What other games do you play ?

[mythos]

Greetings generals

Inspired by the original thread on JP's and as the title suggests, share what other games you like to play and kill time with.

[Major Heinz]

Hi,

there are so many like:

GTA (especially GTA San Andreas, still the best GTA)
Racing Games like Midnight Club or Formel 1
Bundesliga Manager
Sims
Wrestling Games
Driver 2
Grandia
and an old Amiga game called Midwinter (playable with an Emulator)

Is there anyone who knows this game and have played it, too?

[mythos]

Over the past 3 years i was trying out games from https://www.gametop.com
gametop aquires licences from abandonded games and some developers share permission to add their games, allowing free download.

A small annoyance is, that gametop adds code to the exe files, so that
- when installing/uninstalling
- when closing
games, a browser tab is opened (respectively launched if browser not running) - i guess to give the site some feedback.
Since i'm mostly offline, i just and clear the browser cache before going online.

They offer lots of games - with the majority coming from
- Hidden Object / Adventure (the only ones i know are [Sam and Max] and [Day of the Tentacle] from the past)
- Puzzle
- Match 3
genres, but they also offer games from other genres.
Beware that they also offer online games - just watch for [MMO] when reading game descriptions.

For most games a teaser/intruductory video is offered, but sometimes there are only screenshots (i guess for the oldest games in their inventory).

I personally didn't try Hidden Object and Puzzle - and i didn't find Match 3 inspiring.



Played games

Frontline Tactics
On the outside it is a
- turn based
- single player
- open ended
- tactical shooter
The PC version is strictly single player and out of development, but by chance i found that Steam offers an Xbox version which is still developed.
There is an ingame shop which doesn't work (dunno about the Xbox version).

You start with a bit of cash and 2 soldiers, your task is to defeat terrorists.
To do so you collect money from completing missions, and invest this money in training and equipment for you soldiers.
The maximum amount of soldiers you can have on the field is 5, the maximum you may have in your "inventory" is 7. Each soldier can be proficient in 2 classes (i suggest combining SMG/Rifle/Sniper/MG classes with Small Arms as secondary class - you will need the initiative boost).
Each completed mission gives money and, on the mission selection screen, after completing 5 missions you may do an "unlock".
Unlocking is
- money
- additional soldier slots
- more maps
- additional mission modes (you start with "Kill All", later modes like "Survive" and "Hold the Flag" are unlocked)

Overall the idea is good and it makes fun to blow off some steam.
However, the game comes from the days when "you may play for free, but you should pay to win (or grind endlessly)" was a major consideration in gaming.
Combine this with the lack of campaign/story mode and after some time i lost interest in the game.
I would give it a C, maybe even C+ (according to US school grade system).


Star Sword

Despite its evil abbreviation (EsEs ) this was lots of fun when "blowing off some steam" was the first and second order of the day.
On the outside it is a
- top-down
- arcade
- shooter
My dad had the game [Raptor - Call of the Shadows] when i was young, and this is what i compare todays "arcade" games to.

There is not much tactics involved, just launch your fighter, blow evil aliens to smithereens, and in between missions upgrade your beer bottle mount (or ship, whatever you prefer ).
I give it a B (according to US school grade system).


Silvertale

On the outside this is a
- Match 3
- Adventure
- graphical novel (with some stretches)

There is some storytelling with drawn characters and pictures, some questing which is necessary for / helps with the story, but in general, it is a match 3 game.

As said above, i personally didn't like match 3, but of the tried games i remember this as a better realization of the genre.
No grade given.


Marble Duel

On the outside this is a
- Match 3
- Adventure
- graphical novel (with some stretches)

Different take on the Match 3 subject: instead of having a playing field where you move around tiles trying to create a line of 3+ matching tiles, you "shoot" or "throw" single tiles onto the field (actually: a line of tiles) - also known as a [Bubble Shooter], i assume.
It offers some upgrading for your "skills", but otherwise is a match 3 game with some storytelling thrown in.

As said above, i personally didn't like match 3, but of the tried games i remember this as a better realization of the genre.
No grade given.



Tower Defense games
- Royal Defense
- Landgrabbers
- Defense of Greece
- Garden Rescue
- Toy Defense
I don't remeber why exactly, maybe a too high difficulty setting already on "easy" and/or just a mindless "built 500 towers and watch them splatter 20.000 enemies" without any kind of strategy, or some such, but i didn't like the above.


Toy Defense 2

Tower defense with and added perk: you get to have up to 8 "core" units, plus as many as you want in a "reserve" (i don't know whether it is really unlimited, but i went up to some 12-16 stored up units - you can switch them with core units between missions).
This was the first [Tower Defense] i played. Ever. I had known about the genre, but never tried games before. I discovered this by chance early 2018 when i was looking for something i could take on a business trip, and played through the game several times (respectively "tried to play through", hard difficulty really is scary on some missions).
The Casual difficulty is very forgiving (often you can even play with less than your 8 core units, and not buy any "aux" units at all).
Hard difficutly is also quite fun, if you want to take bigger challenges.
You can create different (offline) accounts/profiles, and switch between them as you desire.

I'd give it an A (according to US school grade system) - i don't mind simple grafics (in fact: i find modern, colorful, exploding and what not grafics highly distracting and often times tiring for the eyes) and overall the system and difficulty was quite nice.


Rush for Glory

The title is misleading: you are static, since you are the one defending with towers
I guess this game was developed for an older audition: instead of receiving hundreds of upgrade points for completed missions, you get 1 point for completing missions on easy, 1 for completing on normal and 1 for completing on hard difficulty (you may replay missions or straight out try higher difficulties immedeatly for more upgrade points) - and you may switch them around as you desire, instead of having "fixed" upgrades until the end of days.

I didn't play through Rush for Glory: it was the last of the tower defense games i tried and ran a bit wonky on my laptop. I might return to it next year.

No grade at the moment.



-------------------------------------------------------------

Other games:

MechCommander 2
Actually: MechCommander Omnitech (MCO for short - link to the game on moddb)

Mech Commander is
- a realtime strategy game
- with tactical pause
- characters (pilots)
- focussing around the BattleTech universe
It also features core and aux units, salavage (capturable units and items) and the option to modify/outfit your units with different items.

