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What is Your Desert Island Game?
1up has a feature today asking games industry heavyweights what their 'desert island game' would be. Games from the Civilization series are backed by the likes of Sony's Phil Harrison, David Jaffe, and Bethesda's Todd Howard, while Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has waiting-for-rescue fans among a number of the list respondents. Bioware CEO Ray Muzyka has an interesting answer to the question while talking about his pick: StarCraft. " It's an unusual choice for me in that I'd normally pick a role-playing game. But StarCraft has a strong campaign editor to make new content (including making either combat-oriented or story-based campaigns), plus you can play both the solid single-player campaign and against the A.I., and -- here's the trick -- you can play on a LAN or WAN (you said no Internet, but didn't mention local or wide area networks...my goal would be to build a WAN -- I'd explain how, but that would be telling -- connecting other folks similarly dropped onto nearby desert islands by other videogame online sites, who are equally eager to play some competitive multiplayer RTS or try out the campaigns I've created to kill time on the long days where there's nothing else to do but collect coconuts and build rafts." So, assuming that you have everything you need to play, what game would you want to take with you into seclusion?
Tetris DS, lots of modes and never gets old.
I like muppets.
I definitely agree. Starcraft=Best...Game...EVER!
Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
Yeah, it's from 1995, but it's one of the most fun and addictive strategy games I've ever played.
You don't need uber graphics to make a good game.
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Oblivion, as long as I'm allowed to take the Elder Scrolls Construction Set along as well. The fact that you can make your own EVERYTHING with the editor means there's near-infinite gameplay available.
Naturally I'm including Shivering Isles if I'm allowed. Great expansion, and tons of extra assets for the editor.
I like basketball!!1!
I've been playing the Civ games for over a decade now and they have yet to get old. Definitely my pick for a deserted island game.
If you want to talk about infinite replayability, gcc is the way to go. You would be able to create as may games as you want! After all, you're on a desert island, so you'll have lots of time on your hands to make these games. You could create any genre/style you needed.
Things you think are in the Constitution, but are not.
What about solar power?
Typical Empire session ... I'll just finish this turn, then save and quit ... ....I'll just finish this turn, than save and quit ...
4 hours later:
Nethack is THE game. Took me 4 years to beat it with one class, even with the spoilers. With a dozen classes to choose from, one could easily be entertained for decades.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Seriously, I love video games, but who gives a sh1t on a desert island about games? Books, I can understand. But a video game?
If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
It was the first thing that came to mind by reading the article title, and not reading the summary.
No Tyranids, not diggin' it.
Playing it without spoilers is just crazy though. It takes multiple hours to get to the lower levels of the dungeon, and if you need to know about some trick a mob has or you're screwed, you're just out several hours to learn that trick. Then you get to repeat that (plus some extra time you spend fighting the original mob) to learn the special tricks of the next mob.
Plus, the RNG can be cruel and really screw you from time to time. Falling down a pit that just happens to be exceptionally difficult to detect into a monster room is one of those things that can easily end an otherwise good run in about 1 turn.
I read the internet for the articles.
The original Deus Ex was the perfect blend of FPS, RPG, and story. You could play several different styles and still win. My only complaint was that the endings were a bit lame. Still, I replay it at least once a year all the way through. Too bad the sequel was so dumbed down. Consoles have really changed these types of games.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying. - Woody Allen
Well, if they are going to set me up on a desert island that presumably has a power source, internet connection, and is stocked with Mt. Dew and twinkies, my guess is they could also pull off an advance copy of SPORE.
Nethack probably wouldn't be as deep if you didn't have to start over. There's so many things that can happen, that if you breeze through the game it'll register barely as a 'meh'.
True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
If asked what would your one wish be, only a nerd would ask for an infinite number of wishes.
Although technically acceptible, it misses the entire point.
You're working on the theory that the goddamn fucking Starforce protection didn't fuck your PC beyond repair.
Seems like a pretty big risk to take on a desert island...