms, and could not manage the fine dexterity needed for a game pad. This was around the year 2000, and his folks found him an adaptive controller for the games. That way he could still play with his friends.

I would recommend calling your local hospitals occupational or physical therapy departments, and just asking. I wish I paid more attention to what they managed to come up with, but at least there is hope that it exists. You can't be the only one worried about losing the manual dexterity needed to play, and there has got to be someone that can rig up an adaptive controller.

Solution

[umbrellasd]

Begin practicing telekinesis now, before it's too late.

On a more serious note, the Wii controller is very nice for a variety of games because it takes the focus off the hands, but I'm actually wondering if using a controller might actually have some therapeutic value for you. The drawback of most controllers is that the range of motion is, by design, made as small as possible, but with arthritis, what you actually want is fuller range of motion to articulate the joints as fully as possible.

Personally, I think moving to a Wii will be nice for you--and hey, what about games like Dance, Dance, Revolution, which is really great for fitness and does not require your hands at all? Also, I'd say get yourself into some kind of physical activity that uses your hands through a full range of motion. Keeping your hands active is the best way to fight off the effects of arthritis although, yes, it is painful. The alternative is a rapid decent into limited range of motion and a large amount of pain.

In combination with those measures, we're probably not that far from further control innovations like retinal tracking for targetting (Wii is already tracking your controller; it won't be long before we're watching head movement or even hand waving with a wristband). Wii is really paving the way for the entrance of these advancements in controllers, so the future is brighter than you may think! I think you will be able to happily play games for your entire life, if you take some preventative care steps now and ride the wave of technology innovations that are on the way.

My recommendations

[mriker]

Only one of my top 20 favorite games is a console game: Chrono Trigger (for the Super Nintendo). But the most of the other games on my last are more than 5 years old, so they don't require a high-end computer to play them. Here are the ones I would recommend most, in addition to Chrono Trigger:

1. Deus Ex
2. System Shock 2
3. Fallout 1
4. Fallout 2
5. Half-Life
6. Half-Life 2
7. Command & Conquer
8. X-COM
9. Doom
10. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Re:My recommendations

[stony3k]

Add in Planescape: Torment and your list would be perfect.

Steel Battalion All The Way

[aplusjimages]

How about some Steel Battalion? But the game is best played with their special 40-button controller, which includes foot pedals. But you can't use them DDR.

Re:Steel Battalion All The Way

[GMC-jimmy]

My mother is in her 60's and loves to play PC games. Particularly Guild Wars is her current favorite to date. Before PC games, and more importantly before her arthritis, she was the Mario goddess to us kids with a Nintendo.

By switching to PC games she freed herself from having to hold the controller. Now she simply rests her hands on the mouse and keyboard to play.

The type of game also seems to matter as to how often she can play as does the weather. First Person Shooters (twitch games) aren't her thing. And that's perfectly understandable. Casual games with some automation to the gameplay seems to spark her interest the best.

It may not be that you need to give up gaming entirely. Perhaps just the platform may be the key.

Old and New

[zip0nada]

I'm sure I may have been beaten to it, but I have to suggest buying a Wii. Not only does it have the new controller and games, but you can also purchase an NES controller and classic games on its "shopping channel". It even lets you use GameCube games, controllers, and memory just as you would with a GameCube. Probably a good choice for anyone that may sadly bid farewell to gaming forever.

My choice

[Spacejock]

The last games I'd play would be movie tie-ins, closely followed by anything released to cash in on a fad.

The only game you need to play

[dangitman]

Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Re:The only game you need to play

[dangitman]

Yes.

Go see a doctor who knows about arthritis

[danceswithtrees]

"Becoming arthritic" is purely descriptive. There are over 100 different causes of arthritis, ie pain/inflammation of the joint(s). Find out what type you have. If you have osteoarthritis (aka degenerative arthritis) find out whether you have an associated disorder such as hemachromatosis which can also affect your liver and pancreas. Hemachromatosis is treatable and therefore it is rather important to find out.

If you have an inflammatory arthritis, there are now very effective treatments.

Don't bother trying to google diagnose yourself. Go see a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis.

If/when you are ready to write yourself off, then by all means, find out what the best games to play are.

Other good options:

[cgenman]

Eyetoy-based gaming. They almost never require finger movement. *plug* Like Eyetoy:Antigrav *plug*

DDR. No fingers required.

Light-gun games. Use one hand to aim and the other to pull the trigger.

RPG's. Most menu-based games play fine with feet controllers, or without fine motor movements.

Point-n-click adventure games like The Longest Journey.

Singstar.

As for last games suggestions it would really depend upon what kinds of things you enjoy playing. I'd go Ikaruga on the GC (not Dreamcast), and Radiant Silvergun on the Saturn. I'd plug Guitar Hero, but it's usually enough to induce arthritis in most people. Katamari Damacy (PS2). Ore no Ryouri (PS1). Bionic Commando (NES). I'd get some interested friends together and throw some Saturn Bomberman parties.

Really, what you should do is grab your gaming friends, have them bring over their NES / Atari / whatever old systems they have around, and just play as many different things as possible one night a week every week. By the time your hands go, you'll have played through a slice of history, and you'll have some very close friends.

How about this?

[SetupWeasel]

Save all turn based or traditional RPG suggestions till last, because you will probably be able to play them no matter what.

Last game

[sedmonds]

The last game I plan on playing is Defibrillator. Sadly, I think I will not win.

All you need is gentlemen's sport gloves

[Itsallmyfault]

Dear Rigor Morty, DELETED. -SB

Answering the poor guy's question.

[Rydell]

When I first read the question I was looking forward to clicking on "Comments" and seeing what fellow slashdotters considered "Cant Miss!" titles.
When I got here I quickly noticed there are almost no posts with actual suggestions of games, browsing through the comments at +3.

Even though its late a few ideas popped into my head.

