Recommend some good games for me!

July 11, 2009 10:36 AM

GameRecommendationFilter: Help me find games that involve evolving technology, trade systems and small business simulation.

I'm a big PC gamer and I'm in quest of new games that fall within this niche. Essentially, I like games that focus on evolving technology (an example of a good game for this is A Tale in the Desert, Dwarf Fortress too but its too damn complex for me), trade systems (like The Guild II) and small business simulation (like Sims Open For Business and The Guild II).

Those are just a couple examples of games I've played that have some of these qualities I like. MMOs would be considered but also others.

The reason I'm driven to seek new games is because the ones I've listed above (and some others I've played) all have their big issues. Like some are resource gathering intensive, others have ridiculous travel times (some have both of these faults...ATitD...). In the end, I find its still just a bad a grind as WoW and others which is what drove me away from those in the first place.

It would be cool to find a crafting game where actual twitch skills are involved and it is an active process...unlike WoW's "put X,Y and Z items in a bag and hit Combine."

I also am looking for somewhat relaxing games...so combat isn't that desirable...I have other games that fit those needs.

I hope that gives a good explanation of the sort of games I'm looking for recommendations on. Let me know if you need me to elaborate on anything. I understand this is a fairly narrow request, but my thought is that I only have to find one or two awesome games out of this request to be set for a while.

In terms of specs, I'm running Vista on a high-end gaming machine so I can handle pretty much anything. Thanks Hivemind!

posted by Elminster24 to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Everquest 2's crafting system is a lot twitchier (and the overall system generally more complex) than WoW's.

My favorite relaxing game is Audiosurf.
posted by gnomeloaf at 10:57 AM on July 11

Puzzle Pirates. All of the crafting is done via puzzle-game style puzzles. Businesses are owned by individual players.
posted by sonic meat machine at 11:34 AM on July 11

Have you looked at Empire: Total War?

You say you're not interested in the war aspect, but I've been increasingly impressed with its trade system in the big map. Each region has a capital city and, depending on population, a number of towns (lower taxes, happier people leads to more towns faster...)

What you put in these towns is up to you, however. Smithys, fabric-shops, bawdyhouses, churches (mosques, depending on faction) and colleges (each college can research a tech at a time, and you can send 'gentlemen' to steal techs from enemies). Your choices nudge your economy with [cumulative] bonuses, and if you're consistent, you can reap huge dividends from investing in your lands.

The sea trade routes are even more influential (monopolize them and watch the coffers fill, but you'll need a fleet to defend from enemies/pirates...)

Point being, you can ramp up the difficulty of the BIG map and make the battles easy, so you just have to be able to afford the armies, then choose 'autocalc'.

Also, the diplomacy in the game can be a lot of fun (also, maddeningly frustrating)
Point being, it's a BIG game, and while it's porn for those who like toy soldiers on battlefields, it brings a lot else to the table.

Also also, it's really quite pretty.

good hunting!
posted by Busithoth at 4:04 PM on July 11

It's retro, but I think you'd love M.U.L.E. (More here.)
posted by jbickers at 12:37 PM on July 12

It's (very) old but Sundog sounds up your alley. Bonus: it'd be free by now. Sundog: Resurrection is a remake.

Also perhaps Elite?
posted by Sutekh at 10:50 PM on July 12

The Anno series has always been focused on city building, economics and trade management. It features combat, but your army is really only another outlet to showcase how efficiently you ran your city. Discounting expansions there are four titles in the series, with Anno 1404 having been released not a month ago. The graphics will also put your gaming rig to good use.

My laid-back economics/math gamer friend also recommends Railroad Tycoon. Don't be put off by the Tycoon in the name; this was one of the forerunners, and whose resource management actually lets you actually see supply and demand in action (your trains and tracks are the suppliers, after all!). The last solid release was Railroad Tycoon in 2003. He hasn't tried 2006's Sid Meier's Railroads! yet, so I can't give any comment.

Would you also be interested in so-called "accounting" games? They often have limited graphics but offer plenty of decisions to make and a heap of numbers to analyze and manipulate. They're not always great economic simulations, but they're straightforward and fun to understand and master. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing Gazillionaire, which had a RPG feel to it. You compete with opponents, taking your choice of initial ship and funds and trading all over the galaxy, upgrading your ship and participating in auctions along the way.
posted by ThatRandomGuy at 11:41 AM on July 13