Video Games?

[Warren DeMontague]

Anybody like/play video games?

I know it's a topic that people who DON'T play video games like to opine an awful lot about, sort of like how the most outspoken "experts" on shows like Game Of Thrones or Mad Men often seem to be folks who also say "I Just can't bring myself to actually WATCH it... (but I know it's TERRIBLE! )"

I spent the past couple months on Mass Effect 3.. Yes, I know, the ending. The ending. Erg. But leaving aside the ending for a moment, the franchise itself points up many of the positive (and oft-overlooked by the self-appointed media critic crowd) and frankly innovative and really revolutionary technological, media, and cultural trends in videogaming. Groundbreaking, interactive, narrative storytelling. Things like multi-gender multi-orientation romance options (in Mass Effect, for instance, the player can be either male or female and, if so chooses, enter into M/M, M/F or F/F romantic involvements in the story, sort of poking a big blarting hole in the "Teh gamers are all homophobic 14 year old Beavis and Butthead types" balloon) .... it's a new art form, and an exciting one to boot.

So... thoughts? Comments? What are you guys playing, if anything? And on what?

I love the XBOX 360. Never fail to be astounded that a machine built in 2005 or whenever still manages to be relevant and cutting edge.

[G26]

1. I played through the golden age of PC games:

the first commercial flight sims (A10 Attack!) and 1st person shooters (DoomII, Quake2, Descent, MechWarrior2), and eventually got a PS2. I also spent a lot of time (and $$$) playing Warbirds online.

Even though the graphics were pretty lame back then and the framerates were awful - the fact that you could even play these games was almost unbelievable. But after that first wave of games, and even though the graphics got much, much better, the games never had the same appeal.

I still have my PS2, although I probably haven't turned it on in 6 months and don't have any games I'm actively playing.

[Kaleva]

12. I could handle Pong.

Today I'll just watch my stepsons play games like "Call of Duty". Tried to play it myself on occasion but I was just the guy who got shot right away.

Years ago, I downloaded a Civil War demo. Learning to play it was strictly trial and error as I didn't have a manual for the game. As I tried to figure out how to maneuver and engage in combat, my troops would be screaming stuff like "Sir! We are being outflanked!" and "Retreat!".

[hfojvt]

18. makes it sound like a rich person's toy

How much is a "big HDTV"? and then an Xbox and a bunch of games?

We had a pong at home, but after that I did not drop a bunch of quarters into video games. I was too cheap for that. I played some pinball and then in the mid 1990s Roablasters (which was at the youth center where I volunteered) where I got fairly good, but most of my computer games are free cell, spider solitaire, chess, checkers, backgammon, othello, etc, and later Word Mojo. I put a few quarters into missile command and then also played it on BiL's computer where I got so I could roll it over. He accused me of "playing heavily" but I was only playing about a game per day (which would last 20-30 minutes). I played a bunch of space invaders and bridge during graduate school too.

Then Escape from Wolfenstein was on a used computer I bought so I played that quite a bit through various levels.

So I play some, when they are available, but don't go out of my way to shop for them. Nor do I have (or really want) a big HDTV.

[hfojvt]

21. you said big

the 50+ TV lists at $1,380. That could be four months of rent for some people, and it was probably more expensive in 2006.

"television has improved"? Really? Maybe on HBO or Showtime, but the big three looks like a frigging wasteland to me. Unless you happen to like Daning with the Stars, Survivor, Big Brother, America's got talent, the Bachelor, The Next American Idol, Duets, Minute to Win it, Deal or no Deal.

Yeesh, give me re-runs of MASH or Bonanza.

Thanks for dragging the Ten Commandments into it, which millions of us foolish Christians are spending $1,500 on monuments of for their personal entertainment.

Further, one can be richer than the average bear without being Donald Trump. Heck, even I, at $12,000 a year for a part-time job realized that I was richer than many of my neighbors because I own my home (free and clear) while they pay rent.

[opiate69]

2. long time console gamer...

Been hooked since my first Atari 2600 when I was about 12. Most of my gaming is either Fantasy RPG (Baldur`s Gate, Elder Scrolls) or racing sims- particularly Gran Turismo. Also spent about 3 years playing the shit outta WoW. Just suspended my acct about 2 months ago with 7 raid-geared 85s.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I own a Wii, PS3, and an Xbox360.

The Xbox360 is my newest console. I love the indie games. They're so fun, and only cost a buck. My wife has been enjoying Fable 3, which came with the console.