In no particular order:

System Shock 2 (PC)
Thief (PC)
Rez (Dreamcast or PS2)
Okami (PS2)
ChronoTrigger (SNES)

Looking back over the years, those titles quickly spring to mind as some of the games I've ever played.

Best of luck!

Re:Answering the poor guy's question.

[alphatrak]

I agree with a few of your picks. System Shock 2 is still my all time favorite game. I also consider Chrono Trigger as one of my all time favorite RPGs. Rez was a very innovative shooter. I'd also add Final Fantasy VII to the list for it's superb storyline. I'm also still a big fan of Diablo II and Baldur's Gate I and II on the PC.

Way off topic but I'll add to the reading list

[dbIII]

To the reading list I would add Robert Fisk's "Great War for Civilisation" and note that the critics of the book did a bit of cherry picking and tried to make it look as if the book was choosing sides. A war correspondent in the region is obviously going to say bad things about people from Israel as well as bad things about Hizbolla, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine etc. The guy has had person friends killed by the people rather stupid critics who can take no criticism of their pet subject suggest he represents. It also has more of a newspaper journalist verifyable fact basis than some of the books listed above.

Too many critics got no furthur than a bit about Arafat making efforts at peace and didn't read as far as the murder and corruption he was also involved in. Too many critics also dismissed the entire thing based on reporting of corruption of people in Israel even though it was also covered in the press and legal proceedings in Israel at the time.

Two words:

[burntsigil]

Don't stop.

Seriously.

The most common advice given to those who are developing arthritis is to not stop physical activity.

YMMV IANADr

Wii and DS

[LKM]

The Wii has already been mentioned plenty of times. Depending on the kind of Arthritis, you could be able to continue playing many Wii games.

But don't forget the DS. There are plenty of great DS games that only require you to be able to point at the screen with your finger. Phoenix Wright 1 and 2 are awesome games, and as long as you can move your hand, you can play them. Almost all adventure games on the DS should still be playable, for example "Trace Memory" (a.k.a. Another Code) or "Touch Detective."

Re:You, sir, are obviously not a gamer.

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh why? Cause he doesn't like the typical crap that people rave about here? Final Fantasy? Zelda? Fuck.. Most overrated kiddie rpg EVER.

Deadly Shadows is a good game. The only problem it had was that the developers made sacrifices so that it could be released on consoles as well. The main sacrifice being large levels. There's way too much damn loading between the areas.

Kingdom Hearts and Super Metroid

[Vaer]

Kingdom Hearts (PS2) and Super Metroid (Super Nintendo) are the only games I've ever felt like playing through more than once. I've been playing through super metroid about once every two months since it's release (199something?) and Kingdom Hearts is just so fun I've recommended it to every person I know since I played it.

RPGs

[alexhard]

The best from the three schools of RPGing: Final Fantasy VII Morrowind Baldur's Gate 2

Two words.

[Triv]

Two words, dude: Guardian. Legend. It's the best NES game that very few people have ever heard of.

Alternative solution

[vga_init]

OK, so you're going to give up gaming because your hands won't let you. While thinking about your problem, I came up with an idea that you may want to use to your advantage:

Call me old-fashioned, but some of the best games I know about are adventures with text interfaces. Some are graphical, and some are not. The point aside, many of these games could easily be played with some kind of speech recognition software.

You could, for example, play games like Zork, Adventure, King's Quest, Quest for Glory (my favorite!) by simply dictating keyboard input. I imagine that there are hundreds of title out there that I have never even heard of.

You may also be able to find other types of games that could be manipulated with speech, such as a chess game where vocal commands would not interfere with your ability to play the game (nor would they be too frequent to annoy or tire you).

Also, I imagine you could still use your hands for some things. For example, turn-based games such as Nethack and Rogue typically only require a single key to be pressed at any given time. I don't think it would strain your hands much to push a single key, and you could take breaks easily. Those games could also be played with speech, but it would be incredibly mind-numbing to say "j j j j j j shift h" over and over.

Never give up hope. Worst case scenario, you could play games together with a friend (games that require thinking and puzzle solving, like Myst or even something like Zelda) and let him or her handle the manual labor while you both put your heads together.

Shadow of the Colossus

[alphaseven]

Yeah I'd go with ICO and Shadow the Colossus. SotC is one of the poignant games I've ever played, and the thrill of leaping onto a giant monster as it soars through the air and then hanging on for dear life is a great experience. And it's one of those games that you really need to play first hand, you could watch someone play a cutscene heavy game like the Metal Gear Solid series and get most of the experience but SotC should be played, and it requires quite a bit of dexterity to do so.

Everquest

[Nefarious Wheel]

...works for me, I'm 57 and arthritic. Pace of the game is adjustable based on how you feel like playing. I'd suggest playing one of the pet classes -- my main's a mage, and all the hard running around is done by my elemental pet. Melee classes are a little harder, bit more keyboarding. And don't try a bard...

GTA

[jgiam]

I personally quite enjoy the Grand Theft Auto series. And if it's true that playing violent video games make you violent, well, the arthritis is going to be your failsafe.

Sorry, man

[Schraegstrichpunkt]

I'd like to answer, but I'm too busy playing Frozen Bubble. Version 2!

games

[Anonymous Coward]

REZ for dc/ps2
IKARUGA for dc/gamecube
CASTLEVANIA symphony of the night and rondo of blood
DIABLO
BALDURS GATE
HALF LIFE 2
SYSTEM SHOCK 2
SILENT HILL 2
BANJO KAZOOIE
upcoming games: hellgate london, bioshock, banjo kazooie 3, spore,

Not your usual shoot-em-up...

[fullback]

I'd try this: http://www.hitechcreations.com/frindex.html

It's an online air combat game where you can use more wrist motion with a joystick, and less motion with your fingers and a controller. There are thousands of subscribers from throughout the world, and it's free for the 1st 2 weeks so you can see how you like it.

Good luck with your search and don't let the bastards here get you down.

From someone much older than you with a set of bad hands, too...

