|
POLL : Do you play video Games ?
Do you play video games ?
On PC ? Consoles ?
Gamerz
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Just purchased a Gamecube. Both for fun and for the nostalgia factor.
Almost Anonymous
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Never.
I have enough trouble as it is getting stuff done. If I let myself play games, I'd be, if you'll forgive the expression, doomed.
Mongo
Saturday, November 29, 2003
POLL : How Many Of You Guys Are Video Gamers Snacky (45)
http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=44704&ixReplies=45
www.MarkTAW.com
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Most of JoS is a repeat and I didn't get to vote.
Used to. Don't anymore. My wife broke by Age of Empires CD in half. Haven't played a game since.
hoser
Saturday, November 29, 2003
I don't play any video games. Life is more interesting. Games are for children.
Dennis Atkins
Saturday, November 29, 2003
occasionally (_very_ occasionally) I settle in for a week with doom, warcraft or something along that route.
but thats pretty infrequently these deays, maybe once every year or two (2 years at least since the last one, but now Im thinking about it I might do it again over christmas).
mostly though I avoid even owning the games...if I own them Ill play them, and when Im playing them im not working or being nice to my girlfriend or walking the dog :)
( we dont have sky television (pay tv) for the same reason...better tv means Ill watch it more...all bad really..)
FullNameRequired
Saturday, November 29, 2003
I only have broadcast TV, and in NYC that means all the major networks, what everyone used to watch before Cable & Satellite came along.
The games I have tend to be along the adventure/rpg line, and I play them with my girlfriend. Typically if it isn't two player, or a game that's interesting to watch (read: with a strong plot, and not a shoot-em-up) we skim 'em.
www.MarkTAW.com
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Oh, and to answer your question, console only.
www.MarkTAW.com
Saturday, November 29, 2003
I used to paly chess with the computer until I upgraded the hardware and decided I wouldn't have a chance :)
Stephen Jones
Sunday, November 30, 2003
And while any computer can play chess better than me I have yet to come across a half-way decent Bridge program.
Stephen Jones
Sunday, November 30, 2003
There was an interesting stat in the National Post today (in a techno-toy type section) commenting that the average age of video game players is up to 29, and rising. It really is a world of difference from the classic "13 year old" Sega Genesis player.
Having said that, I had my wonderful daughter (first child) at 30, and for the 9 months since have had absolutely no time for anything...so if my situation is common then the stat might not rise too much further...
Dennis Forbes
Sunday, November 30, 2003
> It really is a world of difference from the classic "13 year old" Sega Genesis player.
Um. Really? Isn't the 13 year old Sega Genesis player now around 29?
www.MarkTAW.com
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I was a counter strike addict. Seeing even the mildest display of violence makes my mouse button finger twitch. I don't know about others but when I don't play addictive games like this it gives me a chance to be more productive on my off time. I would say the more time you work on your ventures the more chance fortune will smile on you.
Li-fan Chen
Sunday, November 30, 2003
>>>Um. Really? Isn't the 13 year old Sega Genesis player now around 29?
Yep pretty much :) That's why all the games on mobile phones and GBA are so popular ... our age group all grew up with 2D stuff and want it back again ;)
jedidjab79
Sunday, November 30, 2003
About the poll: I play sometimes, PC games (Max Payne) and with old computer emulators.
About this :
<< I don't play any video games. Life is more interesting. Games are for children. Dennis Atkins <<
I strongly disagree. I guess it's the same with cartoon, some people thinks Futurama, Simpsons, South Park, etc. are cartoon SO they are for children. Absurd.
I mean of course there are cartoons/games specially developed for kids, but they are not all the games. It's like toys, you watch tv and see all those toy ads. Then you see your last generation mobile, your last generation digital cam, your MP3/CD player... what are they, if not electronic toys for adult people?
I see gaming as an intelectual activity. And I see the taste of game in the esence of intelectual activity. If you enjoy it... then there is some kind of game in it.
I can see gaming everywhere. Joking? It's a game about getting surprise with gestual/word expressions. Sport? it's game. Life? It's kind of roleplaying game. Programming? It's a game where you try to get the computer acts as you want. Reading a book? It's a game where you enter in a fiction world and let you go. Cinema? It's a game where you try to feel a story, watching those untrue pictures on a flat screen inside a dark room.