It is the only realtime game i still manage to play from beginning to end. While not a game with tanks per se, it comes very close in my fantasy

In the mid 2000s Microsoft released the source code of MC2 and most files necessary for playing (AFAIK, only original videos were missing) to the community. Among others, the MCO mod came out of it and (again AFAIK) is today the most advanced of the mods.
On moddb you may find fan made campaigns for MCO - i myself tried some but stayed with Magic's derivative of the original "Carver 5" campaign (well, not exactly with it, but i made some modifications to that incarnation myself).

Known bugs:
When AI units are meant to enter the battlefield later (as reinforcements) they do so from outside the map. This causes some of them to lag at the map border. This is unfortunate if some or all of those units are part of a Main Objective. The developers haven't managed to fix this on a code basis yet, however, if it happens to you
- run with your units along the map border
=> often times the units "loosen" themselves and then appear, sometimes your units start shooting at the enemies
- if the above doesn't work, use Artillery Strikes (might need to replay and take more Ressource Points with you) from the Support Palette
I only know of 1 scenario (in the Carver 5 campaign, that is - it is called [Mobile Intercept: Killdeer] IIRC) where enemies might completely get stuck out of map, but 4-6 Artillery Strikes fix this. Otherwise, there were only 1-2 other cases of hanging enemies, but there it was enough to just walk to the entry points.

MCO went ahead of the original game, adding dozens of new units (including "mechs" for players and vehicles for designers), pilots and some features.
Even though it (the mod) has the bug, the base game is alsmost 20 years old (released 2001) and fom the realtime genre, i give it an A and a

[mythos]

an old Amiga game called Midwinter (playable with an Emulator)

Is there anyone who knows this game and have played it, too?

No - i once knew some gameboy (actually, only Zelda comes to mind) games, and in my Golden Age of Gaming also some Playstation games (don't dare asking about Soccer/Basketball and sports in general - but i was quite good at Tekken and a car racer, i forgot its name though).
Game consoles somewhat went past me without leaving a mark

[Ale]

really don't know what to answer as i assume your point is to get some recommendation... usually well known & popular stuff but no problem if 3d and newer titles but not really beast machine, sometimes even beta-test. Anything turn-based exclusively if I fight, because if i lose my attention for a sec - my empire or army is dead in real time. missed a lot in last 15 years sometimes look for something useful youknowwhere, so easily available now. I also do drive, manage (FC and empires) & tower defend and do "adultery" sometimes. Generally not playing much as i often just try & go elswhere if playing at all (not best characteristic i know) not to mention other interests...

usually easier to answer specific question about title than the way you put it - in retrospective mostly killed aliens (from old xcoms, ufos to xenos today etc.) lead Rome or own empire with sword and fire (all well known titles) and liked dark rpg, even cartoon style a-la DD... welcome around thanks for post, i tied only ftontline tactics, gets boring fast. if i figure something specific to recommend will get back to that later ... sometimes some "indie" can be fun although can not remember some specific i play "now". if i missed the point i.e. not about recommendation take my answer as is.

btw, Mythos said Generals and you Major, opened mouth first just joking, good night

[randowe]

I agree with Ale, it is hard to know what mythos is asking for in his opening post Is he asking for our favorite games of all time? here we go:

Colonization; Open General; Jagged Alliance II; Civilization III; Open Transport Tycoon; Vietcong I; Anstoss 2 and other football manager games...;
Gunship 2000; GTA San Andreas; Fallout II; Indianapolis 500; Imperialism II; Mech Commander II; X-COM: Apocalypse; Commander Keen;
Duke Nukem 3D; Pro Cycling Manager 2014; Anno 1503; Sudden Strike; Close Combat II; Age of Empires I; Kaiser; Summer and Winter (Olympics);
Indiana Jones and the fate of Atlantis and a truckload of point and click adventures.

Is he asking for the games we played most recently?

Open General; Open Col (Colonization); Civilization III; Imperialism II; Football Manager 2007

Or is he asking for the games we play "to kill time" as he mentioned?

Windows FreeCell

[mythos]

really don't know what to answer as i assume your point is to get some recommendation...

I agree with Ale, it is hard to know what mythos is asking for in his opening post Is he asking for our favorite games of all time?

Is he asking for the games we played most recently?

Or is he asking for the games we play "to kill time" as he mentioned?

Nexus started the thread on JP's years ago. I didn't take part much since i wasn't playing many different games at that time, then i forgot about the thread, later found something to post about, then forgot it again...
I remembered the thread during my holidays for whatever reasons only the goddess knows, thought to sort my mind (at least a bit ) and share + hopefully get some input.

Nexus (at least i guess so) and now me deliberately picked a broad/unprecise topic title, so that people don't feel inclined/forced to stay true to a limited field. "What other games do you play" can mean anything from "most favourite" over "at the moment" to "kill time with", and still not ending there.
Also, it is on a voluntary basis - unless someone points the BFG of his/her Tiger tank at you, but then i'd suggest to point your Photon Torpedo Launcher back at him/her
It is as simple-complicated as it can (or you want it to) be

[Parabellum]

...
Nexus (at least i guess so) and now me deliberately picked a broad/unprecise topic title, so that people don't feel inclined/forced to stay true to a limited field. "What other games do you play" can mean anything from "most favourite" over "at the moment" to "kill time with", and still not ending there.
...

I play twice a week.

[mythos]

Oh, good catch

When it comes to freetime/sports, after recovering my mobility i started trying out various things.
In autumn, shortly before my holiday break, i finally found something that i liked. My lady and me took part in the basic course and after returning from the trip i (without my lady ) visited the last meeting of traditional (*)
My lady didn't like it much, but for me it is very possible that i get myself the equipment (will be cheaper in the long run) and start it on a regular basis next year.