Whatever games come out next year

[wilsong]

My mother started playing with newly-arthritic hands at about the same age (on a shiny new Atari) and she still plays games now. Don't plan on stopping (but maybe plan on buying really chunky controllers).

Definitive games to play before u die

[Debrusac]

Sorry to be all on topic, but I'm glad to have played in my lifetime:
Unique games:REZ,Leisure Suit Larry:Magna Cum Laude,Gameboy or N64 Tetris,The Sentinel or The Sentinel Returns
Kewl games:Legacy of Kain - Soul reaver/SR2/Defiance or Planescape:Torment or Eternal Darkess.Day of the Tentacle or one of The Secret of Monkey Island games,Homeworld,Varth,Wipeout,Golden Axe
Best of breed:Burnout 2,Mario Kart (N64/GC/Wii),Warcraft 3,Super Mario World 4,World of Warcraft briefly,Medieval Total War,Soul Calibur - (haven't played Deus Ex which is by all accounts truly exceptional)
Pick a first person shooter which u like the look of - they're all good cept DieForATenner- UT wud be gud choice
Sonic 2-THE game you would play after all others. Get DGEN and play the game at 70% proc speed 1/6th faster than the NTSC version did (and 2/5 faster than the PAL version)

Mario 64

[vohlish_n]

I'd concentrate on finally finishing Mario 64 for the DS...

Just don't play this one

[professorfalcon]

The Ring

Or use a different controller

[Moraelin]

That's exactly what I thought. "Huh? Why give up? There are lots of ways to game that don't require squeezing a gamepad in your hands."

One thing that comes to mind, for example, are the tracking pads that some laptops use instead of a mouse. If you can move your hand at all, you can drag a finger over one of those. It may not be good enough to be a FPS clansman, but it should be enough for NWN2 or, yeah, anything that's turn based or can be paused.

Another thing I've personally used (albeit without arthritis) and can vouch for their accuracy, are Wacom tablets. Downside, it still uses a pen or a mouse. It also takes some getting used to, because it tracks (X,Y) coordinates on that pad. I don't know how to explain it well, but basically: with a mouse, if you want to move left-right horizontally, you typically actually move your hand in an arc around the elbow. With a tablet, moving the mouse in an arc actually makes the cursor reproduce exactly that arc, instead of going left-right. If you want to draw a horizontal line, you actually have to move the mouse or pen along the X axis of the pad. So it gets some getting used to.

However, all it needs is to sense the position of the tip of the pen on that surface, and a "click" with the pen is just pressing it against the tablet. It also doesn't need batteries or anything: it's really just a lot of plastic around a small gizmo that the tablet tracks.

So if my using a computer depended on it, I'm sure I could take one (or more) of those pens apart and figure out a way to make a pen-glove, carrying that tip on the index finger. Or maybe somewhere on the palm, if that feels more comfortable. There you go. Depending on how good the rest of the joints are, it may even be good for die-hard FPS.

My recommendations

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Castlevania Symphony of the Night
2. Oblivion
3. Fable: Lost Chronicals
4. Doom 3
5. F.E.A.R.
6. Final Fantasy X
7. Gears of War

Basically all the games that I myself would want, and do want, to replay. The numbers just denote the order I thought them up in and doesn't reflect my actual ranking.

Happy Playing.

Racing games

[rg3]

I'd buy a steering wheel and play racing games. That can be very fun and does not require precise finger movements or anything. Step on the pedals, grab the wheel and change gears with rough finger movements... or use automatic transmission ;).

FreeCiv

[wikinerd]

I think wouldn't want to die without playing a week-long multiplayer FreeCiv session! However, if I was in your shoes, I would spend my money buying ergonomic equipment and paying doctors, and my time learning about my condition and trying to find a way to live without being dependent on a job.

I'd play...

[Captain_Thunder]

...Final Fantasy IX. Best game ever, in my opinion. Don't let the bad people of the world tell you that VII was better; those people are wrong.

Drop consoles, go PC

[SirJorgelOfBorgel]

Well, it's not exactly arthritis, but I've had RSI (repetitive strain injury) from computing for years. It's very light though, I can still pretty much do anything and everything I want, I just have to stop sooner than my friends. One thing I have noticed though, is that when playing consoles, within minutes everything hurts. This is while I can play games on the PC just about indefinitly without aching at all. That should spell out the difference. Yes, I do use special ergonomical mouses and keyboard though, but those are like $100 together and in all probability, your health care plan will actually pay for it (mine did). Is this all relevant to you? I don't know, it could be. Good luck.

Music

[matt me]

Play the piano, the guitar, the sax. Fingercise

Mario Kart Double Dash

[sixpacker]

I started playing the game at age 32 and never played any mario game before.

Man! I never thought I would be addicted to Nintendo games.

Nintendo really knows what a game should be.

The option's there, take it or leave it

[leonbrooks]

Your choice.

OBTW, I’m 44. I guess that makes me old.

I often feel old, but that may be due to some maniac forcing me to headbutt a road at about 40km/h in February. The hospitals were both sure I was going to die, so I guess I’m in front there already. I get a new piece of Titanium strapped in on Wednesday, might be able to drive again a month later if all goes well.

I’m glad I follow the food hints, because I’ve eaten a few sugarly-heavy things since... & it felt lethal afterwards for a few hours.

Re:FFVII

[simondm]

In all seriousness, my recommendation is Final Fantasy VII. A lot of people on here may be of the opinion that this game is overrated, but i have not come across a game since with such an epic, involved storyline, great character development and so many hours of fun game play.

What's more, you would have to be seriously crippled to not be able to play this game, especially if you turn the active time battles off. Even better, the game is almost as rewarding just to watch a friend play through, so you wouldn't even have to be able to play the game to enjoy it.

