what is your opinion on video games?

[some dumb kid]

i posted this to see if anyone else on BAUT plays video games and if you dont what you think about them. i myself am a big gamer, and i spend most of my free time on xbox live or world of warcraft, and yes i do consider some games art (anyone who dosent think games can be art hasent played bioshock)

hoping for interesting responses
SDK

[eric_marsh]

I think that video games can be entertaining, but are a huge waste of time. I'd rather do something creative.

[gzhpcu]

Don't do much, they bore me rather quickly.

I think the danger is that you start living in too "virtual" a world: I'd much rather be out playing tennis, then playing a video game version of tennis...

Once in a while, I like "Need for Speed - Porsche"...probably because I can't normally drive that fast without going to a racetrack like Monza or Hockenheim... :)

[nauthiz]

I have an NDS that keeps me entertained on the train. It's mostly used for RPGs, though Mario Kart does occasionally make an appearance on my screen.

I'm getting into writing DS homebrew, though, and I'm starting to think that writing video games is more fun than playing them. Already that netbook thread from a week or two ago has me thinking that I could buy a 10" computer that would easily fit in my courier bag for not too terribly much money. Then I could be programming during my commute, which would be pretty sweet.

I got rid of my game console (along with the TV) and most my computer games a few years back when I realized they were a large part of the reason I wasn't really leaving the house anymore. I took up knitting instead, and came to realize that it's a lot like playing an MMO game, except that it's slightly less repetitive and instead of getting a bill every month you get a pair of socks.

[BetaDust]

I don't seem to be gaming much lately.
Only checking on my FF7 Chocobo's every once in a while... :shifty:

[nauthiz]

I don't seem to be gaming much lately.
Only checking on my FF7 Chocobo's every once in a while... :shifty:

Now if they would port FF7 to the DS, then I'd probably be back to never leaving the house again.

The original Final Fantasy Tactics, too. FFTA and FFTA2 just don't compare.

[darkhunter]

As a (barely) reformed street racer, I play racing games (Need for Speed series, Forza Motorsports [1 and 2], Burnout....) to get my kicks for high speed driving... When I've had a bad day, I go for First Person Shooters (Star Wars Battlefront, Halo, Serious Sam....) and just blow up stuff.

I also kill time with puzzle games and the like.

Over all, there is a time for video gaming, but when it takes over and there is nothing else you do it's time to back off and get a life. (I know people who could get or hold a job because they spent all their time on game systems--that is my definition of taking over; I have no argument with someone who knows when to stop and get to work and does their job the way they ought to ;) )

[jokergirl]

Used to play WoW, quit when it began to feel like a second day job.
I like MMOs but rarely play single-player games. I prefer adventures, which is probably the main reason...

I like the social aspect of MMOs too. Still in contact with lots of people I met online...

;)

[sarongsong]

...i spend most of my free time......and money? http://www.bautforum.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[HenrikOlsen]

Depends a lot on my mood, and more on the game.
Some games I can get hooked on for a while, then drop completely, some don't hook me at all and are dropped immediately, some I return to again and again, but very dependent on mood.

In the latter group I have X-Com Apocalypse, Postal 2, Arcanum and Birthright.

[nauthiz]

...and money? http://www.bautforum.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I guess it depends on how often one buys a new one, but in my experience video games aren't really any more expensive than a lot of other entertainment options. Especially if you have friends who are gamers and are willing to trade games with you or let you borrow them, or there's a good used game store nearby. Then the recurring cost might only be one $40-$50 game every couple of months.

TV is a lot more expensive. The least expensive package my local cable TV company offers is $60 every month, plus whatever other charges they end up tacking on. (I haven't used this company, but judging from the bills I got from my previous cable provider I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to turn $60 into $80.) At that price difference TV is still more expensive even if you buy new games fairly frequently and take the price of buying a new video game system every couple years into account.

Or compare with going out to socialize with friends at a bar, where one person can drop $30 in a single night.

[Euniculus]

I don't play them. Never had much interest.

What little free time I get these days goes to my family and friends.

[PetersCreek]

I used to enjoy FPS games like Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem but...obviously...that was a long time ago. Lately, I've gotten back into flight simming with MS Flight Simulator X with a Saitek yoke and throttle quadrant. Rudder pedals are next.

[kleindoofy]

I played Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards once or twice back in 1988(?).

Never touched a game since. Pretty boring.

[KaiYeves]

I might play video games, but I don't have enough time.