(*) the english wiki article doesn't describe it in detail, but in german: Traditionelles Bogenschießen

[Ale]

I remembered the thread during my holidays for whatever reasons only the goddess knows, thought to sort my mind (at least a bit ) and share + hopefully get some input.

now do not be so easily "pushed into defensive stance", Mytho... actually this post is logical and useful in place like this where we are more or less because of computer game of sort. as is talking about other hobbies and ladies, can be separated in other thread (in second instance with photos)) anyway just to give you support in animating the troops in some way, always welcome by me and personally can be talkative if inspired, both sarcastic but also deadly serious.... be honest - how many Sarmatians you know to answer your questions on whatever, so why not about games, history, sport, vulcans i'm here

i think my answer was clear by titles i liked (without commercialism in the same time as understandable) and would add old space game "reunion" i was glad to find on abandonware site and installed recently (just for nostalgic reasons) & "age of rifles", also trying to beat "ridge racer unbnd" driving game these days

[mythos]

now do not be so easily "pushed into defensive stance"

All good. I myself didn't see it as defence - it looked to me that there was some confusion, so i tried to epxlain

[Ale]

but science is objective and it is not about how you feel, but about how i conclude observing you objectively & scientifically, colleague glad to help.

I at least will check some things from 3 of you (Para excluded - i have decent height for volley but my mass is too much for my knees but balanced well across the my structure so one wouldn't tell from the outside) do talk to us sometimes on whatever...

[mythos]

Since my accident last year i also can't jump as well anymore, else i could keep talking about basket ball (actually street ball).

I will keep you informed about archery when the season starts next year

[Bombast the Blue]

A summary... of the highlights...

Currently:
In recent months the main slice has been of PGX.
Some OG and a little bit of PGF.
From outside the PG "constellation" two titles.
Civ III: usually with RARR mod but discovered version 2.5 of CCM came out in October, I think, and already gave it a first spin.
Sniper Elite 4: not at all the only reason I like it but... what a stress reliever...

VIGs in my gaming history:
Need I say General series?
PG, AG, Pacific, Fantasy, II, 3D/III, (very little contact in the case of PeG).
First strategy computer game played was Vulcan in the Spectrum days.
Played some non SSI strategy titles: Commander, Strategic Command, Fantasy Wars, Pz Corps, Order of Battle
(OoB was most recent and one that left a more refreshing impression)

Outside strategy the biggest slice must be of FPS/TPS.
That started with the first Medal of Honor.
It continued with following MoH titles and the WW2 examples from the Call of Duty series.
Add the above mentioned Sniper Elite series and we have the essential with one notable exception.
The Wolfenstein series deserves a special mention because in that case I tasted "community involvement".
Made part of an Enemy Territory clan for a few months.
Later, participated in two Enemy Territory projects founded by an old school buddy of mine.
I made most of the management on the server and forum of both projects.

I like flight simulators:
Started with the Dynamix Aces trio: Red Baron, Aces of the Pacific, Aces over Europe.
A sort of second wave: Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, Reach for the Skies, Dawn Patrol.
Later, Microsoft's CFS3 closes the list of the most significant (to me).
Played a number of flight arcade shooters too. There were a few years they were in fashion.

There is another simulator I consider VIG:
Silent Hunter III plus the Grey Wolves mod.
Its an excellent playing experience.
They spent about 5 years, I think, building and perfecting the mod.
The 644 page mod manual is quite notable on its own.
It contains the expected explanations about mod features.
But in addition its packed with WW2 U-Boot fact and history they learned throughout development.

Other PC games:
Civ/Col series.
X-COM series.
Lets stop here to keep it a summary...

Non PC gaming:
Very long Way back I played some (now old fashioned) wargames with physical scenario and figurines/kits.
And Dungeon's and Dragon's.
Still have a collection of kits, most of them plastic 1/72 - HO/00 scale figurines/vehicles/artillery intended for use in the wargames.
And some precious few related with D&D, all metal.

Sports:
As registered by a sports club - basketball for a pair of seasons when I was 14/15 or very near that.
I was one of the most useless around, specially in offensive phases.
My main job in the team was defending our main forward in training matches (I was 3rd in height despite being only 1,72cm).
Got called for two official matches, played surely less than 10 minutes scoring 2 points, making a personal foul and forcing one on me.

Pulled a lot of soccer when I was a kid and teen.
Indoor soccer every Sunday in my early twenties with an informal group, until I injured my neck.
Never got to play my favorite colective sport: rugby...

[randowe]

Civ III: usually with RARR mod but discovered version 2.5 of CCM came out in October, I think, and already gave it a first spin.

Yeah, Civ II RAR is one of the best games/mods ever. Played it a lot and have it still installed in my laptop. I always choose the Aztecs...
RAR lifted the original game to a completely new level. Especially with the option of playing 915 turns, round about 400 turns more than the original.
Play RAR one and you will never play the original game again I don't know about CCM though. Have to check it out.

Some of the other games you mentioned are on my list too Like X-Com and Colonization. Still, Colonization is my favorite game ever. FreeCol is good but it is not able to recreate the atmosphere of the original game. Of course, FreeCol allows get much more cities and settlers than the original...
I'd also add Aces of the Deep, next to Silent Hunter. Have you ever played Transport Tycoon? Open TTD? Or Imperialism?

When i was young i was in a swimming club for many years. Later i did road cycling like a wanne-be professional Nowadays i'm just a lame runner and follow a lot of sports in TV

[Bombast the Blue]

Yeah, Civ II RAR is one of the best games/mods ever. Played it a lot and have it still installed in my laptop. I always choose the Aztecs...
RAR lifted the original game to a completely new level. Especially with the option of playing 915 turns, round about 400 turns more than the original.
Play RAR one and you will never play the original game again I don't know about CCM though. Have to check it out.

First note: be advised you will get crashes due to missing elements.
Fortunately I was able to repair the two or three mishaps I got by myself.
Omissions in the Civilopedia text file I was able to patch up and a missing unit folder I managed to copy from another mod (same name and worked although not sure its really what it should be).
Second note: in my first match I chose the biggest map size available and eventually got something I'd never seen in Civ: a "too many cities" warning.
From that point onward founding new cities was off limits... and there was still enough "empty" map to found a bunch.

