so how did y'all get so knowledgeable about all these games?

[lord of the mark]

I really am impressed with the breadth of knowledge some folks here have about so many different games, as shown in some of our broader discussions, in name the game, etc.

Ive only really played PC games for the last 6 years, and have never played all that much at any one time. For the first couple of years i mainly only played Simcity and AOE, till i got into Civ. Which for a variety of reasons was pretty much the only game I played for a long time. But even now I dont get a new game more often than every couple of months - and with all the games i havent played even in the areas i like most (war games, strategy games, citybuilders) i know I'll never catch up with all the important and good games i might be interested in - which is why i laugh when someone says LOTM, you HAVE to try FPS, or GTA, or whatever.

I presume the more knowledgeable folks here A. Have been gaming for longer B. Spend a large amount of time playing C. Play any one game less - part of this may be my preference for TBS (and lately RPGS) which take so long to play, plus an interest in scenarios, etc. Also I suspect since Im playing games that have been out a long time, i seldom buy something im not pretty sure im going to like - people buying new games must get more games that turn out to not be what they like.

[Spaced Cowboy]

I bought my first C64 in 1982 with my all of my two week paycheck (rent was not a priority, but still managed to get that in on time...okay so food was not a priority).

Pretty much downhill from there. Spent many hours playing, buying and looking at games in the stores. Do you know why games have a exchange for same title only policy? We used to beat them in a few days and erase the boot files...and get exchange for another title claiming defective disk.

[General Ludd]

My father was a complete nerd and I've been playing computer and video games since before I could read.


Lode Runner - my first game. (That i could understand, anyways. MULE was a bit much for me at that age)

[Kuciwalker]

I've only seriously played computer games since I was ten or so.

[Theben]

I think a lot of people get bootleg copies from friends who actually bought the game, who otherwise wouldn't put down the money needed to purchase said game.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Theben
I think a lot of people get bootleg copies from friends who actually bought the game, who otherwise wouldn't put down the money needed to purchase said game.

Surely not the fine, honest people here

In any case that only addresses the money issue (admittedly more of an issue for someone whos been keeping up with games, and is therefore usually playing recent ones than for a bargain bin diver like myself). It still doesnt address the time issues involved.

[MORON]

because some people here have no life

Just consider how much time one need to play a competitive Civ PBEM on large maps. People at this forum are devoted.

[Solver]

Yeah, people play differently. They spend time playing many games, but not that much on specific games. I don't have a clue as to many games that are mentioned here, then for many other famous or such games my playtime is limited to a few hours at most (GTA like 3 hours, for instance), or just one playthrough (like Half-Life, Quake1/2) - just play through the single player campaign once and uninstall.

As a result, there are few games that I play a lot, but I can say that about each of those games, I'm devoted.

Civ - wasted more hours on it in my life than anything except sleeping . My continued active presence here obviously shows my devotion. AoE2 - I've definitely played much of it, I am a member of most boards on that game, for years, was very active on USENET groups there, etc. Morrowind - a rather recent passion of mine, I only started playing it last spring, but it definitely sucks you in . I've read a ton on Morrowind forums, etc.

I don't really understand the people who consider themselves hardcore games, and play just about every new game that comes out. They don't have much time to enjoy every specific game then, really! Oh, I also don't get games after release, it's typically several weeks to a few months later.

[Dis]

by playing them

in rpg's after the first time through the game I usually use a walkthrough the second time through a game and try to get every single area and quest I missed.

[Dis]

Re: so how did y'all get so knowledgeable about all these games?

Originally posted by lord of the mark
I really am impressed with the breadth of knowledge some folks here have about so many different games, as shown in some of our broader discussions, in name the game, etc.

Ive only really played PC games for the last 6 years, and have never played all that much at any one time. For the first couple of years i mainly only played Simcity and AOE, till i got into Civ. Which for a variety of reasons was pretty much the only game I played for a long time. But even now I dont get a new game more often than every couple of months - and with all the games i havent played even in the areas i like most (war games, strategy games, citybuilders) i know I'll never catch up with all the important and good games i might be interested in - which is why i laugh when someone says LOTM, you HAVE to try FPS, or GTA, or whatever.

I presume the more knowledgeable folks here A. Have been gaming for longer B. Spend a large amount of time playing C. Play any one game less - part of this may be my preference for TBS (and lately RPGS) which take so long to play, plus an interest in scenarios, etc. Also I suspect since Im playing games that have been out a long time, i seldom buy something im not pretty sure im going to like - people buying new games must get more games that turn out to not be what they like.

I did not get a PC until 1995. And it took a few years to figure out what type of games I like, and what I'm good at (Doom 2 was a waste of money, same with flight simulator). I bought stupid games like Nascar Racing, and some NBA game. But once I got civ2 and then later SMAC (and subsequently discovering Apolyton) things started to fall in place.

Before 95 I was in the military (well I was after 95 too) and did not own a computer But I did have a commodore 64 from the mid 80's or so until 1991 when I entered the navy. So I have played some classics such as Wasteland and Bard's Tale and Seven Cities of gold. But I have never played Pirates, or caslte wolfenstein or the original Doom, colonization, or civ.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Theben
I think a lot of people get bootleg copies from friends who actually bought the game, who otherwise wouldn't put down the money needed to purchase said game.

true, esp. back in my C64 days as a kid. Actually the C64 was my brother's, but I often call it mine . I don't think I bought a single game for it (though my brother bought Bard's Tale and Wasteland and a few others). I remember you could put a lot of little games on one of those 5 1/4 " floppies (defender and small arcade games like that). Summer games II took up 2 sides of a 5 1/4" floppy. We were poor growing up. It took like 8 months on a layaway program before we could finally bring the C64 home. We certainly couldn't afford games for it.

[alva]

Summer games II took up 2 sides of a 5 1/4" floppy.

It's amazing how something you just remember, isn't. There was even a bug in one of the events, I think it was the pole vault, that could crash your comp.

[RGBVideo]

RE: How did y'all fet so knowledgeable about all these games?

because some people here have no life

what Moron said...

I think a lot of people get bootleg copies from friends who actually bought the game, who otherwise wouldn't put down the money needed to purchase said game.

I can count the number of games I've bought from stores with my fingers.

oh, and Amiga 1992 here.

[Zero]

Well I play only 1 game at a time. And I can't compete with some of the poly folks here in "name that game" game. Especially old school games. I'll just get owned in.

I have a craze phase where i completely get into just 1 MP game. And even then I play maybe less than 10 hours a week. I probably spend double the time browsing poly or watching adult swim shows.... My current game right now is UT2k4 and my desktop is what, P3 700mhz on a 128mb ram with TNT2 card? And my laptop is even worse.... so heh. I couldnt play like a fiend even if I wanted to.

[Arnelos]

My father owned an Apple II even before I was born and was really into computer games himself. I was born in 1979 and he bought our Atari 800 system in 1981 (it's atually older than my little brother), the Atari ST in 1986, and a 486dx50 in about 1992 (IIRC). I got my first personal machine when I went to college in 1998. Courtesy of computer games being my father's hobby, I've been playing computer games pretty much my entire life.

My experience with console games, however, is pretty slim. Most of my experience with console games was when I went over to a friend's house as a kid or when I played on my roommate's system my last two years of college.