PC Games

[SnappyCrunch]

You mentioned that you are a console gamer, but pretty much all my best experiences are on PC games. To that extent, my favorites are:

1) Grim Fandango
2) Half Life
3) Half Life 2
4) Psychonauts
5) ZZT

Try glucosamine

[ponos]

Glucosamine is quite effective for osteoarthritis, especially if you start it early. Have you discussed this with your doctor? My father had arthritis in his fingers and with the help of appropriate drugs he no longer suffers (much) from it. Note that my father is over 60, so you could benefit even more. Do visit a good doctor...

The only console games worth playing are

[teflaime]

Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II

Video Games for Arthritic People

[dwaxman]

I am 27 and suffer from a disease that gave me arthritis in my hands, knees and ankles by age 22. For the last five years I've found it hard to play video games for long periods of time; until now. I picked up the new Nintendo Wii and find that I can play many of the games on this system for longer periods of time. Even if I can't FIRMLY hold the controller, I wear a leather glove to give the controller friction in my hand. As long as I can press one of the buttons I am ok, and the rest of the controlling is done through wrist movements (where I have no problem yet).

I know!

[arifirefox]

Try playing Head on! Apply directly to the forehead. Then repeat a million times until you die. Fun for everyone.

Re:You, sir, are obviously not a gamer.

[grub]

I'm 40 and have had consoles since the Odyssey, probably before you were born. :P

Unlike yours, my reply had some reason to it: the submitter is 44 and mentioned arthritis. The games I suggested are quite involved, give a lot of game play for the $ and don't require extensive hammering of the controller thus saving his hands. You could probably suggest some fighting games for him but his hands would be crippled in a few weeks.

Objectivity vs Personal Taste and Nostalgia

[Andy_R]

I'd find this a lot easier to make recommendations for if I knew the original poster's taste in games. I can't stand first-person shooters, and am not at all put off by 'cutesy' graphics, so Yoshi's Island is on my list, but all variants of Doom, Quake, Half-Life etc. are not. It's also difficult not to be biased by games that were great technical leaps, but not actually great to play, such as 'Elite' on the BBC Micro or Nintendo's Star Fox, which I enjoy for nostalgia reasons, but if you were not there first time round won't impress at all.

I'll pick a few games that I think are 'peak of genre' stand-outs.

Wetrix (N64 version) - On the face of it, a low-selling game based on a nasty sounding concept (3-D tetris) is an odd recommendation, but the saving grace of this game is it's beautiful learning curve, you'll be having fun in the first 10 minutes, and thinking deeply about optimal strategy after 6 months. Finishing the 'standard' game by scoring a billion points is the achievement I'm most proud of in my gaming career.

Yoshi's Island - Miyamoto's 2-d masterpiece, idea-packed and finely balanced. While it's technical brilliance is easily overshadowed today, it's polish, balance and sense of fun are not.

M.A.M.E. - indulge your nostalgia for arcade games without having the tedium of time travel. Go conquest that game you didn't quite have enough quarters to be good at first time round.

When age starts to take it's toll, consider switching to online games. Bad reflexes and needing to take frequent breaks map onto lag and connection drops, so these games are often (by coincidence) ideal for older gamers. I play Runescape, which is well suited to gamers of all ages for exactly this reason.

Here's my picks ...

[ScrewMaster]

Duke Nukem 3D Atomic Edition, Shadow Warrior, Blood, and last but not least, Redneck Rampage, not necessarily in that order. Won't need an expensive console to play them, either, just a P133+ running some flavor of DOS. Alternatively, Duke Nukem and Shadow Warrior are available as Windows ports as long as you have the original data files (I wish JonoF would port Blood next.)

Keep playing to keep fingers nimble

[Edgester]

My grandmother has rheumatoid arthritis in her hands. I gave her my old gameboy and she loved to play Tetris. She said that playing it regularly made her fingers hurt less. Maybe you should keep playing enough to keep your fingers in shape.

Adventure games

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

I've stockpiled original boxes of all 35 Infocom adventure games. I keep them in a sealed box to keep them in good condition. When I retire I'll be working my way through them one by one. Even if I'm quadraplegic ony able to use my tongue to control a computer, I plan to finish all of these games.

nethack

[edwyr]

I started playing nethack in 1989 and that's the only game I still play.

Drugs?

[Mysticalfruit]

Instead of giving up on gaming, I think I'd find another doctor to give you a better diagnosis. My grandmother has terrible arthritis and she takes some good shit, considering she can knit 12 hours a day!

Get on the arthritis meds and play video games until you're 100!

Re:Way off topic: but a 44-year old gamer needs it

[sgt_doom]

Robert Fisk, my favorite foreign correspondent along with Greg Palast (of course, I don't have ANY favorite American-based correspondents as they seem to no longer exist) is always a must-read. Thanks for the heads up. (Excellent recent article in the Guardian on the RFK assassination. Shame we don't have reportage like that in the USA!)

My suggestions...

[Intellectual Elitist]

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, XBox)
Tempest 2000 (Jaguar)
Guardian Heroes (Saturn)
Shadow Of The Colossus (PS2)
Target Earth (Genesis)

For what it's worth here's what I'd go with...

[Adam Hazzlebank]

DeusEx (PC)
First person shooter where you actually have to think, well researched an politically revelant and deep plot. It's also trying to make a point, it's not just gaming for the sake of gaming. The only computer game I've played that approaches good literature.

Rez (Dreamcast/PS2)
On the rails shooter, perhaps one of the most beautiful games ever and also conveys something beyond it's simple mechanic.

Shenmue 1 and 2 (Dreamcast)
Perhaps not as deep as DeusEx or Shenmue but a nice story and well executed. And hay, most expensive video game ever made. At least it was at the time.

Ico (PS2)
Beautiful, really beautiful.


Really it totally depends who you are and what you like, if I could only play one of these games again before I died it would probably be DeusEx.

TWO WORDS

[zaqattack911]

Russian Roulette.

Why I fear the Wii

[benwaggoner]

Yeah, I guess we'll all be getting locked out of different activities. I started getting bad osteoarthritis in my right shoulder about a year ago (at 35!), resulting in surgery a few months ago which I'm still rehabbing from. Every review of the Wii I read leaves me just *wincing* in imagined pain for swinging that remote around :). Hopefully I'll find it more intriguing in a few months...

