Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with VideoGames

What are your favorite two-player Virtual Console/WiiWare games?

coraline — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:47:28 -0800

[WiiFilter] What are your favorite two-player Virtual Console/WiiWare games? Looking to find some fun two-player games for me and my boyfriend to play. I haven't been in the Wii Store for a while and am a little overwhelmed by all of the choices.

Of VC/WiiWare multiplayer games, I currently have and enjoy Dr. Mario, Bomberman '93, Bubble Bobble and Super Smash Bros - this also gives you an idea of what kind of games I like. (Also really love Mario Kart Wii, but of course that is not in this category). My boyfriend also likes shooter and strategy games, and I would also love some larger adventure type games which are fun to play together, so I guess it's all over the place. But since the Wii Shop games are so cheap, I'm open to trying out almost any game which has a great two-player mode.

Not VC/WW, but Wii-related question: I'm thinking about buying one of the Boom Blox games, but should I go for the original one or Boom Blox Smash Party?

Halno

Christ, what an asshole — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:26:32 -0800

I just got an Xbox 360. I'm not the biggest fan of first-person shooters, Grand Theft Auto, and pseudo-instrument games like Guitar Hero, but I do love novel, esoteric games. What are some of the unsung heroes in the XB360 library that I should invest in? I used to be a hardcore gamer back in my heyday, but I just lack focus and time, so I'd call myself a casual gamer these days.

Games I've really enjoyed over the past few years: Mario Galaxy, Bangai-O Spirits, Viewtiful Joe, Shadow of the Collosus

Open-ended games?

nostrich — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:54:40 -0800

I would like to find a computer game with a mechanic that rewards constant play (eg, levelling up). What do you recommend? I enjoy playing games, but they're always over too fast (or I get bored of them). As such, I am constantly on the look out for games that are not over too fast. I've filled the hole somewhat with shmups -- it will take hundreds hours of practise before I master DoDonPachi, and it somehow remains fun no matter how many times I play stage 1 -- but sometimes I don't want to play a shmup (or don't want to drag my gamepad out, or whatever), so I'm looking for more.

The first thing that comes to mind is a game where you level up (eg, World of Warcraft), which would be fine, but caveat: I find repetitive grinding incredibly boring. Same reason I am slowly becoming bored of Elements, despite initial enjoyment. So if it requires grinding, I'm probably not going to enjoy it.

Whatever the mechanism, the game needs to continue to be rewarding indefinitely (or for a very long time, at least).

Couple of other caveats: it would be nice if it could be played for 5 minutes or 5 hours depending on my mood (I love Civ, but sitting down for a game is such a commitment). It needs to either be Flash-based or OS X compatible -- I'm just as open to either, and can be relied upon to have a constant internet connection -- anything that requires Windows is useless to me (not hardcore enough to install Boot Camp/VMWare just for a game). I'm also open to emulation (providing x system has an emulator OS X can run competently, of course). Price isn't a huge concern, but it will take a monumentally awesome game to make me consent to a subscription. I'm pretty flexible on genres, but I will say the Sim-genre games never grabbed me very much (though I'm not sure why, it's been a while), because I know they will be among the first answers.

Feel free to ignore caveats: if I like it enough, I'll make exceptions. The only necessary is that it's open-ended and fun and not Puzzle Pirates (though puzzles are ok!).

Anything come to mind?

DOS Games

mccarty.tim — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:22:07 -0800

What are some of the best games for DOS that still have lasting appeal? I really like Settlers 2 and The Ur Quan Masters (AKA Star Control 2), and I also really like how they're still very playable in this day and age, especially in DOSbox. I don't know too many DOS games, so I was wondering if there are any other great, classic DOS games in the same vein out there.

Preferably they aren't too hard to play in DOS box or require too much documentation before playing. For example, I've tried to play Dwarf Fortress, but I just can't get past the interface. I also want games that are still fun and accessible today, and not just good for nostalgic purposes. I don't mind whether they're Abandonware or for sale on Steam or GOG. I just want a good list to try.

If it matters, I'm using a Mac and dual boot into Windows 7, in case you want to offer something not exactly for DOS, like a remake or clone.

The pope is angered by your attack on...

zvs — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:03:03 -0800

Name that game: You're a feudal lord trying to conquer neighboring territories on a sort of RISK-style board. Make the wrong move and you'll enrage the pope. I played this around 1994 and Google is apparently completely unable to help. If you can name that title, I'll be your best friend forever.