Ross
Sunday, November 30, 2003
As busy as I am (just like everybody else), I make time to play video games. Games stimulate the mind, injects creative juices. It's games that got me into computers and I shouldn't leave that behind. I feel every programmer should play games regularly. Any programmer who tells me that he/she has got no time for games, or that games are boring, is telling me that they've turned into machine-like programmers.
rexguo
Sunday, November 30, 2003
>"Games are for children."
Nowadays, many games are rated as adults-only. Some shops require you to show ID to purchase those games.
T. Norman
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Flight Sim 2004 is what I play; not really a relaxing game since you have to plan everything to be able to do stuff
properly.
GTA Vice City is cool also :)
Patrik
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Up until the late 90's I used to play games fairly regularly. But then more and more games started requiring increasingly complex controls, requiring the active use of more and more buttons.
I loved the shooters like Doom, Heretic and Duke Nukem3D where all you had to do was run and shoot, with an occasional tap of another button to open a door or change your weapon. Tomb Raider and Quake brought a bit more complexity in the controls, but they were manageable.
Then games like Half-Life came along, forcing you to know how to do all sorts of crazy gymnastics with 45 different buttons and 100 different ways to shoot, jump, run and crawl. And you pretty much had to know all those complex controls or you'd die in a second. Joysticks and gamepads started supporting the trend; they would have so many different buttons that you'd almost have to be an octopus to use them.
They would even include a training mode so you could learn how to move the man around and shoot without getting killed instantly. But I don't have the patience to spend hours of training before I actually start to play. When gaming becomes so much work, it becomes more frustration than fun. So for the last 3 years or so I rarely played any games.
Then I started to realize that I was losing an ability which I believe gaming was helping to enhance, which is the ability to concentrate my attention on one thing for long uninterrupted periods. Playing an action-heavy or real-time strategy game for a couple hours non-stop requires constant focus that is more intense than almost anything else you do in life. But once you can do that without trouble, focusing for a few hours of programming or taking an exam becomes easy. So I've convinced myself to start gaming again. I've started with reviving the old favorites, turning to JDoom and JHeretic (http://www.doomsdayhq.com/) which are graphically enhanced versions of the originals. I'm also planning to resume chess, and I am now looking into some of the better 2-4 year old games that can be found for $10 in bargain bins or on eBay. I recently downloaded the Deus Ex demo (the original), and hopefully it won't require octopus hands for the controls. If you have any others to recommend, please go ahead.
T. Norman
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I play PC games (primarily Dark Age of Camelot), as well as console games (own all three current-gen consoles). Over my lifetime, I've owned just about every game console ever made.
Games are great for your mind. They are an excellent relief from work stress, and the antidote for inert TV watching.
Brad Wilson (dotnetguy.techieswithcats.com)
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"...and the antidote for inert TV watching."
Exactly. I wondered for a little while where I'm going to find the time for my renewed gaming habits, then I decided I'd just take it out of my TV time. I watch about 15-20 hours a week, so it shouldn't be terribly difficult to take about 5 hours out of that for gaming.
T. Norman
Sunday, November 30, 2003
No, can't see the point of them.
I spend my free time doing constructive things and having a life.
whattimeisiteccles
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Hehe.. all the serious people that claim to have a more important life.. it is not mutually exclusive to have a life and enjoy a game now and then.. lighten up.
I play Enemy Territory which is a FREE game, based on the Return to the Castle of Wolfenstein. It is a Quake type of game, where you have different classes of people, to accomplish a task.
Engineer, Medic, Soldier, Covert op and Field op.
You play it online, with/against other armchair soldiers.. ehh people..
So lets open a JoelOnSoftware server.. :))
It helps you to relax, think about something different. Just like running and swimming which I also do when I am pretending to have a real life..
Name expired
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Some games show very good UI.
Worth to pay attention to some of the details ...
Gamer
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Solitaire, WinMine and if I feel really adventurous, perhaps Spider Solitaire.
Me too!
Sunday, November 30, 2003
OK maybe not for children age wise but for children emotionally and developmentally. Computer games are not sports.
Flight simulators? Give me a break. That is NOT more enjoyable than taking my Cessna for a spin, nor is it more enjoyable than hanggliding, another enjoyable pasttime.