Characteristic features:
A good deal of unit producing buildings but only one of each by Civ.
Some units that are available from buildings only.
Cities without unit producing buildings cannot produce veteran units.
Although I'm not entirely certain this is the whole story.
I've seen no mention of barracks/garrisons in my civs but it may be due to Government type being Democracy.
On bombing Civs with Fascism I destroyed barracks, so... here I have a point I'm yet to investigate further...

Have you ever played Transport Tycoon? Open TTD? Or Imperialism?

Naye!
I have a vague idea of being aware Transport Tycoon and Imperialism existed.
The most close to Transport Tycoon I can remember playing are Simcity series titles.
This if my idea about it isn't entirely wrong...

Speaking of Imperialism I just remembered Diplomacy.
Many years ago in board format and a few years ago there was a PC version.

[Parabellum]

... Or Imperialism? ...

Do you mean this game? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism_(video_game)

[randowe]

First note: be advised you will get crashes due to missing elements.
Fortunately I was able to repair the two or three mishaps I got by myself.
Omissions in the Civilopedia text file I was able to patch up and a missing unit folder I managed to copy from another mod (same name and worked although not sure its really what it should be).
Second note: in my first match I chose the biggest map size available and eventually got something I'd never seen in Civ: a "too many cities" warning.
From that point onward founding new cities was off limits... and there was still enough "empty" map to found a bunch.

That sounds a little complicated. maybe i will stick to RAR then

... Or Imperialism? ...

Do you mean this game? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism_(video_game)

Yes, that is the game i mean Though at the moment i have only Imperialism II on my laptop. It is a great game but unfortunately you can finish it in just one day if you are fast. If only the maps were larger and the game would last longer!

[Parabellum]

... Or Imperialism? ...

Do you mean this game? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism_(video_game)

Yes, that is the game i mean Though at the moment i have only Imperialism II on my laptop. It is a great game but unfortunately you can finish it in just one day if you are fast. If only the maps were larger and the game would last longer!

I only know and have the first version from 1997. In order to be able to use the game, I keep an old Win 98 PC in stock. I reactivated him a few weeks ago. He still works. I just had to insert a new battery for him.
I've always played in a fictional, randomly generated world. I have never been able to conquer the whole world. In most attempts, I was declared the winner much earlier (or an AI opponent).
The historical scenarios are more challenging, but I've hardly tested them so far.

[Bombast the Blue]

From that link Imperialism and Diplomacy look like variations of the same theme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)

Still, Colonization is my favorite game ever...

Thinking of Colonization brings me back to a dream I had few years ago about a PG/Col hybrid.
PG in terms of units/combat with Col's capability of founding colonies/objectives and a starting point without complete knowledge of the map.
In the same context as Col's - Discoveries/Colonization era.
Although it could work with, say - Alpha Centauri context.

[Ale]

I only know and have the first version from 1997. In order to be able to use the game, I keep an old Win 98 PC in stock

both games are available on "gog" and i can run them on new computer... as is case with most, not all, solid games of the past. Considering Randowe's comment about easiness of Imp 2 must say I never finished it on very hard levels i mostly end up in war with all powers & loosing fleet, economy ) was a fun game in teen days although combat system and manual battles get boring + few unit types needed for success, but yes it was 20+ years ago ;

[randowe]

I did not say the game is easy, i said that you can finish it in just one day if you are fast. The maps have all the same small size, except the european map which is bigger. The new world is the same small size too and there are not so many turns with a lot of action... But i must admit, i never play the battles myself. I never really understood how the battles work, so i always skip the fights and the computer just gives me the result. This is also one of the games where you need a lot of realoads, otherwise you will never win it. At least that is the impression i have.

It is the same with Civ and Colonization III. I always end up with a lot of reloads because you will loose to much battles and have no chance without reloads. In Colonization the AI is cheating and in Civ III the AI acts so strange and always attacks you sonner or later, so... you can either play on a easy level, which is, well, too easy or you can play on a medium level with reloads. That is my experience.

In Civ III (RAR) i work around the aggressive AI in the way, that i a choose maps with a lot of peninsulas which are much easier to defend.
I also always choose to play with the Aztecs which have a big advantage in the opening turns, due to their special unit. Of course the golden age will be wasted...

I always wish there would be much larger Imperialism II maps with much more turns and a realistic new world map... I once found a fan remake which is under contruction, but i don't know if there was some progress ever since.
A Imperialism and Open General Mix would be cool You would need just one map for every province to fight out the battles in OG style. The economics and diplomatics part would be Imp II like...
I swear, if i had the millions i would pay some geeks a lot of money to create such a game. But i am only a poor man

Btw, here is a nice site about Imperialism I and II which offers some nice map keys:
https://archive.kontek.net/dailyimperia ... /index.htm

Best Imp II key is "Rhaganeth" with lots of diamonds. The only map which i ever finished on a medium level

[Ale]

....shady biz and legal doubts about rights to sell aside (gog's). )

I never really understood how the battles work, so i always skip the fights and the computer just gives me the result.

but computer is gonna kill a lot of your units, winning or losing regardless, and you can avoid that by manual play. It is simple (but gets boring) you just have to kill or rout enemy units, a hint did not play it a couple of decades (just got it for collection and tried it) but i do remember once you get few grenadiers it is only unit type you need and "overwatch" option i.e. holding fire is useful if faced with enemy numbers. When attacking forts, you sacrifice few units and then hit them with grenadiers etc. Long, long ago - you mentioning it almost made me want to do it again but life is short for everything ) .... I also missed larger maps and at least (true) Europe with more countries. This one ends around northern Italy. but who am i to speak till this day using only map of Europe from XIV c as relevant on wall ))

Best Imp II key is "Rhaganeth" with lots of diamonds. The only map which i ever finished on a medium level

any game outhere, there are 2 options - either I was smarter as a teen, or games were easier back then... have fun, nice that you mentioned it, but really didn't touch it in last 20 years, commented from memory...

[Parabellum]

I never really understood how the battles work, so i always skip the fights and the computer just gives me the result.

but computer is gonna kill a lot of your units, winning or losing regardless, and you can avoid that by manual play. ...