Video game suggestions for a preschooler who loves Braid

nanojath — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:16:09 -0800

Beautiful, open world platformers for the pre-school set? Does such a thing exist? Also open to general video game recommendations for the 5-7 age range. My 5 year old son spotted me playing Braid and was immediately drawn into the world of this game. He has a budget of "screen time" with various elements of reward and negotiation but I like him to have a decent amount of control over how he spends that time as long as he stays within our set boundaries of content. He's wanted to play Braid a lot but he's pretty much wrung all the pleasure he can out of it.

The thing is, what he seems to like best about Braid is the art, exploring the worlds, and the characters that pop up. Though he took to the platformer mechanics very naturally, he can't negotiate difficult jumps and such, too much enemy danger frustrates him, and of course the time manipulation puzzles are beyond him. Since the focus in Braid is the puzzles rather than the worlds themselves there is not much to explore: the worlds are pretty small and brief.

It made me wish there could be a more open-world sort of platformer game that was focused on exploration and discovery rather than stomping enemies and making tricky jumps. Natural as this sounds to me it seems to be a tall order of the game design world but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

I'm generally finding it tough to find good games for him at this age. He is becoming bored with the super-simple point and click and scroller fodder we've found at websites like PBS Kids or for his increasingly dust-gathering Leapster 2 handheld. Too-high difficulty curves and too violent content are my main problems with the next level up. I don't mind a game requiring my assistance (reading, explaining, helping on difficult moments) but he gets satisfaction out of self-motivated success and when the game is too difficult, confusing or text heavy it tends to end up with him sitting in my lap watching me play. I'd really like things with a fair bit of content that aren't so crush-enemies or get-to-the-end-goal-oriented.

In addition to the Leapster 2 (which I've been kind of underwhelmed by the software for, which tends to combine too-easy and somewhat buggy games with too-advanced and pasted-on-feeling educational content) we have a newer iMac, a Wii and a Nintendo DS (which I plan to give him when I upgrade to the DSi by and by). I don't want to buy any more platforms or computers. Suggestions of good games for the younger player on these platforms are welcome.

Under what circumstances (if any) can a child in the UK be legally allowed to play a video game which, under the legally enforceable games ratings system, they are not old enough to buy?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:26:02 -0800

Under what circumstances (if any) can a child in the UK be legally allowed to play a video game which, under the legally enforceable games ratings system, they are not old enough to buy? In the past we have run sessions for children aged 10-16 with a video game rated 12+ under the PEGI system. At the time these sessions were run, the PEGI system was an entirely voluntary system in the UK, where these sessions took place. However, as of September 2009, the PEGI system is now legally enforceable for video games. This means that to sell a game with a 12+ PEGI rating to an 11-year old child would now be a criminal offence.

(For what it's worth, we ran these sessions for the purposes of educational research, and if it is legally possible are interested in running more for the same reason.)

I have several questions around this that I'd be grateful if the hive mind could help me with:

1. Am I right in assuming that we're fine legally for the past sessions we already ran? This has involved kids under the age of 12 playing and taking home (non-pirated, and bought by us) copies of the game software, which they presumably still have.

2. Does the legally enforceable nature of the PEGI system apply retroactively? That is, can games released BEFORE September 2009 with a 12+ rating now not be sold to children, or is it only games released after the new system took effect?

3. Is buying a 12+ game for the purposes of allowing a child to use it now illegal in the same way that selling that game directly to the child would be?

4. Is there any way for us to legally run further sessions with 12+ rated software and children under the age of 12? (In this hypothetical scenario the children would be provided with the game, rather than buying it.) Could parents give their consent for their children to use such a game, in the context of a workshop they have to explicitly sign their kids up for? Could a school agree to allow the children to use such software in classrooms? Are there any legal options here?

Thanks in advance everyone, your help is greatly appreciated.

computer/video games incorporating astrology?

voltairemodern — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:06:42 -0800

Video/computer games that incorporate astrology? I'm just looking for some titles of video or computer games that use elements from astrology, or even games that make use of their own fictional astrological system. (I'm expecting that there are a bunch of jrpgs that do this, but I couldn't actually think of any instances of it!)

Up, up, down down, left right left right ...

ben242 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:05:09 -0800

What Xbox 360 games should I get for me and my girlfriend? Me: 28, was a pretty regular gamer in college, only have a few games for my Xbox 360 (Halo, Gears of War 2, Civ IV). I loved Ratchet & Clank for PS2. I would still play Super Mario World if I could get it for the Xbox 360.

Girlfriend: 28, never been that into games, but likes Madden football (which I will be buying later today).