But I was able to play Oblivion on the 360 just a few days after surgery, swimming on sea of Vicodin.

All that said, I hope the OP has tried Celebrex. Great stuff for days you need to get stuff done with the sore parts.

Older gamers should band together

[PendragonUK]

OK I've been playing with computers since the early 80's. I have been playing computer games for all of that time. I see no reason to stop now, Arthritis or no arthritis... Mine is in my knees and wrists, so not my hands yet. I fully expect to be still playing computer games when I'm in the retirement home! So what keeps the interest up? well it's the people not the game. The game is important of course but the people that I play with are much more important. I love playing FPS (First Person Shooter) games, currently Battlefield:2, but next year who knows. the thing I do know is the bunch of guys I will be playing with. The clan I'm in has been around in one form or other for 10 years, I've been in it for the last 5. There are times when I don't much feel like gaming, but when the guys are on, I'm on and you know what? it's great. You have had a hard day, stress of work getting you down... Jump online chat with the guys (and galls) shoot some people and get shot, and all of the things that you thought were important disappear. So my advice, find a good bunch of gamers, people that don't care if your crap or walk on water, just care that you turn up and play your part. Play whatever they play and have fun!!! It's the most important thing. Here is the plug... The Senile Soldiers Clan www.tssclan.co.uk Average age 40+

Dump the Console

[grumpygrodyguy]

I am an older man (44), an avid fan of video games, and I am faced with a problem; my hands are becoming arthritic as I get older. I fear I will soon have to completely give up the console games I have loved over the years. To that end, let me ask the Slashdot Nation -- if you were going to give it up, what games would you insist on playing before you had to quit? I'm willing to make some effort to do this, and spend some cash; I will buy the new consoles if I need to, or try to find obscure titles.

I think you'll find there are many gems you've missed over the years which you can still play quite comfortably.

I would highly recommend buying or building a PC (dump the console), and installing emulators for the following systems:

Apple IIgs, Commodore 64, Atari ST, DOS, Amiga, etc.

There are many wonderful games with rich gameplay for these platforms, and they will be much easier on your arthritis. Old classics like The Bard's Tale, Wasteland, Master of Magic, Master of Orion, Sid Meier's Pirates!, Dungeon Master, Ultima V, Nethack, Zork, etc. will all be much easier on your fingers than a console controller...and they all have rich gameplay. You're an older guy, so play like a grown-up and and give up the eye-candy...look under the surface...these games were designed with care and I think you'll be very satisfied with them. In my book gameplay is 10 times more important than graphics, and there have been some wonderful classics written over the last 25 years.

I would also recommend anything from the TBS (turn-based-strategy) genre where player speed isn't a factor. The Civilization games by Sid Meier are a good example.

Good luck.

Thanks, I'm 43 and you've just depressed me

[retrosteve]

I really didn't need to see this question. I was kinda counting on being able to get away with another 10 years at least before I had to admit to being an "older man" and losing my faculties.

Play ICO

[flibbidyfloo]

On the PS2, play ICO. It's an experience unlike any other. Also, consider Shadow of the Colossus, also unlike any other game you've played. Both are excellent and fun.

Re:Play ICO

[pontus]

I second that. ICO is by far the best gaming experience I've had on any platform in more than 20 years of gaming.

Typing?

[OSXCPA2]

If the issue is you're slowing down, you might try some of the text-based adventures out there. You can get emulators for the old Infocomm games, and there are some newer interactive fiction games out there. Typing replies takes time, but you won't die because your hands are slower than your reflexes.

You might also try http://www.makoa.org/computers.htm - good links for adaptive tech. You might be able to keep playing your favorite games, just with a new interface/device. I don't know if they work for consoles, but for PC/Mac, you should be good.

Good luck!

Best Game Ever

[Anonymous Coward]

If you play through one computer game in your life play the original half-life. It received the hight rating ever from pc gamer and its probably pretty cheap now.

Re:I can think of one

[AnotherUsername]

That and a Syndicate Wars remake would rule the day.

Take a look at this link. You will probably be interested in it. Though it won't be out for awhile...

http://freesynd.sourceforge.net/

Deus Ex

[oogoliegoogolie]

I just quickly glanced at the summary so these may have already been mentioned by the author....

1) Deus Ex. The original (NOT Deus Ex 2) For PC, probably the best game I ever played and although it's six years old I still play it once a year. It's been superseded in graphics, but not in depth of the story.
2) Oblivion, Xbox 360. Since I got this two months ago I haven't played anything else. It allows you to pause during fights so you can pick spells, change weapon,etc., so you dont have to be Quick draw McGraw on the controls.
3) Half Life 2.
4) Tron 2.0. Probably the most colorful game you will ever play. And it's fun too!

Re:Deus Ex

[FortKnox]

Deus Ex is a fine game, but its spiritual predecessor, System Shock 2 is a better game IMHO. Still pop it in and play it from time to time. There are even graphical upgrades to make the game feel a little more updated!

the games I regret not having any more

[Peganthyrus]

Gunstar Heroes.
Dynamite Headdy.
Sin & Punishment: Successor To The Earth.

And possibly more of Treasure's games - if you haven't played any of their titles, you really owe it to yourself to skim their gameography via emulators, at least, and pick the ones that appeal to you to play on the real hardware. "Radiant Silvergun" appears on almost every 'top 10 shmups' list I've ever seen - and if it doesn't, there's usually a paragraph explaining why.

I have not played more than a tease of Okami but it's one of the few games out there that really makes me think of getting a PS2 again. You're an all-powerful creation goddess in the form of a wolf; flowers spring up in your wake, and you have a button that does absolutely nothing except make you go 'woof!'. It's wonderful.

Katamari Damancy. Maybe KD2 but it's really struck me as being What The Fans Asked For.