GTA? Oh sure, you find beating up prostitutes and running over old ladies enjoyable? Well to say you have the mentality of a child would be charitable.
You guys need to get a life. A real life. Oh sorry, maybe that's not possible.
Dennis Atkins
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Insult and ad hominem attacks may win arguments with your loser friends, but not here.
You do have friends don't you? I hope you don't spend all your time reading forum topics that you're already not interested in just so you can insult people.
Full name:
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"That is NOT more enjoyable than taking my Cessna for a spin, nor is it more enjoyable than hanggliding, another enjoyable pasttime."
<G> I have to agree...if my life included taking _my_ cessna for a spin or hanggliding then prolly Id be less interested in spending time playing computer games.
"GTA? Oh sure, you find beating up prostitutes and running over old ladies enjoyable? Well to say you have the mentality of a child would be charitable."
LOL
I do actually. Im another fan of it...we dont actually own the game (that would mean that Id play it on a regular basis) but I often visit my beloved sibling and _she_ has a game console and a copy.
Sometimes its fun just driving the cars about the town (randomly flattening the occasional pedestrian for entertainment) and leaping from car to car seeing how quickly I can get a bad rep.
Other times I get my kicks by getting a hold of that chainsaw and hacking into innocent pedestrians, tearing their bodys apart in a wild orgy of blood and gore.
every once in a while I just work through the actual missions as well, that can be fun.
I am personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of people (and equally large numbers of various kinds of monsters), many of whom have died in the most horrific manner possible, slaughtered by a madman who is laughing while he does it, gleefully inflicting incredible amounts of damage for no particular reason.
<fingers twitching>
...oh yeah....
FullNameRequired
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I haven't played video games that avidly since the glory days of Nintendo (good old NES), but I would attibute this much more to a lack of free time than to a lack of interest -- I certainly haven't "grown up" in any other aspect of life. ;)
For some reason, though, I never really got into playing games on the PC. I have always preferred consoles. Maybe it's because consoles generally "just work" after you turn them on, or maybe it's just because consoles are typically set up in a much more comfortable area of the home than PCs are. No matter what you're doing, sitting at a desk just feels more like working than sitting on the couch...
Tim Lara
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"Fullname:":
"Not interested in"
It's a POLL. A poll isn't much good if you only take one side. As far as going off topic from the poll itself, I am entitled to respond to the slams that are subsequently directed at me.
"Fullname:" as far as 'friends' go, you could stand to get out and make some. It's called real-life, something that g4m3r2 know precious little about from the coziness of your mother's basements.
Dennis Atkins
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"I get my kicks by getting a hold of that chainsaw and hacking into innocent pedestrians, tearing their bodys apart in a wild orgy of blood and gore.", said FNR.
This is exactly my point.
Get out there and meet real people and maybe you won't find 'enjoyable' the idea of violently slaughtering them, even 'virtually'.
Many years ago, people who even thought of such things were considered sickos. Now, for people who naturally would not think of such abominations, we have (colliseum) 'games' to get them fixating and fantasizing about these things. Then we wonder where the Kleboz and Harris' of the world get their ideas.
Believe me, real life is a helluva lot more fun. Ever try surfing? Rockclimbing? Off road cycling? Or howabout gardening? Making crafts to enter in the fair and try for a blue ribbon?
No, because TV and video games take up all your time since after a long 7 hr day of staring at a CRT posting on JoS and surfing about in the pretext of doing work, you can't wait to get home, fire up the CRT and get busy.
Lame lame lame.
Look up 'wanker' in the dictionary and there it is, the adult g4M3r.
Dennis Atkins
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"Get out there and meet real people and maybe you won't find 'enjoyable' the idea of violently slaughtering them, even 'virtually'."
LOL.
you are actually quite wrong, the more people I meet the more 'enjoyable' the idea of violently slaughtering them, 'virtually' becomes.
"Believe me, real life is a helluva lot more fun."
it certainly can be, but sometimes (and I put this idea to you hesitantly) maybe its not _quite_ as much fun as tearing a vibrating chainsaw through the flesh of a virtual cop, watching the blood fly in huge, juicy droplets.
"Ever try surfing? Rockclimbing? Off road cycling? Or howabout gardening? Making crafts to enter in the fair and try for a blue ribbon?"
no, yes, yes, yes, no.