I've been in grad school for a shade over four years, and now that I'm finishing up in December (woohoo) I'm interested in getting some more games that'll be fun for me and for us to play together. Its looking like its gonna be a long, cold NYC winter, so games that have a lot of replayability (including online play) would be good.

She tried out Gears of War 2, but got bored by the end of the training intro level. I don't think that kind of epic FPS is going to be interesting to her at all.

Any ideas? Thanks, hive mind!

top concept artists

roger ackroyd — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:58:40 -0800

Who are the top concept artists working in video games and film today? Bonus points for links to portfolios.

Video game design as a career path?

Askiba — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:57:48 -0800

What's the best path to take for a high school student aspiring to get into Game Design in college? Any advice? A little backstory to frame my aspirations here: I've been playing videogames since a young age. However, I don't consider myself to be one of those guys who just plays Halo and Madden- "oh, game design could be fun!".

No, I take this seriously, and as I near my junior year of high school and see more college programs I see it as a viable option. I not only play lots of videogames- I have designed several in my spare time (and not just video; board, card, etc.) and find design theory incredibly interesting. Listening to lectures/panels/keynotes from the people who design games is something I happen to enjoy. I've actually made my own games as well and could be prepared to show them to a college. If I could do one thing for the rest of my life this might actually be it, and I've had years to think about it.

Right now, I'm looking through my high school to try to prepare for that sort of option. That's the easy part; we're not a high school with a large swath of computer classes, especially game related.

So here's the main question(s):
*In terms of after high school education, where should I go and what should I consider? From personal experience and/or statistics what would be some of the better undergraduate and graduate schools to attend? I know this may not have a definitive answer, but I'd like to look at some college programs and see what places I could consider.
*Also: supplemental classes (as in, when I have free courses outside of this focus what kind of things should I pursue that might help bolster my education in this field?)
*And last but not least, after college prospects?

I was inspired to ask this question mainly after being asked to look at Columbia College's Game Design 4 Year Plans. It seemed like a decent program, and it's local to me, but I was curious what was out there.

My apologies if I'm asking vague questions or silly ones; it's simply that I'm just about to dive into this whole thing and I'm not the most experienced kid on the planet. I would really appreciate all discussion, even "Don't do it, period!". I want to see what you all have to say, you're an educated group of people.

Can I get a 3X game?

JDHarper — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:29:21 -0800

I want a 4X game, but without the warfare. Are there any such games? I really like 4X games like Master of Orion II, the GalCiv series, Sins of a Solar Empire, Civilization, Alpha Centauri, etc. But what I like about them is the empire building, the first 3 of the 4 X's. I'm not as keen on the eXterminating of your opponents, if only because at higher difficulty levels it's *my* empire getting conquered.

What I'm really looking for is the video game equivalent of a Euro-style board game like Agricola, Puerto Rico, or Le Havre, where the competition is based on who can build the best empire/farm/company, rather than who can conquer the other person's stuff. There's still competition in these games, so I don't find them as boring as SimCity, but opposition is more indirect.

Graphics are mostly irrelevant here; I'm looking for fun. Are there any good video games like this out there?

Please suggest video games you think I'd like, based on the stuff I already like!

ixohoxi — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:20:26 -0800

Please suggest video games you think I'd like, based on the stuff I already like! Help me find my new favorite game. It can be commercial or independent, old or recent, long or short, graphical or text-based, easy or difficult.

I've put together the following list of common traits I've identified in the games that I like, along with examples. As you can see, I'm probably not looking for an FPS or an MMO, unless it has really strong and masterfully executed elements from this list.

Your suggestions don't have to incorporate all of the traits on this list (that would be quite a feat!); this is simply meant to give an idea of the kinds of things I enjoy in a game.

I have a PC with a 3.0GHz dual-core Pentium 4, 3GB RAM, and a middling video card.

The list (in no particular order):

Simulation. Games which model complex systems, and put you in charge of engineering and managing those systems. (Civilization; Dwarf Fortress)
Sandbox gameplay. Games in which no explicit goal is given, or in which the goal can be easily ignored to pursue my own arbitrary goals. (Oblivion; Dwarf Fortress)
Emergent gameplay. Games where complex situations arise organically from a few relatively simple mechanics. NetHack is the gold standard here (and I suspect that Dwarf Fortress would trump it if I had the courage to take it there). Spelunky has some of this, too. Yes, I've played other roguelikes.
Atmosphere. Game with a creative, well-developed atmosphere and aesthetic—an original and compelling game world. I dislike stock formulas: battle axes and goblins; space marines and aliens; preteen anime characters waking up in bucolic pixel villages. I prefer stuff that's cerebral, maybe a little more sober and mature, especially if there's an element of mystery or magic or melancholy. (Thief 2—my favorite game of all time; Bioshock; Psychonauts; Knytt Stories; Braid—for the aesthetic alone; the puzzling is a bit too hardcore for me)
Unique gameplay. I don't really want to play another RPG, or another turn-based strategy game, or another [insert standard genre here]. I like games that are as thoughtful and creative with their gameplay mechanics as the titles in the previous point are with their aesthetic. If the question "what do you do in the game?" causes hesitation as you search for points of reference, then I'm probably interested. Action elements are fine, but twitch gameplay is not. (The Thief series—yes, I've played Shadows of the Metal Age; Dwarf Fortress; Braid, if I actually liked it, which I don't—but it gets an A for effort)