[SkepticJ]

I think video games are OK. I used to play quite a lot of them, but hardly have any free time anymore. Rather spend that time making art, reading and watching movies.

[Josh]

Even though all my mates play video games, I never really got into the video game thing. I enjoy playing games at an arcade but have never owned a playstation or nintendo or anything ... actually. that's wrong. I used to have an atari back in the day! River Raiders was GREAT!!

I recently bought a very very big TV though, and am considering buying a playstation or x-box ... just because.

[jt-3d]

I love video games and have been playing them almost as long as there have been video games. I'm big into first person shooters (FPSs). I don't like RPGs. Those bore me. I was into flightsims for a long time but not anymore. I'm fortunate that I can play the same games over and over so I don't have to go out very often and buy new ones. I'm currently playing through the Medal of Honor and Call of Duty series for the forth or fifth time, though this may be the last time for the MoH series. And I've played through Halo 1, 2 and 3 a couple of times. And I'm currently playing THCs Civil War: Secret Missions.

I like the occasional raceing game though I get burned out pretty fast on those.

And then there's Orbiter for space flight. Not really a game but rather a sim.

I also frequent the Lemon 64 forum and play the old C=64 games somewhat as well as some of the arcade games on MAME, including the very first video games I played. And I still have my C=128 set up and ready to go for a dose of the real deal.

So yeah, I'd say I'm a gamer, maybe not a very good one, but a gamer. Maybe that's why I can play the same ones over and over. There's always room for improvement.

[Tog_]

I play City of Heroes, and have for close to 5 years now. 57 months at the end of Feb. I've played a few others, but I mainly prefer ones where exploration and story are given as much, or more, time than button mashing frenzied combat. I can't play console game at all, for just that reason. It may have a great story, but if I have to remember some 5 button combination for the combat move I need to use to get past the first boss, I'll never see the rest of the story.

As for creativity, I think it also depends on the game. I've got 55 different characters, and 50 of them have more or less full backgrounds and personalities. The costume creator has options ranging into numbers that are meaningless to the majority of people on the planet.

Last time I tried to work it out, I stopped at 1*1037 variations, and I was no where near 1/3 of the way through and they've added a lot more stuff since then.

They are also launching the Mission Architect soon. This will give every player a chance to write their own missions and have them posted for the rest of the community to run, and vote on. Arcs which are good enough will get the official stamp and be put into rotation with the developer created content (at least, that's how I understand it).

[Fazor]

Closetgeek convinced me to give WoW a second go. Use to play that big-time. In a raiding guild that ran high-level stuff a few times a week. But I had quit playing about a year ago. Now I'm starting a new character and am addicted all over again. Thanks Geek. ;)

I also play stuff on Wii from time to time. Really only have time to be addicted to one game at a time though.

[closetgeek]

Used to play WoW, quit when it began to feel like a second day job.
I like MMOs but rarely play single-player games. I prefer adventures, which is probably the main reason...

I like the social aspect of MMOs too. Still in contact with lots of people I met online...

;)

There was a time where WOW was not only consuming all my free time but I was actually rushing through responsibilities to fill my duty as a healer. It has and always will be though, a default hobby. I will never pass up a face to face social engagement to play. I still play but it's really only after the kids go to bed or occassionally on weekends.

Admittedly, I am a gamer, just not hardcore. Some of the funnest weekends were when a group of friends would come over and we would have Soul Caliber tornaments.

[closetgeek]

Closetgeek convinced me to give WoW a second go. Use to play that big-time. In a raiding guild that ran high-level stuff a few times a week. But I had quit playing about a year ago. Now I'm starting a new character and am addicted all over again. Thanks Geek. ;)

I also play stuff on Wii from time to time. Really only have time to be addicted to one game at a time though.

Don't blame me, I just made the suggestion. BTW if anyone else around here is looking to get back in it certainly would be great to have a fifth active member :shifty:.

[Argos]

The only game I play is chess, the real kind, with actual pieces, against real people. I´m not a fan of all other games and/or sports. All of them are boring to me [except for watching tennis and car racing].

[A.DIM]

Very cool Argos.

I'm a lover of the game as well. My 10yr old son has taken a liking to it and plans to join the school "club."
I tend to think it teaches patience, planning, critical thinking and more.


edited to stay on topic: I'm a product of the age of electronic games (pinball included, and especially!) and I've always found one or another appealing in some aspect as the tech has advanced. Even now I find myself rather enjoying FIFA and, of all things, bowling, on the Wii. However, I've always been more of a proponent of go out and actually do it; build something, play war in the woods, play music, sports, and especially read.