Ive also tried camping, swimming in rivers, hitchhiking across new zealand, hiking over the southern traverse, hiking all sorts of other tracks to the point where Ive forgotten most of their names, kayaking down various rivers, fishing, reading, running my own business...oh, the list goes on...and I love pretty much all of it.
but sometimes, just occasionally, its just more fun to load up a shotgun and tear through a building, blowing the bodies of deformed mutant monsters into small, meaty globlets and watching the gore float softly away.
"No, because TV and video games take up all your time since after a long 7 hr day of staring at a CRT posting on JoS and surfing about in the pretext of doing work, you can't wait to get home, fire up the CRT and get busy."
umm..what? did you read my earlier posts? if not maybe you should, my gaming time these days is actually pretty rare. <g> and all the more treasured for that.
"Look up 'wanker' in the dictionary"
wow, and I haven't attacked you personally even once. what gives dennis? you are usually a little more friendly (occasionally Ive even noticed you being constructive).
having a bad day?
FullNameRequired
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Dennis appears to enjoy making personal attacks on people. Easier just to ignore his rants....
Robert Jacobson
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I personally dislike violent games like FPSs and games like GTA. And yes I agree such games have a profound bad effect on a kid's growing mind and soul.
However, there're plenty of other games that may still be violent but you actually learn something worthwhile. Look at Ensemble Studio's Age of Empires, Age of Kings and now Age of Mythology. Superbly researched and implemented.
How about the Ultima RPG series? The virtue system sure had a lasting effect on me. Not that I'm claiming to be a virtuous person now, but I find myself unconsciously using it as part of my value system. It was truly an education and food for thought each time I played it.
On the technical side, anyone remembered how the original Quake pushed the limits of software 3D rendering? Extreme assembly programming anyone? I bet many of you (esp those who bash games) have no idea of pipelining a FDIV with several other ALU instructions, effectively getting the 19-cycle FDIV for free. How about linear-time sorting using the radix sort? Works on floats even!
And yes, GUI design. The multitude and variety of design patterns applicable to games UI design is overwhelming when compared to desktop/web UI designs where most are just using standard OS-supplied components.
A game development team is also one that truly knows how to work with artists (i.e. non-technical people). I've seen enough communication break-downs between software engineers and graphic designers. Let us also not forget the audio dimension too.
BTW, I'm not bashing traditional apps developers, but I feel game developers still don't get the respect and recognition they deserve.
Lastly, you think that awesome 3D accelerator/display card sitting in your PC box happened by accident? The games industry made it happen! Be appreciative.
rexguo
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I'm not making personal attacks. I'm trying to lifght a fire under your ass to get oitside and live life rather than be enslaved by a virtual prison of violent thoughts and wasted hours. Strictly because I care about you guys, believe me. I want you to really think about what you are doing with your lives. It's the same routine I'd give people I was concerned about if I found they'd picked up a nasty crystal habit. I'we found that gentle suggestions don't work and pointing out that hours pissed away in the drug dens of cyberspace aren't productive and tehy aren't coming back. Soon, you'll be lying in bed in the old folks home, no one coming to visit you, wondering what happened to your life, with nothing substantial to look back on.
Seriously, FNR, you live in freaking New Zealand, one of the best places in the world NOT to be spending it staring at a flickering screen. Millions would love to trade their lives for one in New Zealand and they wouldn't spend it playing video games, which can be done anywhere. If you lived in an inner city rathole and had no hope un life I could understand the games being an attraction.
Dennis Atkins
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"I'm trying to lifght a fire under your ass"
<g> the last person to light a fire under my ass received a rocket launched grenade in the face.
"I'we found that gentle suggestions don't work"
heres a hint for the future, attacks like that _alienate_ your listener (you've certainly alienated me).
Seriously, if thats the only approach you can think of then youve already lost the battle.
"Soon, you'll be lying in bed in the old folks home, no one coming to visit you, wondering what happened to your life, with nothing substantial to look back on."
not a chance :) Im looking forward to lying in bed in the old folks home, playing those games nonstop for yers at a time.
...mmm...non-stop mayhem...
"Seriously, FNR, you live in freaking New Zealand, one of the best places in the world NOT to be spending it staring at a flickering screen."
yep :) and I love it. OTOH there are _still_ days when I enjoy a good computer game, go figure.