Wow; apparently I really like Dwarf Fortress. I guess that's a pretty broad net, but hopefully it suggests some ideas. Recommend away!

You control the actions of a daring adventurer

orville sash — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:05:42 -0800

Looking for some historical information on Dragon's Lair, the arcade game. 1.) What was the cost in 1983 dollars of a Dragon's Lair cabinet, compared to a standard game?

1a.) If you know the answer, is there anywhere that you can cite this information from?

2.) Is there any way I can find sales information on the game? How many cabinets shipped?

3.) Wikipedia says: "The original laserdisc players shipped with the game (Pioneer LD-V1000 or PR-7820) often failed. Although the players were of good quality, the game imposed unusually high strain: Laserdisc players were designed primarily for playing movies, in which the laser assembly would gradually move across the disc as the data was read linearly. However Dragon's Lair required seeking different animation sequences on the disc every few seconds as dictated by gameplay. The high amount of seeking, coupled with the length of time the unit was required to operate, could result in failure of the laserdisc player after a relatively short time. This was compounded by the game's popularity. As a result, the laserdisc player often had to be repaired or replaced." There is no citation for this. Can anyone cite this info?

4.) Why was there such a long delay between the release of the first and second dragon's lair games?

I want to build a web site where gamers can converse via video. Where do I begin?

raddevon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:16:08 -0800

I want to build a web site where gamers can converse via video. I'm thinking of something a bit like a Seesmic targeted toward gamers. Where do I start? I'm not a developer, but I can poke around in code a bit on my own. I wouldn't be opposed to using a roll-your-own-social-network solution and doing it all myself as a hobby. I also wouldn't be opposed to hiring a developer off elance and positioning this as a business. I don't really know where to start in either direction. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have experience with Wordpress and Drupal.

Are there any games out there like these?

biochemist — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:57:32 -0800

I'm looking for PC/Mac (have both) games similar to Indigo Prophecy and Shadow of Destiny. I loved the games because of the way your previous choices influence later ones, as well as the surreal and psychological aspects present. Both of the games have a similar 'feel' that I'm looking for. Any suggestion is great as long as it's not a point and click adventure game.

Xbox 360 games suitable for young children

chris88 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:16:26 -0800

Xbox 360 games suitable for children A question for Xbox360 owners with kids - wondering what some of the best games are for youngsters - when I say youngsters I mean under 10.

I have Viva Pinata already, wondering what else there was out there that was fun and, if possible (though not "a must") educational.

Thanks so much.

Good examples of video games that feature a top-down point-of-view?

joshwebb — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:34:18 -0800

I'm looking for good examples of video games that feature a top-down (or near top-down) point-of-view that are not racing, strategy or board games. I'm trying to find some good examples of video games where the player's point of view looks down on the playable character. Ideally, the player's point-of-view looks directly down at the top of the playable character's head.

I realize there are plenty of racing, strategy and board games that utilize this POV, but I'm really looking for something character-based.

Any ideas?

Can we wii together?

pearlybob — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:47:56 -0800

What is the easiest way to set up a multiplayer game "room" for a group of kids who all have Wii's? My homeschool co-op is trying to set up a way for the kids to have a "game night" and be able to play video games together, from their own homes. Most of the kids have wii systems and from the research that I've done, the wii doesn't do this as easily as the xbox. We would like to be able for the kids to all sign into a private room (or some equally secure equivalent) and play together. Does the wii have places to do this without every child having to buy the same game? Privacy and security is the first priority, then cost. I'm sorry that my question is kind of broad but I don't know much about what the wii system can do and my research is just getting me more confused. Figured I would throw out my end goal and see if the hive can help me get there. Thanks!

Help a lazy gamer out.

juv3nal — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:07:01 -0800

Is there a site that tells me which version of multiplatform (ps3/xbox360) games is the better one to get with regard to bugginess/availability of DLC etc.? I know that I can go look up individual reviews for specific title/platform combinations, but is there a specialist site that tracks the differences in a more at-a-glance manner?