Rez. Shootemups are about putting you in a timeless, mindless place, and Rez is really, really good at that.

Maybe also Gungrave. It, too, is a beautifully stylized shooter, with an emphasis on rhythm (though not as overtly as Rez). It requires a LOT of rhythmic button pushing which might be painful, though. Short but sweet.

Soul Reaver. Skip all the other slow, leaden games of the Kain series; SR is a great blend of action and story, with lovely music, that its sequels ruined. Be warned, the story doesn't end in one game, but the other Soul Reaver games are work, not fun.

Ape Escape. don't worry about the sequel, it added nothing.

Glucosamine

[stoicio]

"Standard glucosamine is made out of shellfish shells."

Somebody has been pulling one over on you.
Glucosamine is a slaughter house product made from
cow snouts. Usually the little piece of cartilage
right between the nostrils.

There is a special job for the person
who uses the special snout punch snips to
extricate the precious tissue from a big
pile of cow heads all day long.
I wonder what that person eats for lunch...

Now, let's talk now about glycerine soap and where
all that glycerine comes from....
Same place.

MMMMmmmm....Let's all eat our cow puss
and bathe with it too.

Re:Glucosamine

[edschurr]

MMMMmmmm....Let's all eat our cow puss
and bathe with it too.

Why not if it's healthy and it's been processed to make it unoffensive? You're just immature.

Re:Glucosamine

[stoicio]

Oh, come on.
People have no idea that thier soap is
made from boiled cows and birth control
pills made from horse urine and toothpaste
flouride is made from fertilizer by-products.

People have this weird 'soylent green' mentality
that as long as they don't know where stuff comes
from then it must be made from flowers and sea shells
by little sterile elves.

I guess if we boiled people and made soap out of
that it would be OK too. I mean,
'it's healthy and it's been processed [boiled] to make it unoffensive', right?

Not being delusional about how close we are, as a society,
to still living in caves makes me immature?

Or are you the guy that snips the cow snouts....
Sorry, I wasn't disrespecting your job or anything.
After all people do buy your product.

Re:Glucosamine

[edschurr]

I guess if we boiled people and made soap out of
that it would be OK too. I mean,
'it's healthy and it's been processed [boiled] to make it unoffensive', right?

Yes. You're starting to catch on.

Re:Glucosamine

[firebee]

Somebody has been pulling one over on you. Glucosamine is a slaughter house product made from cow snouts. Usually the little piece of cartilage right between the nostrils.

You got my hopes up. Alas, no such luck. Chondrotin, the stuff that often goes with glucosamine, is made of cow cartilage. Most glucosamine is in fact made of shellfish shells. Thusly the big red warnings on the side of the bottle for people who are allergic to shellfish. Next I suppose you're going to tell me that chorizo isn't made of pig cheeks...?

My list

[jonpol]

The perfect list is dependent on what kind of games one likes, and my taste tends to be a bit different than the mainstream. Most of the games I like have one of two things (or both): A good story, or a good sense of place (i.e., I feel like I'm visiting somewhere). With that in mind, here is a list of games that I wished everyone would play and enjoy, but can't guarantee it :)

Zelda Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Windwaker
I think all of these are worth playing for anyone, but if you picked one I would say Ocarina of Time would be the safest bet (many people like the others, but many people also don't). They're famous enough I probably don't have to describe them, but let me just say that in my opinion all of the praise they receive is well-deserved.

Out of this World (Another World)
This is basically a puzzle-solving game, and one that requires trial and error and memorization, so it may not be for everyone. That being said, I love the atmosphere, the sparse story-telling, and the fact that although there are only a few basic controls, most of the game involves thinking outside of the box.
I played this on Sega CD originally, but there is an updated version available: http://www.anotherworld.fr/anotherworld_uk/

Flashback
This is a game by the same person as above, I believe, but it is more action oriented. I'm not sure what someone would think playing it now for the first time, but when it came out I loved the setting and the atmosphere. Probably my favorite game I played on the Sega Genesis.

Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max Hit the Road, Full Throttle, Monkey Island 1-3, Grim Fandango
I think the only LucasArts adventure game I _didn't_ much like was Monkey Island 4, but the ones listed above are my favorites. All of them have excellent writing and voice-acting (where applicable). I can't imagine anyone not being entertained, although some might not like the gameplay.

Broken Sword 1-3
In the same vein as LucasArts games, but a more realistic setting and serious story. The third one didn't seem to be very-well received, but I loved it. Again, I can see people being turned off by the gameplay, but the story is top notch.

Anachronox
I bought this on a whim, and I will always be glad that I did. The gameplay is actually pretty dumb (it's like poorly-done Final Fantasy), but the story-telling is superb. I don't think I have ever laughed out loud at any game more than I did playing this one.

Ico and Shadow of the Colossus
My two favorite games for the PS2. These games are both so beautiful, both in presentation and mood. Probably the two best games I have ever played in terms of a sense of "place". The story-telling is also very interesting: I would say that both have a good story, but the story is told in a way that would only work in a game. In other words, the plot is not what makes it great, but experiencing it is.

Beyond Good and Evil
This game is great on many levels. The gameplay is fun, but not too hard (this probably annoys hardcore gamers, but for me it's a plus). The graphics are stylized cartoony, but very beautiful, I think. The music is fantastic. I found the story cliche for the most part (towards the end you realize things haven't all been what they seem), but I didn't care because I grew to care about the characters and the world.

Psychonauts
It is a mystery to me why this and Beyond Good and Evil did not sell better. I guess that most people who play games don't like cartoony type art direction. In any event, when I finished this game I said to myself, "why can't all games be more like this?" Again, the game play is fun and not too hard, the graphics are beautiful, the story is original, and the jokes are funny. Also, the different levels are some of the most varied I've seen in one game, and very creative.

Half-Life 2
I loved the first Half-Life, but I think Half-Life 2 set a new standard for games that

Some suggestions

[Backward Z]

Final Fantasy VI
Grim Fandango
Silent Hill 2
Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
Super Castlevania IV
Rez
The 11th Hour
Super Mario World

In no particular order.