"Millions would love to trade their lives for one in New Zealand and they wouldn't spend it playing video games, which can be done anywhere. If you lived in an inner city rathole and had no hope un life I could understand the games being an attraction."
:) I _really_ dont need you to understand the attraction, Im happy that you do not. I _would_ appreciate it if youd stop calling me a wanker however, that would be seen as definite stop forward in our deep friendship.
seriously dude, get a freakin life.
Theres room in my life for everything I enjoy doing at this point, and Im happy to enjoy the fact.
The fact that you do not enjoy gaming is _not_ a moral victory, its just a thing. The fact that I _do_ enjoy gaming is _not_ a moral weakness, its just a thing.
Given that I _do_ enjoy gaming occasionally, _and_ given that I have the opportunity from time to time, refusing to do so would just be self-righteous, hypocritical bollocks.
Now, return to your convent young lass, and leave the world to people with sufficient intelligence to understand how to enjoy it.
FullNameRequired
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Having a job, a life, and playing video games are not three mutually exclusive things.
If you don't like them, don't play them.
Nuff said.
T. Norman
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Well put, T.
Robert Jacobson
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Oh dear. I live in New Zealand too, and have just bought an Xbox, which is great. I've also just bought a cordless electric mower with edge trimming attachment, which is also great - FNR, you should get down to Mitre 10 and buy one right now. And Dennis, get a grip man.
as
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"FNR, you should get down to Mitre 10 and buy one right now. "
mmm...cordless electric mower with edge trimming attachment....does it have the optional stone washing mechanism?
FullNameRequired
Sunday, November 30, 2003
I'm married with children. I haven't had a life for a while ;-)
Games are a pleasant diversion and allow me to pretend I can do things that real-life circumstances make difficult, if not impossible. Like fly an F-16 =)
Motown (an Aussie Dad)
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"Used to. Don't anymore. My wife broke by Age of Empires CD in half. Haven't played a game since. "
haha. I'll keep this in mind when I finally find a wife. I only play video games if my gamer friends invite me to a Lan party. Playing a game alone just seems kinda boring.
Vince
Sunday, November 30, 2003
"does it have the optional stone washing mechanism?"
Not as such, but you could rotate the edge trimmer to a vertical position and use it to thrash stones clean. I tried using it to remove lichen from my drive, and rather regret doing so, in that it removed a fair amount of drive along with the lichen.
as
Sunday, November 30, 2003
This article seems especially appropriate now:
http://www.theonion.com/onion3604/doesnt_own_television.html
Roose
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Minor timeline nitpickery -- if you were 13 at the US launch of the Genesis -- like I was -- you'd be 27 today.
Which is to say that even though I haven't used any of my consoles in a while (except for using the Xbox as a DVD player), I play video games, and usually do so on consoles.
Dave Rothgery
Monday, December 1, 2003
I did for a long time, then took a long break. Now I am, but not as much. Starcraft ate my life for 2 years. Warcraft 3, which I expected to eat my life, didn't grab me much at all.
I recently picked up Prince of Persia for X-Box, and holy crap is it ever amazing. I'm enjoying it immensely.
Tim Sullivan
Monday, December 1, 2003
Oddly enough, I like watching recorded TV shows more than computer games. There are very fun games out there, but computer games have limitations that make it hard to find a good one. Maybe it will be fun when VR is developed and people can debate each other in front of a voting audience.
So I don't play computer games.
I agree with Tim on Warcraft 3; it's got too much resource gathering and I don't like the compromise between hack/slash and team tactics. Funnily enough, I think gnu/Linux has the best computer games, because puzzle games take little time and they're pretty neat. I don't play them, but I like them.
Tayssir John Gabbour
Monday, December 1, 2003
Used to play games. Got bored somewhere during university and stopped.
Last games I played proper was AoE and WallStreet Raider.
Still miss the classic SimCity though.
Tapiwa
Monday, December 1, 2003
Well PC Games yeah, never had a console but no worries. Though I was hooked on to Soul Calibur, an excellent Dreamcast game, a friend of mine had it.
Favorite PC games FS 2004, RTCW, Transport Tycoon, Sim City 3K and Diablo. I find games therapeutic ;-) so to speak. I'd spend too much time playing games, if it weren't for my wife. She's my gaming regulatory authority and keeps me in line :D.
