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Geek Culture / What is so great about games?

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HWT
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 20:23 Edited at: 7th Sep 2008 20:26
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This question has been put to me continually by family, friends and even strangers eyeing me suspiciously :-\ as they pass me by, while I stand drooling all over the local game store's window, staring at the crisp new boxes of PC games on the shelves.

So I decided to open this thread to get an idea of what PC gamers love so much about the games they think are "the greatest ever". I'd like to know which game or games (upto 3) you think are the greatest and, most importantly why they are so appealing.

To start it off (given in descending order):
1. Deus Ex,
2. Grand Theft Auto series (all of them but especially San Andreas)
3. Gabriel Knight 3

The reasons? Deus Ex set a new standard in gaming experience. I felt that the enthralling storyline just sucked me in every time I popped the CD in to play, almost like I *became* JC Denton.

GTA? Who am I kidding - do I even need a reason? The almost unlimited possibilites, mind-blowing physics and realism and attention to detail surely puts this at the top (and besides, it's just fun to shoot off a mob-boss's arms off and see the blood spurt .

And Gabriel Knight 3 is, in my opinion, one of the greatest adventure games ever. I know many may disagree with me on this, but, as with Deus Ex, the storyline and realism of characters compensates for any questionable material. GK3 just made me feel like I was interacting with real characters and travelling to real places in Paris.

Anyhoo, that's just me - what about you ?

Hello world tommorrow
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CoffeeGrunt
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 20:29
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Mind blowing Physics in San Andreas? The fences were made out of tank armour disguised as wood, so were the trees....

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 20:32
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Why do I game? Because I enjoy gaming and there's not a whole lot left to do since the local councils banned pretty much every thing else fun. Want to skateboard or ride a bike outside of the designated, boring as hell routes? Tough.

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Benjamin
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 20:45
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Some people call games a waste of time. Ask these people why they think TV is a good use of time.

Multisync - TCP Server/Client Multiplayer Plugin (DBP/DBCe)
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Jeku
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 21:26
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I have no idea why I enjoy video games. If I think about analyzing it down to the minutia I will get sick--- it just happens to be one of my main hobbies.

Nobody needs an analysis of why some grown men like building train sets and wearing conductor hats, do they? I wouldn't want to read that


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Alucard94
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 22:49
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Games are technically a waste of time, but that's why we play them isn't it?
And TV is just a waste of time. Nothing more.


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Lukas W
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 22:57
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I think that because you get the feeling of being invincible you play games. Or because of the alternate reality you are put in where you are free to do whatever you want (Postal2 anyone?).

I allways afraided from a clowns. aww..
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Alucard94
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 23:10
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Quote: "Postal2 "

That game is freakishly hilarious

One of the things that I think makes games appealing (At least MMO's) is that you can just spend a few hours a day in a separate world from yours, where you are removed from all your issues of every day life and can just make some online friends. That's at least why I play some online games.


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BiggAdd
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Posted: 7th Sep 2008 23:17
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I think games are ultimately a way to escape from reality, to live out your wildest fantasies or to get that creative fix you are looking for.

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Zombie 20
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Posted: 8th Sep 2008 02:34
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Quote: "Nobody needs an analysis of why some grown men like building train sets and wearing conductor hats, do they? I wouldn't want to read that

"


Well put, simply made, this is our hobby.


Coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee cappacino, JAVA!
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Mahoney
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Posted: 8th Sep 2008 05:57
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Quote: "mind-blowing physics and realism and attention to detail"


Lol. Are we talking about the same game?

Mine? Well, here's a rough-draft of my list (it's bound to change):

1) The classic Final Fantasies (IV DS especially)
2) Dragon Quest Series (I, II, IV, and VIII are all amazing)
3) Morrowind (OMG I spent SOOOOOO many hours on that one)

FF games? I love retro-RPG's (Square's, at least). The battle-systems I've been in love with my whole life (I'll get to why ) IV has become my favorite. I cannot believe how well-made it is (the DS remake).

DQ series? One of my first favorite games was Dragon Warrior on the NES. I beat it around the age of 9 or 10. I loved it. I almost beat II and started IV earlier today. I've also played 15 hours or so of VIII. I love them all.

Morrowind? One of the most involving RPG's ever. Fully open-ended game with an unimaginable amount of things to do. I probably spent well over 200 hours on it.

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Thraxas
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Posted: 8th Sep 2008 11:36 Edited at: 8th Sep 2008 11:38
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Quote: "3. Gabriel Knight 3"


I love the Gabriel Knight series but how you could put 3 above the original is beyond me... I would go so far as to say that the original Gabriel Knight is the best adventure game ever made...