That is absolutely correct. If you attack an enemy province, the information provided by your own spy department on the enemy forces there is often incomplete. If the defense is too strong, an immediate (manual) withdrawal without losses is recommended. But they can't see that when they let the computer play.
I would wish that sea battles could also be played manually.

[randowe]

At the beginning the battles are not so hard, but later when the enemy has level III forts, the battles are much harder and i have no clue how to win it without loosing a lot of my units. There is also limited deployment in every battle, so it doesn't help when i have a much bigger army. The battles are also very boring and every battle is like the others and the maps are all the same... So i skip them.
To me, the most interesting part of Imerialism II is the logistics part, when you have to build railroads and mines and manage the workers to get the most ressources and produce the most goods.

So the best game would be a game that combines:

- the tech tree, map size and duration of CIV III (RAR)
- the town (expanded to provinces around towns) and worker management of Civilization
- building system of the early ANNO games
- the logistics (roads, railroads, ships) and overall management of Imperialism II
- the battles of Open General

Well i think you still could put some more games into the mix

[Radoye]

So the best game would be a game that combines:

- the tech tree, map size and duration of CIV III (RAR)
- the town (expanded to provinces around towns) and worker management of Civilization
- building system of the early ANNO games
- the logistics (roads, railroads, ships) and overall management of Imperialism II
- the battles of Open General

I always wanted to see a "zoomable" game - with different strategical levels:

Top level concerned with Grand Strategy - diplomacy, resource management, research, manufacturing, infrastructure etc. Plays like Hearts of Iron on a global size map.

Level below that - operational level, basically planning and carrying out large scale battles. Plays like PG / AG / PacG etc with moving large scale units across the map of the operational theatre.

Level below that - tactical level, individual battles of units from above map on a town-size (or similar sized area) map. Plays like Close Combat.

Level below that - personal level, basically a FPS game where the player is put into the role of a squad commander with several soldiers under his command.

[randowe]

So the best game would be a game that combines:

- the tech tree, map size and duration of CIV III (RAR)
- the town (expanded to provinces around towns) and worker management of Civilization
- building system of the early ANNO games
- the logistics (roads, railroads, ships) and overall management of Imperialism II
- the battles of Open General

I always wanted to see a "zoomable" game - with different strategical levels:

Top level concerned with Grand Strategy - diplomacy, resource management, research, manufacturing, infrastructure etc. Plays like Hearts of Iron on a global size map.

Level below that - operational level, basically planning and carrying out large scale battles. Plays like PG / AG / PacG etc with moving large scale units across the map of the operational theatre.

Level below that - tactical level, individual battles of units from above map on a town-size (or similar sized area) map. Plays like Close Combat.

Level below that - personal level, basically a FPS game where the player is put into the role of a squad commander with several soldiers under his command.

Indeed, that is a very interesting idea too. Though i would turn the FPS level into a Jagged Alliance 2-like squad fight level

[Radoye]

That works too!

[mythos]

So the best game would be a game that combines:

- the tech tree, map size and duration of CIV III (RAR)
- the town (expanded to provinces around towns) and worker management of Civilization
- building system of the early ANNO games
- the logistics (roads, railroads, ships) and overall management of Imperialism II
- the battles of Open General

I always wanted to see a "zoomable" game - with different strategical levels:

Top level concerned with Grand Strategy - diplomacy, resource management, research, manufacturing, infrastructure etc. Plays like Hearts of Iron on a global size map.

Level below that - operational level, basically planning and carrying out large scale battles. Plays like PG / AG / PacG etc with moving large scale units across the map of the operational theatre.

Level below that - tactical level, individual battles of units from above map on a town-size (or similar sized area) map. Plays like Close Combat.

Level below that - personal level, basically a FPS game where the player is put into the role of a squad commander with several soldiers under his command.

Indeed, that is a very interesting idea too. Though i would turn the FPS level into a Jagged Alliance 2-like squad fight level

The one thing i am missing (unless "the building system of the early ANNO games" covers this: i never played Anno ), the one thing i would be missing a lot: the core growing of PG/OG/MC (especially MCO when it comes to the Mech Commander series and individual units).

I am not thinking of core building. Any game that allows more than 1 unit into the core would cover the build-up factor.

I am thinking of core growing: experience that affects various unit statistics, leaders/heroes/pilots with special traits, and above all upgrading, potentially even single parts of a unit (like replacing armour for another gun, exchanging a weapon respectively its ammo for different effects, things like that).
That, and an additional fantasy mode where "guns and ammo" become "arrows and magic", for the elf and orc in me

[Bombast the Blue]

http://panzergeneraldownload.com/

A pack of oldies...
Panzer General Win95 and Allied General actually run on my machine just on compatibility mode.
Set to "Windows XP service pack 2 and 256 colors. OS is 7 - 64bit.
Alas unit sounds don't work but that seems to be the worse problem.

Level below that - personal level, basically a FPS game where the player is put into the role of a squad commander with several soldiers under his command.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXemUEP3-A4

[Ale]

yes, nice link Bombast, on borders of "illegality" but I don't care got Star General from there before (more for collection than for play - never liked it nor used in 90s)

another stubborn win 7 user, much better option for us using old games... i'll just add and recommend additional programs like "DxWnd" if someone experiences problems with older games, solved my issues in few instances. a lot of variables in any comp, of course.

[Ale]

just small "update" on own words to Mythos' post...

actually "Frontline tactics" is not so boring as I firstly characterized it above, progressed and unlocked much more recently... needs a lot of carefullness and positioning later ) ...as "known" playing a lot of other games lately (including very old) so just to be fair to it, there is some fun now ; playing what is incomplete version available as free download from the net, not full pack which is gone (if someone knows where complete version can be found & dled, thanks but doubt and unimportant as issue)

maybe i'll post something in other thread about other games eventually sometimes, have fun a bit unneccessery post but anyway...

[Aleksandr]

In futhark order:

Age of Empires II
I'm not into multiplayer, mostly because I use an old version where matchmaking sucks. I may watch this game on YT more than I play it, so maybe I rather enjoy this game than play it.