I think egames can have redeeming value but nothing beats real world experience.

[some dumb kid]

wow lots of peapole here play WoW if any of you have a toon on the "korlistraz" relm PM me an we can do dungeons :)

[closetgeek]

Very cool Argos.

I'm a lover of the game as well. My 10yr old son has taken a liking to it and plans to join the school "club."
I tend to think it teaches patience, planning, critical thinking and more.

I have a friend who is really good at chess. We play, on occassion but it gets very frustrating, not because I lose every game but I start off with a plan and can see where not to move, but then get distracted by the movement of one piece. Before I know it, I've walked right into a trap. It's a long learning process but the best compliment he gave me was that it's getting harder for him.

[Moose]

First time you beat him, CG, will be pure gold. I certainly felt awfully tall the first time I legitimately beat my dad.

I play and enjoy video games, mostly Fallout 3 and Rome Total War at the moment. Since game developers model for the lowest common machine (and I invariably end up disappointed in the vanilla selections), I tend towards games that have a vibrant modding community. Elder Scrolls Oblivion in particular is a long-time favorite of mine.

[PetersCreek]

I forgot to mention that a friend recently persuaded me to register with Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/). He's a WWII aviation enthusiast and enjoys network gaming in IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946. I purchased and downloaded the game through Steam (pretty darn convenient) and I'm exploring the controls and features now before embarrassing myself in co-op play.

[closetgeek]

First time you beat him, CG, will be pure gold. I certainly felt awfully tall the first time I legitimately beat my dad.


Not to be self-defeatist but I think that's a few years away. He's former chess club.

[nauthiz]

I'm a big fan of Go because the handicapping system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_handicap) is so effective. I'm quite a bit better than some people I know and quite a bit worse than others, but the handicaps do a good job of evening the odds so it's an interesting game for both players.

[HenrikOlsen]

I haven't played much, but I also like Go.

[Jay200MPH]

Video games! Love 'em, but I don't think I've gone and bought one off the shelf in five years at least. Maybe ten. Waste of time? Sure, but so are a lot of other things - might as well have fun while you're wasting it.

I seem to be in the minority lately in that I don't want my games to be huge, sprawling worlds and take hundreds of hours to play through. I tend not to finish those or even get very far. I prefer games with simple mechanics that you can play half an hour at a time and still feel like you're really into it. Note that "simple mechanics" doesn't always mean a simple game. Give me a good platformer, racing game, or a top-down shoot-'em-up, and I'll be happy.

I'm pretty much the first generation that has never known life without video games. My mum & dad got the family a Commodore 64 when I was 2 and I've been playing ever since (27 now.) I even credit that with solving the horrible hand/eye coordination problems I had as a young kid.

In all my life I've probably wasted the most time with Ultimate Wizard (http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/ultimate-wizard), Stunts (http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/stunts), and maybe the original Descent (http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/descent). (Note the trends: good game mechanics, quick to get into, and they all have level editors of some form.) I had quite a few consoles too but I probably had the most fun on my Dreamcast - good lineup on that one. (They're all in storage now.) These days I play a lot of emulator or online flash games. I still get in around a couple hours a week.

- J

[mugaliens]

Closetgeek convinced me to give WoW a second go. Use to play that big-time. In a raiding guild that ran high-level stuff a few times a week.

Windows on Wallstreet (http://store.traders.com/v1258winonwa.html)?

[HenrikOlsen]

Is that a game where you're standing on the sidewalk and try not to be hit by the plummeting stock-brokers?

[Doodler]

MMOs:

Star Wars Galaxies (2 accounts, retired)
Matrix Online (retired)
Evercrack 2 (retired and detoxed)
World of Warcraft (2 accounts retired)
Pirates of the Burning Sea (2 months, loved the game, just can't afford it with my primary habit; retired)
Mankind (played twice, couldn't get over the learning curve)

EVE Online (2 accounts active)
Entropia Universe (1 account active)

Single Player "offline" games:
GTA: San Andreas
GTA IV
Mount & Blade
Spore
Neverwinter Nights w/ both expansions (ran a Social server for three years)
Neverwinter Nights 2 w/ Mask of the Betrayer
Civlization IV: Colonization
Settlers: Rise of an Empire
Star Trek: Birth of the Federation
Tachyon: The Fringe
The Sims 2
Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 2 w/ Throne of Bhaal


Personally, the single player game campaigns have better storylines than most movies these days. The online games pass for team sports for me. I don't own a TV anymore.