Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with game

Orphan board, what game's it from?

krisjohn — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:19:33 -0800

Can anyone tell me what game this board is from?

Help me identify an obscure video game from the early 90s!

Tachoh — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:09:27 -0800

An old RTS game from the early 90s, took place in space. Controlled mother ship, collected blobs of stuff. More info inside. Anyone know the name of a game that was released around... well 1994 - 1996. (I think, give or take 2 years. Sorry.)

I'll list what I can remember about it.

It was a RTS, 4 playable races and took place in space.

You had to gather globs of coloured stuff using a mother ship. The mother ship was directly controllable, and had some kind of detached arm or probe thing that would do the gathering. The thing would basically roam out, attach on a glob and pull it back. The globs were purple, blue, red and something else. The blue blobs looked like 2 fused orbs (I think) and the purple blobs were spiky star like things (I think).

The races would either control drones, take over other units or do something else I couldn't remember. The colour of the races were red, purple, blue (I think) and something else. (yellow, maybe?)

You could built turrets and I think some drones would take over other players turrets.

This was not a 3d game, played well in SVGA. I remember it came out as a demo on an old PC gamer demo CD.

Any hints? This has been bugging me for literally 10 years. Thanks MF!

Something is just... off.

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:30:09 -0800

I'm completely confused about why this is bothering me so much. Can you help me figure it out? My wonderful adorable boyfriend of several years has recently begun a D&D campaign with his friends, and their typically evil characters go around murdering, stealing, and raping. Why oh why do I have no problems with the first two in games, but become incredibly frustrated when I hear about that third? I've never had the misfortune to be a victim of such an act, although I did have some very unwanted contact in some past relationships and that could be affecting how I feel. But a game is a game, right? And we have zero problems with people going around stabbing each other in games, unless we're a group of religious fanatics. So... logically, is rape that much different..?

I have no idea what to think, and if this is a legitimate concern I should be bringing up with him, and if there are logical reasons for that concern to exist...

The boyfriend in question is, again, an amazing person who has treated me with utmost respect and love and kindness, and is constantly worrying over my safety. I am 100% sure that this is not something hidden in his personality that's going to manifest in real life. I think to him, it's just like killing others in a shooter game - he doesn't seem to think anything of it, because it's so separate from reality.

But... I don't even know what I'm asking at this point..! :) Would you find it understandable to be concerned? And how can I better understand what it is that creates this separation between these different violent (virtual) acts?

Diablo Satire?

comwiz — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:56:33 -0800

There was a flash game entitled Diablo III that circulated the internet five or so years ago, that was a parody of the Diablo series. The game basically consisted of clicking on a box as rapidly as possible. However, I can't find it anymore. Do you know where it lives?

Get me to play: Nethack!

Jonsnews — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:50:38 -0800

I am looking for a varient of Rogue/Nethack/Slash'em/Angband/Whatever with a GUI. I don't want the fancy 3d Falcon's eye. I would prefer tiled, but its not necessary. I have been playing Powder on my DS and PC over the last few days (after coming across it via the latest "What can I do with my DS thread"), and its exactly what I want, but I feel its lacking in depth. So what I would like, in order of importance:
- GUI! I can't remember all the commands and variations, I want buttons and menus, Powder was quite close to this.
- Awesome Nethacky-ness!
- Runs on windows, and hopefully with a small easy to hide window.
- Tiled is nice. Top down, not isometric please.
- Has a DS/PSP/Palm port, totally not a deal breaker, but would be cool
- Could potentially not be a roguelike if it was suffeciently awesome and met the other factors.

That's all I can think of.
Thanks!

Help me find an affordable gaming laptop

Kudos — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:24:02 -0800

Cheap gaming laptop recommendations Catering more to the cheap side than the gaming. I'd like to be able to run hl2/orange box, spore, and eventually starcraft 2, and maybe some wow. I've been looking at the dell xps m1530s, and the configuration would be around $1,300. Is there something of equal power that i can get for cheaper? I've had little luck. Thanks.

No one twisting his arm....

scarylarry — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:09:33 -0800

What bands sound like Game Theory? One of the only good things to come out of a past relationship was exposure to Game Theory, close to my current favorite band. I have acquired all their albums by methods both legal and illegal, and I just love their sound and their unflagging intelligence.

What other bands should I listen to? These can predate GT or be more contemporary. I'm searching for songwriting that is as simultaneously intelligent and, for lack of a better word, *quirky* as Scott Miller's.