"Too much of anything is harmful ...and yada yada yada". But it's cool, so far she hasn't bust any of my CD's so I think I've balanced out my priorities ok :-).
As for non-gaming hobbies I'm into gardening and budding roses. Not to mention chasing the neigbours cat out of the kitchen, dunno how she does it :-)
Cheers !!
gtloafer
Monday, December 1, 2003
Dennis,
I was the one that said I enjoyed both flight simming and GTA. I agree too, flying for real is much more fun, but at this point owning my own Cessna is not an option.
If you are a licensed pilot, a mountain climber, a hang glider pilot, a mountain cyclist all the credits to you, but I dont have the financial means nor time to lead such a lifestyle.
> the adult g4M3r.
I see you talk the talk :P. Video games are not a substitute for a real life as most people tend to think.
You can label me all you want, but as with most people that are very quick to label others, have a personal issue with the things they are debating against. T he arguments are always emotional. You can never defeat emotional arguments with logical arguments.
Patrik
Monday, December 1, 2003
I'm a gamer. Gaming actually got me into computers. I was also going to say that GTA3 was more than just beating the crap out of people, it was an incredible step forward in "non-linear" gaming (a la Thief) if you're into that sort of thing.
But most of this thread made me laugh, particularly FullNameRequired's descriptions of the Joys of Gaming, and I can't compete with that.
Shodan
Monday, December 1, 2003
Spider Solitaire - 4 suits - kicks my butt everytime
apw
Monday, December 1, 2003
Used to play doom and other FPS games, but that was a long time ago.
At the alst place I worked, some of the guys there (incl. the boss) were addicted to Diablo. After seeing that, I decided that it might not be in my best interest to start playing a mmorpg.
Then, my kids found Disney's Toontown Online. Now, I'm addicted to it (well, at least when I'm not bringing work home). http://play.toontown.com/
RocketJeff
Monday, December 1, 2003
OMG!! Dennis seriously needs to lighten up! Or maybe I missed his point?
Ok, I ride motorcycles, enjoy snowboarding, have trained and competed in triathons, have a social life, have had a successful career. I also like computer games. Somebody PLEASE enlighten me as to how playing computer games excludes these things? I’m totally bewildered by the sentiments of Dennis and others.
Too much of anything is bad, this is hardly a deep insight. I play games a lot, maybe 5-10 hours a week. I think people who plays 25 or more hours a week (and many people do) may have a problem. But so does someone who watches too much TV or engages in any other kind of habit obsessively, somebody please enlighten me as do how this problem is specific to computer games.
For me, computer games have reached a point where are generally better than TV and that’s about it. What am I missing here?
Immature programmer
Monday, December 1, 2003
Dennis -
Does your Cessna have air to ground missiles? Does it fire off heat seeking rockets with cameras mounted on them? When you're spelunking about and prancing throught the hills, do you carry a grenade launcher in your backpack? Or just some water and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
In your precious "real world", when you shoot off the legs of a nogoodnik rapscallion using a double barreled shotgun, do you get arrested? When you crumble to the ground shredded like paper by a hail of machine gun fire do you get reborn, fresh and rested and fully reloaded? Just askin, cuz I do.
FullNameRequired -
Your posts produced much belly laffs and guffaws! Word 'em up brothuh! Hilarious. Especially "the more I get out and meet people the more I want to go home and take a throbbing chainsaw to their flailing limbs" :)
Okay, now it's back to work. Many more graves need digging up before my half hour lunch break....
pupos
Monday, December 1, 2003
I'm not much into FPS, but I love strategy games. AOE was one my all time favorites.
I also enjoy MMORPGs and currently play Star Wars: Galaxies when time permits.
Given my taste in games, I stick with the PC. Strategy games on the consoles still aren't as good as the PC (IMHO) and MMORPGs are non-existent there.
Oh and Denis..you severely need to lighten up. Plenty of successful developers that are athletic, in-shape, with good social skills and a happy families play games in their past time. If you enjoy tooling around in your Cessna then that's great for you. Other people may spend their free time playing a game. Why does bother you so much?
Mark Hoffman
Monday, December 1, 2003
No the Cessna does not have air to ground missles, unless you count throwing out a coke bottle (haven't done this but saw it done in "The Gods Must Be Crazy").