[ZombieHorde]

6. I have been seriously considering it.

I love RPGs and shooters and sci-fi. The first one is probably really cheap now.

[Broken_Hero]

8. Yes,

I'm currently bouncing between Skyrim, Assasins Creed, and Arkham City on the PS3. The past few days I've been putting a lot of hours into Skyrim, trying to find all the hidden spots I missed, and finishing side quests(I finished the main storyline many months ago).

I'm trying to cut through all of the Assasins Creed games before part III comes out this fall, but at times I find myself overtly frustrated and play Skyrim to release some video game rage.... Oh, also playing God of War II, almost done with that....I don't play that as often because son is out of school, and I don't play that game in front of him.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. I don't play much

I have an XBox and a PS2......I'm mostly a sports gamer. I'll also play the WWE games. I've played GTA and liked it, as well as Marvel Alliance and Spider Man 2.

On my laptop I play NHL Eastside Hockey Manager and Out of the Park baseball, which are sports GM games.

[Gore1FL]

10. I like PC games

I have a PS3, but it is pretty much only a blu-ray player.

I enjoy games like the GTA series, turn-based strategies, RTS games, and Combat flight simulators.

There is a free (turn-based combat) alien invasion game that I was messing with for a while recently. It isn;t done yet, but it's kind of fun. You can get it here: http://ufoai.org/wiki/index.php/News

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Cool.

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out, in my copious free time cough cough.

[Whisp]

13. oh yes, love them things.

I got a Nintendo for my girl many years ago and sorta took it over. nah, we time shared.

First game I fell in love with was Dragon Warrior 1. I tend to gravitate to rpg's more than anything. Final Fantasy had a few really great ones that I will love forever. The latest one is not at all interesting to me tho. Final Fantasy Tactics is another big favourite. Currently playing Skyrim and Diablo 3. Both are exceptional in their own way.

For computer games I really enjoyed Sid Meier's early stuff like Railroad Tycoon, oh so much fun. Alpha Centauri. Oh and an old timey 6 floppy disker (or thereabouts, can't remember) Might and Magic. Really enjoyed that one too.

I never did get into the gun shootem up things. Always preferred to do my killing with a bow or some ancient sword in a medieval like setting - and avoid those games with the bug eyed big blue haired kids, gawd. The game could be great but all that neon makes me heave.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Skyrim and Diablo 3 have both gotten a lot of press, lately

I think I played the one in the series prior to Skyrim a couple times.. forgot the name, now. Very involved and rich world and RPG story, but the graphics were just too clunky for my taste. I like the middle ground between good gameplay and detailed story. Again, I do most of my games on the XBOX, the computer is for more serious work harumph harumph.

I enjoyed both Dragon Age games, especially #2, which seemed to sacrifice some of the story but made up for it, again, in good gameplay. I'd reiterate my recommendation for Mass Effect, which is also from BioWare, if you've got a machine that can play it. I don't know if it's actually out there on anything but the xbox, so that may be moot.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Whats nice about "the culture", despite the predictable hand wringing of a vocal minority

Is that we have more choices than ever before. Something for everyone, really.

Well, something for everyone except the censors and control freaks. Maybe they can make that into a video game: "Self Righteous Puritan Crusader Doilybots vs. the space porno interweb boobiez!"

[foo_bar]

16. this speaks to me

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. +1

[RiffRandell]

17. I love them.

We have a Wii and a PS3, but the kids are usually on our 2 computers playing Minecraft, so I just got a good laptop to play my games on.

Played WoW since it came out, bought Skyrim a couple months ago and got Diablo 3 last week but haven't played yet. Before Minecraft, my kids loved Arkham City and Team Fortress.

Back in the day, I ruled at Ms. Pac Man in the arcades. We still have our Super Nintendo in the attic---I can't part with it. I loved Donkey Kong and all the Mario games.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. I do think they need to cut back on unrealistic body images and outfit choices on female characters

I mean, could you wield a plasma rifle in this thing? With 3 fingers and no peripheral vision? I don't think so.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Is it me, or has there been a lull in good games, lately.

I havent had time to play through the extended ME3 ending, glad they went to the trouble, though.

[loli phabay]

26. we are a WII family, there are currently three of them for gaming and netflix

the kids love the skiing and sports games, the wife likes netflix and im hitting resident evil 4 for the 50 or so time, nothing better than a few drinks then playing resident in the dark and scaring the crap out of yourself.favourite game of all time though is football manager on the PC, still love winding away an afternoon believing im the next mourinho