My top 3 games in no particular order:

Assassin's Creed: I loved the story, I loved the concept and I LOVED free running across the rooftops... I didn't find it any more repetitive then numerous other games I've played and thought that it was an unfair criticism leveled against the game...

Mass Effect: If you've played it, you know why I put this game here... If you haven't played it you're missing out on it's awesomeness!!!

Bioshock: Would you kindly play this game if you haven't already... I got completely caught up in Rapture and was enthralled from beginning to end..
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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 8th Sep 2008 18:15
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Quote: "I think games are ultimately a way to escape from reality, to live out your wildest fantasies or to get that creative fix you are looking for."


Exactly. I play games because I don't want to be me all of the time. My reality is very pleasant, don't get me wrong, but I still have this urge to role play that must be satisfied! I want to be able to jump into someone else's shoes and save the world or something epic like that.

That's why you don't see parents in very many games. Parents remind us of reality and even though we may love our parents, they are an unwelcomed thought while adventuring.

"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Isaac Newton
-Computer Animation Major @Baker.edu-
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Zappo
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Posted: 10th Sep 2008 14:01
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There is an interesting article on Gamasutra on why we (as humans) find games entertaining and fun. Worth a read if you have a few minutes:
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20041110/falstein_01.shtml


Chart data provided with kind permission from ELSPA
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Scraggle
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Posted: 10th Sep 2008 16:29 Edited at: 10th Sep 2008 16:33
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May favourite games are the ones that I continuously go back to and play over and over ... despite being many years old:

1) Cannon Fodder
2) Alien Breed
3) Bejewelled

The latest 'next gen' games are all very pretty but they don't drag you back to play them over and over like the games above do ... bring back the golden age of game-play!



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HWT
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Posted: 10th Sep 2008 23:58 Edited at: 10th Sep 2008 23:59
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Quote: "Lol. Are we talking about the same game? "


You're absolutely right - the physics weren't that good. Guess I was just having a nostalgic high... ahhhh...

Quote: "I love the Gabriel Knight series but how you could put 3 above the original is beyond me..."


Unfortunately, that was the only one that I could get - even checked Ebay but couldn't get it

Quote: "The latest 'next gen' games are all very pretty but they don't drag you back to play them over and over like the games above do ... bring back the golden age of game-play!"

Amen!

Quote: "3) Morrowind (OMG I spent SOOOOOO many hours on that one)"

Take that one out on rainy days... inspite of having played it for almost 100 hours now...

I have a question: What makes a game great/really good? Is it about good art, or realism or just extra hype surrounding its release?

Hello World Tommorrow
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Mahoney
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Posted: 11th Sep 2008 00:01
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Quote: "I have a question: What makes a game great/really good? Is it about good art, or realism or just extra hype surrounding its release?"


I think it's all about sucking you in. It has to be truly involving on many different levels, from the story to the gameplay.

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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 11th Sep 2008 00:20
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I don't know what is so great about games...I like them a lot!
It started with Super Mario Bros. from the original NES (I'm not old enough to have been alive in the decade that it was released, though), and I used to play it all of the time. I loved the level layouts, and how the enemies walked about from side to side. I loved looking for secrets through the Warp Pipes and all of that. I even liked the music.

I've been a fan of nintendo games since..well, forever. I've played on a PlayStation as well, even an Xbox, but Nintendo is definitely my favorite.

One of the games I most love is Star Wars Battlefront 2.
I love that you can create an 'instant action' scenario, where you get to select how many units per team you have, and how many enemy troops there are. I once had over 700 people on the screen!
It was a lot of fun...a LOT of fun...SO MUCH FUN...

I think I'll play it soon....*drools*



I like Yoda. A lot.
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Mahoney
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Posted: 11th Sep 2008 00:24
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Quote: "I even liked the music."


It's amazing how good some NES soundtracks actually are. The original Final Fantasy NES soundtrack is great (especially Matoya's Cave; probably the best example of what 8-bit sound can do ).

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AlexI
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Posted: 13th Sep 2008 02:41 Edited at: 13th Sep 2008 02:41
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My favourite is the Call of duty series. Call of duty 4 is the most addicting with there rank system, call of duty 3 was more for laughs running people over with motor bikes & jeeps and stuff.


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Mahoney
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Posted: 13th Sep 2008 03:54
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I do love the Call of Duty games. Unfortunately, haven't had a chance to play 3 or 4.

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