World War II
Browser collectible card game. I play only raids, though, another subgames are more or less broken in some way. I collect and play Germans, and I got a lovely panzer deck, a pretty good planes deck, and funny yet crappy infantry pile.

Heroes of Might and Magic III
More specifically, I play this with my wife on frjá-dagr nights. I can't describe how I feel about this gem of a game, it's quite possibly my most favourite videogame ever, and the fact that we both share this love, makes our joy even stronger.

Lords of the Realm II
An old game, I guess older than few of our members. A mix of RTS and TBS, very cool concept, nice graphics, and brilliant voice acting. Definitely check this out. Once in a year I binge play this fora a week(end) or two.

Diablo II: LOD
I returned to this classic after watching few speedruns, and I enjoy it a lot. It's a clickfest, it's grindning, whatever. I play at my pace, I try to enjoy the little stuff, and I generally look for the aspects that I missed or didn't understand in past twenty years.



Speaking of analog gaming, we play Bang!, Settlers of Catan, Dobble, Vesmír (a "science" version of Mensch ärgere Dich nicht), and once in a pale moon I play Magic: the Gathering, but I didn't held a card in my hand since Beltane, so maybe I don't really play that game...

[randowe]

Settlers of Catan

We also play Catan from time to time. It is also my favorite board game. Maybe because it is somwhat similar to Civilization/Colonization.
I also like monopoly, but nobody ever want's to play that...because it "takes too long" blabla

Yesterday i downloaded the revised Rise and Rule mod for Civ III. I'll give notice when i have played it

[Ale]

i don't know about much younger, however i - considering myself one of younger around - did play some LoR1 as well, not to mention Lords 2. Nice mention by Aleksandr only thing i missed is turn based combat there ;

like tb games, using newer stuff even - btw, if anyone ever needs some advice on something (not much though) to find and is (say) post 2012, i can answer just... but now it is easy with all reviews and gaming platforms around

[Aleksandr]

I played board Civilization once, and it was fun, but the game can really get too long when there are lots of players or when board state gets tricky.

I tried Lords I, but this was too ancestral for me.
I really like the mix of turn-based economy and real-time combat. You got time to think about your strategy and you make macro decisions in slow pace, then you got the quick and thrilling action of skirmish. I think it's cool concept, and there are very few games that mix this two approaches.
In fact I realized that I got covered TBS, RTS, and the middle ground with just three games, and that's pretty neat!

[Micha]

I have played some hundred different games during the last 20 years. 10 years long it was my drug and caused me a lot of problems with family, job and healt. Hofully that time has stopped as my daugther gave me his dog . From that time on viddeogaming was reduced to a reasonable level.
Now only 3 games are left.
Peoples general , what i"m playing 90% of my free time.
Open general, field of glory from slitherine and field of strategy , an old game made by hobbyists.
For almost 2 years i have"nt tryd any new game and i think this will stay so.

[Micha]

I have played some hundred different games during the last 20 years. 10 years long it was my drug and caused me a lot of problems with family, job and healt. Hopefully that time has stopped as my daugther gave me her dog . From that time on viddeogaming was reduced to a reasonable level.
Now only 3 games are left.
Peoples general , what i"m playing 90% of my free time.
Open general, field of glory from slitherine (old version) and field of strategy , an old game made by hobbyists.
For almost 2 years i have"nt tryd any new game and i think this will stay so.

[Ale]

yes, discussion over rt and tb combat is long and known to us "old gamers"... i don't know why (maybe it really goes down to attention and reflexes)) but, while liking some faster battle resolutions and rts through my times, always stayed firmly in "tbs camp" due to personal impression of better strategic thinking why i'm playing them unimportant but just to say why ; however couldn't imagine some other genres like driving sims without that excitement - saying because i saw on site one "racing game" - more management type in fact - with ancient chariots set as turn based races (haven't tried just saw description)

and to touch on part of Micha's words (unrelated to his words though, glad you like new hobbies) i actually think that some games, like strategies, are good for brain and nice way to prevent some detoriorating conditions (not doctor or anything though so amateurish opinion) hence some benefit versus threats to health.

anyway back to subject and some title - i also liked big space empire sims since early gaming age, many titles but - just for talks because it's there - to mention that i have Space empires 5 for example installed and using it sometimes... somehow those type of games are most time consuming and i limited them significantly ;

[Aleksandr]

...field of glory from slitherine...

I really loved Legion Arena from Slitherine, unfortunately it doesn't work on my PC anymore afte rsome unnecessary an unasked-for win actualization.
It's not the most beautiful game ever, and it definitely isn't for everyone, but it has a strong RPG aspect (I mean: you make levels, buy new items, etc. an OG kind of rpg, not Baldur's Gate).

yes, discussion over rt and tb combat is long and known to us "old gamers"... i don't know why (maybe it really goes down to attention and reflexes

Yes, of course, this is true. But otoh: playing RTS and TBS is not mutually exclusive. I like the thrill of AOE, and I like the zen of Heroes. It's true that to be a solid AOE player, you need high attention span, good reflexes, deep understanding of the game, ability to switch from macro to micro managment, and the ability for a fast micro, etc. You'll sweat while playing AOE, not during HoMM session. Also, RTS games in general are far less forgiving, but they also tend to be done in tens of minutes, not hours like TBS. If you screw one decision in AOE, it won't haunt you for half a day, it can be over in few minutes.

[alpha alpha dawg]

None lol

[mythos]

Over the course of the past 17-19 months i played...


Master of Orion 2
Turn-based, intergalactic "4X" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4X ) game. The first game that i played and which included diplomacy and espionage/sabotage. Several different endings possible, long tech-tree, different races including the option for a self-build race (within limits), you can rush or "play through", galactic events...
I don't want to know how much freetime went into this game in my youth this time i managed to limit myself to just 2 playthroughs, but it was hard


Mechcommander Omnitech
I mentioned it in an earlier post. Last winter i tried some user-made campaigns, but then went back to the "Carver V" camp. Since i had played the camp about 8 months before that, i lost steam in scenario 20 (of 24) and stopped playing.