I need examples of multi-threaded narratives in film and video games.

ga$money — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:46:31 -0800

Looking for multi-threaded narratives in film and video games, such as Pulp Fiction or Go. I'm looking for examples of films that have multi-threaded narratives, particularly ones where the narrative lines loop back to their starting points or intersect with each other. Two examples are Go and Pulp Fiction, where we follow one character's storyline, but it intersects with other storylines or characters that are presented elsewhere in the movie. So we see Jules and Vincent in the background during the opening sequence of Pulp Fiction, when Honey Bunny and Pumpkin discuss holding up the diner. Or in Go, where we see the gay couple at the checkout stand while following the erstwhile drug dealer's storyline. So far as other examples, I have Timecode (though really something different), Run Lola Run (sort of), and Rashomon (sort of, but the whole notion of each character telling the story in flashback mediates the plot device more than I want). I know there are more examples out there, but I'm drawing a blank.

Extra bonus credit if you can give an examples of video games that attempt the same thing.

Believe it or not, this is a work-related question, so I guess I must have a really awesome job.

Rock Band in NYC

shmegegge — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:29:02 -0800

What bars in the NYC area can I go to to play Rock Band? I heard that some bars in NYC host Rock Band nights. Does anyone know where I can go to find out about these?

and since I could just google the answer to this, the real reason I'm asking here is because I'd like anyone who has attended one of these to tell me what they thought of it.

so yes. rock band nights in NYC. where? how? good? bad?

A new lease on Half Life

cmoj — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:48:26 -0800

I just finished Half Life 2 Episode 2. Now what? I wouldn't consider myself a first-person shooter type. Only a couple have really gotten me. I used to play Battlefield 2 a lot, but that kind of game is less attractive now because I don't dedicate anywhere near as much time to computer games any more. I liked it because it wasn't so bad about being the kind of game you had to play a whole lot to be good at, but it still had that quality.

Half Life 2, though... especially Ep. 2 is majorly impressive to me. I'm also the type to skip all of the cut-scenes in a game, but the story and characters engaged me to a degree that only the best movies and books manage. I mean, if people let me, I'll talk about this game like it's an academic piece of art, which I consider it to be.

On top of that, I love the game-play itself. I can't think of other games that reward creativity in combat so well. Battlefield was very good at this, but Half Life is better. I guess that feature comes down to the grav-gun and physics-based damage. Oh, and the car. The way you're guided through levels is amazing too. I don't know if there are multiple paths through the story, but several times I felt like I was exploring an irrelevant path, or being subversive to the level design, but wasn't.

So now what do I play? I understand episode 3 isn't coming out til '10 now?! I've been playing HL via Cider on a relatively new MacBook Pro that ran HL at 1080 resolution with no problems (except for some Cider glitchiness). I have been considering an xBox 360, but I dunno... I don't think I play enough video games to justify that.

I should probably Boot Camp windows, huh?

I see one very similar question with good answers, but I'm in a somewhat different boat than the other guy.

The average human is mortal, Socrates is human, so...

kandinski — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:31:12 -0800

How to calculate the stats for the "Average" US citizen? And does it mean anything? Recently there have been news of a US study stating that the "average gamer" is 35, overweight and depressed. My first joking reaction was to say "hey, this is like the average US citizen!". Please don't hit me. But I would like to know how far this "average gamer" is from the "average USian", and how you would go about calculating it.

Also, as a side, question, I don't think that you can average people in any meaningful way. If the distribution is normal, the average fits the median, which does mean something. If the median gamer is 35, that means 50% of all gamers are over 35, and 50% are under 35. Wow, games are really not just for kids anymore, etc.

But that's the median. Are the details for the "average anything" useful to anyone, or is the "average person" just lazy rhetorical shorthand for "there's many of them"?

Looking for the name of an arcade game with an Indiana Jones look-a-like

ktrey — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:52:37 -0800

Looking for the name of an multi-player arcade game that featured an Indiana Jones-like character and a top down view. I think this would have been in the 80s or possibly early 90s. The game had at least three playable characters, the aforementioned whip toting Indiana Jones type, a woman in a dress, and a guy in a suit with a knife (I think). I believe the first level was in a jungle with ruins, and I believe there were enemies that looked like Moai (Easter Island Heads), and I think you had to collect keys to unlock doors.

Since there have been multiple Indiana Jones video games, searching google hasn't turned up anything (yet), so I hope that Ask Metafilter can help!