Flight Sim for Oldies

[JoGlo]

Being an aviation buff from way back, at 61 I still find Microsoft's Flight Sim (current version FSX) to be a great way to relax, use the grey matter a bit, and exercise the old coordination a lot. I started with FS2, back in the days of MS-DOS, and haven't missed too many beats since then.

If playing games doesn't fully satisfy, try building add-ons for the "opener" of the games. Once again, FS has always been remarkably open (for a Microsoft product), and you can go beyond the simple repaints / remodels available for some other games out there, and build whole cities, airports, airlines, and lots of other add ons, for the world to enjoy.

Flight Sim not your speed? How about Sim City? Or for a shoot-em-up that still works for me - GTA?

Whatever you decide on, there is no doubt in my mind that we do slow down, and if you are afflicted with arthritis, I am truly sorry for you - it's a penalty that a lot of people get as they age (including my wife), and one that can really restrict what a person can do.

Final Fantasy XII++, Prince of Persia

[SimonShine]

My friend and I did it in 72 hours. Then again, we didn't do anything else in those 72 hours. :-)

Another suggestion is the Prince of Persia 1, 2 & 3 (the new 3D games, not the oldies). They're awesome, and they require quite a lot of finesse. Then again, watching your children or (potentially later) your grand-children solve newer, more cinematic games, doesn't sound too boring either.

I concur

[sepharious]

I was having a great day till the thought of "the last videogame you'll ever play" jumped in. on the other hand, I better get on it before that brain cloud gets me...

Arthritis medication

[troll]

Capsaicin ointment.

Even Older

[rlp]

I'm even older, but still like PC-based FPS's and just got the new Nintendo console (w. Wii Sports and the new Zelda). Forty four is fairly young for arthritis. First I'd see if the medical community can do something for you. There are also drugs to alleviate the symptoms. But to answer the question - move from real-time games to ones requiring more thinking and strategy. Not necessarily chess, backgammon, bridge, etc. (though if you like that - there's plenty of on-line opportunities to play and socialize). Simulation games might fit the bill - historical battles, rise of civilizations, etc. Good luck to you.

The masturbation angel

[MillionthMonkey]

Did anyone else read that as "the masturbation angel"? (I need some coffee...)

Which shoulder does the "masturbation angel" sit on, the left or the right?

What is the angel on your other shoulder wanting you to do?

Re: Chess

[TaoPhoenix]

Seconded. The toughest work the fingers have to do is not to drop the piece half way through a move.

"I didn't play Qc5 so you could take it. J'Adoube, I adjust. I was *trying* to play Qc8 mate."

Problem is, Despite Silvio Danailov's antics, all these classic board games apparently aren't flashy enough to compete with the subject of all the other posts here.

My Personal Favorites

[Hobbes512]

Here are a lot of games that I would recommend playing. Most console gamers out there have probably played a great deal of them, but I figured I'd list 'em ALL out (even the painfully obvious, like Super Mario Bros., etc.) in the case that you somehow missed one of the old standbys of console gaming.

As you can tell, I'm a bit biased towards Nintendo's offerings, and certain genres are overrepresented. Oh well.

And games marked with an "*" are games that I haven't personally played, but which I definitely want to play at some point.

PC:
Myst; Monkey Island series; Starcraft

NES:
Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, & 3; The Legend of Zelda

SNES:
Super Mario World 1 & 2; F-Zero; Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, & 3; The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past; Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars; Chrono Trigger; Earthboun; Super Mario Kart; Final Fantasy 3*; Secret of Mana*; Super Metroid*

Nintendo 64:
Mario 64; Pilotwings 64; Blast Corps; Starfox 64; Banjo-Kazooie; Goldeneye; Perfect Dark; Mario Kart 64; Pokemon Snap (Short and surprisingly fun.)

Gamecube:
Super Smash Bros: Melee; The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; Metroid Prime; Resident Evil 4*; Eternal Darkness; Viewtiful Joe; Beyond Good and Evil*

Game Boy:
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening; Kirby's Dream Land (Short and fun. I have good memories of this game from many years ago. And besides, I thought I should have at least one Kirby game on the list)

Playstation:
Resident Evil 2*; Final Fantasty VII*; Xenogears*; Metal Gear Solid

Playstation 2:
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (or Vice City or GTAIII); Dance Dance Revolution / In the Groove; Shadow of the Colossus; Guitar Hero 1 & 2; Tony Hawk Pro Skater (any of them will do); Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2*; Burnout Revenge; Devil May Cry; God of War; Okami*; Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time; Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal*

There are also some notable series that I haven't played at all, but which are probably worth taking a look at if you haven't already played them. Sonic, Mega Man, Halo, and Castlevania all come to mind, for example.

Re:A Reply to plp who only want to trash mouth!

[Xman73x]

Omg! grow up you young 20 year old assholes..Damn man if I ever spoke the way you trash mouth everyone today...I'd wish god took my Life and gave it to somebody who needs it!...Unlike you people today also constantly using Gods name in Vain.and saying Nigga..Sad..the way the world has become today the Spoiled Generation!...Also he's not that old 44?..Who cares! My Friends are in there 30's and 40's-..I bet I could kick your asses at any of the stupid games you play today anyway..lol..I have problems also with my wrist..Hey--> just wait till you are in your 30's and 40's you punks!--We have this problem because we became GrandMasters at Videogames before your time anyway! Finger pushups-!..LMAO!Duck Hunt-Centipede, Superhang, Galaga 88-etc-Street Fighter 1-2 The Tekken Series,Mortal Kombat.the Space Shooters-etc I'd crush ya!

Planescape Torment

[Thakandar2]

I know this post is late, and its far down the list, but I haven't been on Slashdot for 2 days and instantly hit the reply button without reading anything.