Warcraft 3 + Frozenthrone
Confusingly i installed it: i'm usually not very fond of realtime strategy anymore. But i re-discovered:
The bonus campaign (Founding of Durotar) is great, as are the undead campaigns - i really love them more than the camps of the "good" races
Now after 1,5 years i am at the third scenario of the sentinels campaign, and even though the last campaign was 2 months ago, i'm losing steam (or more precisely: didn't build up momentum in the first 2 scenarios). I guess i'll do a break here, even though the second undead campaign is still waiting somewhere ahead.


Also tried Jedi Knight III, which i hadn't played for years. But i realized that i've grown too old for the repeated (and non-varied) deathcries of fallen enemies.
I would probably take KotOR II + Restored Content Mod for another ride, it developed a lot during the past 4-5 years, but i couldn't get the (base) game to run with the current grafix card




Next is probably a CC (that's a small probably: i'm on an extended OG break , as i went out of steam very quickly in the recent years).
Maybe Star Wars Rebellion, which i only ever completed .. eh .. less a handful of times, maybe 3-4 times, even though it is great considering its age.
Or Sacred, it has been a long while that i fully dived into an ARPG.
Come to think of it, there is still the "infantry+towed guns only" challenge for Codename:Panzers waiting for me (but C:P is realtime strategy ), although i would definitively allow me 2-3 trucks/tractors as well as 1-1 Ammo and Repair trucks, else it would be too tedious.

[Ale]

just for breaking silence and readers not following gaming sites much - here are 3 new games I play and "plan to finish" whenever able, still didn't any

Darkest Dungeon
Iratus
Fantasy General 2

...not sure it suits the style, age and interests of most readers here and none is wargame, but just friendly recommendation from me. All 3 i find hard, challenging (it depends when one looks around other comments) and nice to spend few hours with whenever possible ...don't ever try first two if there isn't dark and mad part in your character

[mythos]

Not sure about Iratus, but the other 2 look interesting. Thanks

However, once i upgrade my computer, first on my wishlist are
- Titan Quest Anniversary Edition (especially if Vio updates his D2 mod for it)
- Grim Dawn
- Mass Effect trilogy
First 2 are "pure" RPG, ME is a mix of RPG and shooter.

I loved TQ for its vast class-combinations, setting and flair. The Anniversary Edition added fixes, features, balancing and 2 complete expansions.
People playing Grim Dawn tell good things about it, like: dark setting, big world, great gameplay and features.
ME is older, but a friend from back in the day, who knew my tastes very well, recommended them as being similar to the KotOR series.

Now, thinking about "Grim Dawn and dark setting", i should add Darkest Dungeon to my list

[mythos]

one day i would forget my head lying around somewhere, if it wasn't fixed to my neck

In autumn, shortly before my holiday break, my and me took part in the basic course of traditional
My lady didn't like it much, but for me it is very possible that i get myself the equipment (will be cheaper than borrowing in the long run) and start it on a regular basis next year.

I will keep you informed about archery when the season starts next year

After the course of traditional archery i subscribed to the trainer's newsletter, so the topic remained "active" between and me.
Last Novemeber she surprised me with a trial course for "modern" archery (in 6 months i have forgotten to ask the trainer what it is actually called. one day i would forget my head...oh, wait, i have a faint memory that i recently said that somewhere ). After the course a little chat on the way home:
so, how did you like it ?
this was much more fun than the other variant of archery.
why is that ?
you actually know how or where to aim, no climbing through the woods, no insects


In January we joined the club and are happy with it: it is fun and interesting, a great stress reliever and you can learn how good (or bad ) your ability to focus/concentrate and your body control really is.
In March we decided to stick with the "modern" variant and bought us the equipment - 2 or 3 days before the country went into Corona-lockdown

In May the clubs started opening again (ours in the middle of the month), but we both were little pussies and decided to wait, before getting back to it, despite a lingering wish to actually get back to it. Same week we visited my mother and somehow the topic came up. She offered us to use her garden (in exchange for help with garden work, which i had been successfully evading for years ).
After checking the legal stuff and finding a solid target block (a ca. 50cm³ thingy made of 5cm thick styrofoam plates...in my first flat it served as the pedestal for a big wooden board: a self-made table ) to test out how everything goes, we have been shooting in the garden a couple of times.

After all the chatter, here are our bows.
https://imgur.com/nEdqOw4
(a bit blurry. to my excuse, it was the first time that i used a smartphone...i otherwise still use an actual camera or an old Nokia 8800 )
I got myself a stabilizer (swivel dampener) too, which at the distances we currently is just for the show - yep, the purchasing was all a bit chaotic but hopefully Corona is not the end of the world and at some point we get back on an actual shooting range.

[Ale]

time for another post, so take it as is ...;

on subject of archery only thing i'd say is that with such industrialized bows it shouldn't be so tough - and i guess is fun as hobby to you Mythos - but my commendations to those ancient/medieval ones with their skills in given time and techincal knowledge of the time. all i can add on subject, knew once some enthusiasts toying around with medieval equipment etc. so i gave brief try with some things as they were but really long ago

lost interest for history, hobbies, sport, politics, others wives etc. and i mostly talk about games because i'm getting old and all, cant chop off heads like before only in virtual world.....seriously, since already here i'll add to my previous post, but not a title - there were really many fun strategy games in past few decades, objectively said - but after some tries must add to own words that i guess difficulty is subjective thing often decided not only by level chosen at the game start but also by how effectively one plays, upgrades and all those little things there are to make a run more successful. In short, some runs are much easier after proper management and unit choices indeed, regardless of a title, so how hard it is something depends indeed.... known but fun if never tried - from x-coms to last 3 i mentioned - and i'll recommend gladly but not as huge gamer and follower of really all new/hot stuff. however all, do not forget about games Luis-Caba-etc set up this place after all for )

[mythos]

"traditional", "modern" archery (in 6 months i have forgotten to ask the trainer what it is actually called)

Had a little chat with the trainer today. To clear it up, there are basically 4 kinds of archery - each with own rules in terms of bow's attachments and tournament (thus: training too).