But let me point out and make very clear the thing that is disturbing to me -- you don't have air to ground missles either. That video game is not real.
It's amazing to me that there is a fundamental disconnect from reality in this thread. Several people are talking about their game lives as if they are real things that they have actually done.
Hello! Knock knock! Anybody home inside? Video games are not reality! Hello!
Dennis Atkins
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
>Hello! Knock knock! Anybody home inside? Video games are not reality! Hello!
Soooooooo ?? ;-)
Ok so it's not reality, agreed. Tell me why do you fly your Cessna? I presume it's for fun right ?
The way I see it a person does work and then does other things for fun, satisfaction or whatever you call it.
Is there any rule that I can only enjoy fun, when it comes
from partaking in a task that originates from reality?
I don't fly a Cessna, I fly Learjets and 747-400s albeit in my FS 2004, I can't afford them anyways ;-). Ok so you'll say flying a Cessna in real life beats flying simulators any day.
Cool, great, fanstastic .. I believe that ... (however if I pass that statement in an FS forum I'll be flamed to a crisp) ..... but then what do people like me have to do ? Sit twiddling my thumbs till I get the chance to fly a real plane ?? I don't think so......
BTW: I may not get the same magnitude of enjoyment of landing a real plane. But so far the thrill of manually tracking the localizer and staying on the glideslope is just as present, and for me it's still is an amazing experience. Another thing that contributes to my enjoyment is the level of sophistication in such games, it's mind boggling. Actual pilots have testified to the level of reality attained even though not perfect is uncanny and awesome.
Sorry but I just couldn't stand idly by listening to such statements.
If ever I get the chance I will try to see if I can fly a Cessna. I also suggest going over to any friends who might have a copy of FS 2004, and give it a try. Try to see what you can do in that simulated Cessna (with max realism), and honestly compare how close it gets to the real thing. Maybe you might see our perspective of things.
Cheers !!
gtloafer
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
> Hello! Knock knock! Anybody home inside?
> Video games are not reality! Hello!
Ok, neither is the content of movies, novels, TV sitcom's, etc. They are just diversions. Are we not supposed to view entertainment media?
I don't fly planes at all (and no, I don't count MS Flight Simulator). I'll grant that even the best racing games out there are nothing compared to the real experience of racing a motorcycle or car.
So people shouldn't play racing games?? Gee, motorcycle and auto racing is kinda expensive, not to mention dangerous.
Dennis, what is your point exactly? Was someone bragging about something they did in a video game and you were irritated??
Ok, getting overly immersed in a game isn't healthy, and people who do have a problem.
Getting overly immersed in a soap opera to the point where characters seem real isn't healthy, and people who do have a problem.
Getting overly immersed in violent song lyrics isn't healthy, and kids who's actions are influenced by them have a problem.
I still fail to see how this phenomenon is specific to video games. Somone please educate me.
Immature programmer
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
I saw a documentary on Tolkien and how his environment influenced him, where he grew up, and the things that were happening to his home town that sort of thing.
One of his colleages and friends in the interview said that Pofessor Tolkien had very strong opinions on the idea of his works being escapist fantasy. Usually this has a negative connotation because it implies escaping from reality, from your responsibilities, etc. But, Professor Tolkien would ask, what if it's not an escape from responsibility, but instead, the escape of a prisoner, in which case it's a very noble thing.
I'll let you draw your own arguments for and/or against this one without elaborating on it.
www.MarkTAW.com
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Escape of a prisoner... I like that quote a lot! Almost brilliant. I think that Tolkien fella has quite a future! Thanks.
pupos
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Hopefully the argument is already over on whether flying a real Cessna is good and playing video games is 'bad', byut if it isn't I will add something: If you have an imagination, and I imagine even Dennis does, that is once again not reality, as is television, books, movies and even music. And you can't tell me that there are people who don't have it
Dashiell Dunn
Saturday, December 6, 2003
And, going back to the original purpose of this poll, I do play games on my PC, my antiquated 733MHz PIII (with a Geforce256 with 32mb of DDR RAM), and quite enjoy them. For genres, I would say I mostly play FPS(tactical ones), Sims, and RTSes.
Dashiell Dunn
Saturday, December 6, 2003
 Recent Topics
Fog Creek Home
| 