It easily has the best story I've ever encountered in any game. It is dynamic as well, being an almost completely different game if you choose fighter instead of mage, from the combat, dialogs, sequence of events, etc. It is great. I hope you can find a copy, and if you need one, let me know on my web page. My brother has a copy and I can steal his.

The plus side is that its a computer game, so perhaps you can use the mouse for a while longer than you can play on a console.

Dude!

[crhylove]

Don't be an asshole. This is /. There is no way he has a girlfriend, much less the full blown version of that disease: WIFE.

Way to rub it in, dick.

rhY

then there are the other tricks

[vague_ascetic]

Maybe it's not quite as applicable to console gamers though, but what worked for me playing racquetball after 50, was to quit always looking for the roll-out kill low off of the base board, and instead run the dumb bastard's legs out with cheap weird-assed spinning floaters into corners, or just high enough lobs over their heads aiming for a ball burying back wall two-corner shot, if they insist on hogging center-front of the court.

It's called finesse, and ya'll are going to need it if you will to live long and prosper, because that path is a one way trip to getting older, and no matter how hard you try, you're bound to lose half a step every now and again traversing it.

and effin hell fuego...62? That put you in country, what...'65 or'66? Were you back home in time for the summer of love? I was handed a winning draw in the 1st lottery.

will peace bro, but keep your cartridges dry.

That put you in country, what...'65 or'66?

[fuego451]

No, I was working my way through college then. I was 24 when I landed in Cam Rahn in '69 and felt like I was about 75 when I went home a year later; disenchanted, demoralized, disgusted and saddened beyond words.

I was a four-time loser: volunteered for the draft (Army), airborne, special forces and Vietnam so I had about a year and a half of training before I set foot in-country. After my three years I did another two hoping I could go back and help set things right but we know how well that went.

PC FTW!

[Avatar8]

Get/upgrade your PC and you'll have the best of both worlds.

You'll be able to play emulators of all the console games you currently have, plus emulations of older console and arcade games (as long as you own them to be legal), and you'll be able to keep up with current games including MMORPGs where you can play and socialize with hundreds of people including those of your age group if you so choose.

With a PC and the right (ergonomic) devices, you'll be able to keep playing as long as you have the desire to do so.

Old Folks & Gaming

[chigun]

Geriatric gaming will become more and more common as my generation gets older. I'm only 31, but I've had at least one system in every generation starting with PONG.

I don't intend to stop gaming EVER, so if I'm still kicking at 80 years old, I'll be gaming. I look forward more to WHAT I'll be playing rather than how I'll manage it though.

Re:FFVII

[jonskerr]

I agree; I still have the arcade-style controller I bought to play it with. In fact, a lot of these questions of arthritis might be mitigated by using an arcade controller: big ol' joystick on there, large buttons, and you can set it across your lap.

Videogames are for pussies.

[jonskerr]

There are lots of sharks in videogames! The first Tenchu game for PS1 had one that if you did it just right you could throw a hand grenade at it. I spent as much time trying to kill that shark as I did completing the proper mission on that level. Heh. }:)

Re:Think outside.

[jonskerr]

It IS on topic to talk about other things the guy can do. He's not old after all, he's only 44. More info about the rest of his physiognomy would help maybe. It might just turn out that not being able to play video games any more is the best thing that could happen to him.

Jon

A completely different take.

[g_lightyear]

Ok, let's change the rules a bit. There are lots of very good games that you can probably scrape by on, even with some arthritis. You'll always be able to enjoy Half-Life 2, probably, as well as most other FPSes.

Let's try this: There are several reeeeeeally good games out there that, even without arthritis, left my hands sore and painful. Blame the controllers, if you like - but play them now, when the pain won't be excruciating, rather than later.

Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2 both qualify; keeping the buttons depressed during very long periods of time for targeting left the fingers of my left hand feeling like I had bent them the wrong way around. They're great games, both gamecube games, and you should play them both. If you're worried about difficulty, grab an Action Replay and cheat your way through it, so you get the whole experience.

I'm struggling to think of others offhand - but they definitely exist. There are some great games out there that, due to controller layout and gameplay behaviour, leave you in pain after long gaming sessions. Play them now and get them out of the way, and never look back.

Then pick up a Wii and say goodbye to thumbsticks. There's always keyboard/mouse on the PC as well.

And good luck; I'll make sure to request that the question be reposted in 10 years time, when I'll be where you are. :)

Move over to PC gaming

[popo]

This question sort of amazes me. I have a PS2, an X-BOX and I just got a 360. But I still spend more time
playing Guild Wars than I spend on all 3 of my consoles combined. And that's just this year's addiction.
Before that there was StarCraft, Diablo, Baldur's Gate II, System Shock II, Deus Ex, etc.

I'm not that much younger than the OP but I can't remember ever getting a hand cramp from a PC game.

Maybe a little carpal tunnel from the really twitchy first-person shooters. But.. that's where Guild Wars comes
in. Not much twitch. A whole lot of action.

My 2 cents.

different tracks

[vague_ascetic]

We traveled entirely different paths. As I mentioned, I was drawn low in the '69 lottery, but because of my family's religion, went in CO, and became a chopper doc. Towards the end of my tour, an encounter with a USMC LtCol in a hot LZ with everyone bugging out, who figured he owed me, because I'd humped one of his out under fire, got me repositioned in a Saigon hospital. Then I volunteered for duty at a hospital in Okinawa, so when I returned home, it was time to get out. Yeah, I'm antiwar, if that makes me a lefty, so be it, but what does that imply of the right?

Relive my youth

[clickclickdrone]

I don't really have much time or inclination for computer games now but if I did, I'd go back to my youth and have some marathon sessions with the following:
Mr Do! (Atari 800) Star Raiders (Atari 800) Night Driver (Atari VCS) Boulderdash (Atari 800) Star Chess (Dedicated console)

Re:Relive my youth

[clickclickdrone]

Note to self, don't forget the html breaks next time :-( Heck, why not try an unordered list for maximo fun.