Blank-bow archery
The "traditional" or "intuitive" way. Bows are most often still made of wood, however soem people use recurve-bows.
Usually the only allowed attachment is an arrow bearing (reducing wear and tear of both, the bow and arrows), some clubs (*) also allow stabilizers (reducing swivel, thus increasing accuracy a bit, and also saving the hand holding the bow from the force upon releasing the bowstring) and/or clickers (it "clicks" once you have pulled the arrow its full length).
(*) not sure about tournaments
Definitively not allowed are scopes and peepsights (a kind of scope which is sitting within the bowstring).
There are subforms of this, like the japanese Kyūdō.

Recurve-bow archery
The "modern" way. Bow's middleparts are usually made of light metal, while the bow's throwing arms are made of composite wood or synthetic flexible material. After removing the scope these can be used like blank-bows.
Allowed attachments are scopes (instead of trying to point over the arrow, you support horizontal and vertical aiming via a pinpoint scope), stabilizers and clickers.
Not allowed are peepsights.

Compund-bow-archery
The "modern" way part 2. Coumpounds allow firing much bigger weights. It is much more industrialized than recurve bows are, in terms of materials, and pulling the bowstring is supported by hoists.
Allowed attachments are anything already mentioned: scopes, peepsights, stabilizers, clickers.

Clout/Roving shooting
This comes close to traditional "war archery" in that you point the bow in the air and try to hit a flag (with known distance: clout) or flags (with unknown distances: roving).
Both, blank and recurve -bows are allowed, however the trainer didn't know specifics about tournament rules.

on subject of archery only thing i'd say is that with such industrialized bows it shouldn't be so tough

You are right in a way: recurve-bows are easier to aim than blank-bows and thus require less skill to shoot. However, between "shouldn't be so tough" and "it is easy" is still a big difference
Both, our current trainer and the shop owner where we bought our bows (both former professional archers) said: archery is 1 of 2 most difficult sports to learn. The other ? Golf.
The reasoning: it requires patience, body control, focus/concentration, has a lot of movements for a shot (or "strike" in case of golf), compared to a gun the projectile (arrow/golfball) has a significantly lower speed which leads to a quicker drop of the projectile, if you pull a bit wider/shorter than usual or draw the bowstring a bit more to the side than usual your arrow will land a few centimeters up/down/left/right... in short: it looks easy, but there is much more to it"

[Ale]

alright, thanks for info. never tried as was (probably) clear from my other words... so by "easy" i meant it is - 100% sure about that - easier than operating bows made, lets say, 500 years ago and not only operate but being even closely versed in balistical part of it and having decent accuracy... i wasn't successful but not tried much as said.

like when i read a story or source where commander in (again lets say) middle ages orders archers to aim somewhere if you get my point. although those people practiced too ; ... when you add that some where even mounted its funny, no coincidence there is one instance from big battle in 1402 where our knights were not disturbed by "rain of arrows" and not even horses were wounded much... (sadly, battle was as Ottoman Turk vassals)) but i get carried away with history, thanks for story again - do not forget if something virtual gaming comes to mind to mention

[Ale]

so sorry to misuse the thread and to Mythos intentions but (last time for history) must add what i find interesting being pedant in some ways.... you never know - for most people it's maybe boring part - but there is always chance like it was sometimes at JP that there are some scholars, folk with "titles" or researchers reading ;

addition would be that battle i mention i.e. of Ankara in 1402 is interesting for researching greater European history in one way - there is famous discussion and hypothesis sometimes, sometimes just talks in circles, how would it be if great Mongol (or Mongol like) force indeed invaded western Europe at some point and would they be unstoppable for most... well, the battle and Serb episode i mentioned is indicative for part of answers on such thoughts. Italian plate armour (Serbs, although small in numbers had best western equipment of the time) was very effective and charges scattered Mongols, so my recommendation for scholars is considering episode when making conclusions about armor, Mongol mounted archers and all ..... as for Serbia and all Balkan countries of the time nothing technical, but battle was deciding moment to maybe reverse Ottoman Turkish threat, sadly not realized as opportunity, great story about mentality is that two most important nobles on our side (Stefan and Lazar) already started to fight and argue among themselves while retreating from battle

sorry to non-interested and over as subject here. have fun with games i recommended and others

[mythos]

i wasn't successful but not tried much as said.
[..]
although those people practiced too

Practicing is a good point: i know (not 100% exact numbers but to give you an accurate impression) that professional archers shoot 2.000+ arrows per week to be good at archery.
As comparison: and me together shot maybe 2.000 arrows during the past 2 weeks - we don't want to go to Olympia, it is just a hobby to us

do not forget if something virtual gaming comes to mind to mention

yes i derailed the topic a very tiny little bit

Due to not having seriously updated my computer for over a decade, and because in the past there were so many good games that there is no need to play newer games i can only recommend older gems.
This one is really a hidden gem: at its time it was overshadowed by Diablo 2 and Baldur's Gate 2.
Part of its development team also worked on the Fallout series, which should tell a little about its variations and depth

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

It is strongly recommended to get the latest official patch (1.074) and the "Unofficual Arcanum Patch" (UAP): like many games Arcanum was rushed, and even the latest patch left some bugs in it.

Arcanum is an RPG (in case the line to D2/BG2 wasn't clear). It can be played either as realtime, or a mix of realtime (movement outside of combat) and turnbased (for combat). It doesn't limit the player to classes, instead it features an open-ended system where players may choose skills to their liking and create hybrids of many and wide-varied kinds. As with Fallout (IIRC), there is the possibility to play "good" and "evil" paths - and you have "fate points" for rare special actions.
[edit:] and it features a well thought out crafting (smithing/forging) system [/edit]
A twist to Arcanum: the old ways of magic are declining and the new ways of technology (create a knight in heavy armour holding a flamethrower in his/her hands ) are rising.

A little research revealed the
https://terra-arcanum.com/downloads/
site, it offers official patches, the UAP and mods (high resolution mod is worthwhile).

If *eehhh* naturally i meant "when" i finish CPP i will maybe do a [Lets Play: Arcanum (no videos)] - i would really like to give it another go now that i remember it exists. I think i never finished playing a tech-character.
*ohh* i'm already getting all