Were I answering this question, I guess I'd suggest Big Star, The Soft Boys, early REM, and the Unicorns/Islands. I hope this gives some idea where I'm coming from.

One thing I love about Game Theory, too, is that they've *nearly* fallen by the wayside. I'd love to resurrect a band from the 70s, 80s, or 90s that I would have no way to discover without asking this question; the more obscure the better, I suppose.

I should probably also say that I already know and love the Loud Family. Otherwise, I'm all ears!

I look forward to the aural candy to come.

How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal?

matholio — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:45:47 -0800

How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal? I've handed in my notice, I have a new job to go to.
I gave 4 weeks notice, but on reflection it's going to be a while before I can take an anual leave, I'd like to take my last week as leave (I have accrued enough time)

This is week 2 or 4 of my notice period.

I really don't want to work the last week, I want to spend time with my family.

Management does not want to give me the time off, they want me to use the time dumping my knowledge, and handing over to a contractor who starts next week.

I have a lot of local knowledge of my domain, and losing that knowledge presents a businiess risk, so they want to keep me as long as possible.

Denying me the last week off, demotivates me, so maybe the hand over will be low quality.

If the handover is considered bad, they can give me a unfavorable reference.

They have no way of knowing if the handover is good.

I could do a great handover and they may perceive it to be not good enough.

I have been a hard working, loyal employee, I have agood relationship with the C-Level leaders, I don't want to sour it.

The remaining time is not really enough time to do a great handover anyway.

If I work the last week, they have to pay out my accrued annual leave, if I go early they don't.

I could spend my last week, reading metafilter.

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

How might I attempt to model that data, and use game theory to assess various outcomes ?

I would think they would opt to motivate me to do a good hand-over in less time and let me go early, saving some money.

Thanks

What brain training games for PC can you recommend?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:44:02 -0800

I like Brain Age (aka "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training") for Nintendo DS. What similar, Windows-compatible game would you recommend my mother? This has been asked before, but it hasn't received any useful answers beyond "get a DS", IMO.

I'm trying to find a good brain training game for my mother, and I just don't think I could convince her to carry a DS around even if I gave her one.

So, not be rude -- but simply for the sake of clarity: DS recommendations are out of the question.

I've played Kawashima / Brain Age a number of times and I think it would suit her well. She's in her late fifties, of good physical and mental health, and, I should add, fluent in English.

(A Dutch-language version of any game would be a bonus.)

What would you recommend for PC/Windows?

Thanks in advance, you crazy beautiful kids.

Wii Won't Work

ColdChef — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:39:02 -0800

I think Hurricane Gustav killed my Wii. I lost power during the storm for five days and now the Wii won't come on. The "standby" light doesn't even glow. I've moved it to different plugs. I don't THINK that it took a lightning hit, since there wasn't any lightning during the storm and nothing else on the power strip seems to be acting wonky.

Okay...even queerer. As I was typing this post, I ran across the street to my cousin's house to see if I could borrow HIS Wii power cable. And HIS Wii is dead, too. And his wife said that the same thing happened to my other cousin after the last storm...when the lights came back on, the Wii didn't work. She said that that one started working about a week later, though.

Any ideas? Also, does anyone know if I can get federal compensation for all the lost Wii Fit credits I earned? :)

A game without a title.

avocet — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:33:25 -0800

I'm trying to remember a PC game I played about 15 years ago. What I remember is an interface like Breakout or Pong with some logical puzzles to be completed with the ball going back and forth and passing over items that would then change states. The only puzzle I remember was entitled "Get Your Ducks In A Row" that involved just that, getting an array of ducks in a row. Does anyone remember this game? I'm in a bit of an abandonware mode right now, and would love to play it again.

Looking for international or obscure card games

reenum — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:53:28 -0800

CardGamesFilter: International or unusual card games I can play with 2 other people? Last night, I played an Indonesian card game called 41 with some friends and had a real blast. I'm wondering if there are any other international card games that I could play with my friends.

I'll also expand this question to include obscure card games. We already know all about bridge, canasta, euchre, etc. I'm talking really obscure card games.

Links to rules would also be appreciated.

I'm sure all the MeFites have some great suggestions for me.

Thanks!

Why, yes, I do have too much free time

misha — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:27:24 -0800

I want to play games on my iPhone with these qualifications: I don't want to "jailbreak" it and I want to be able to play a game without having to connect to the apple web apps page every.frickin.time. I don't want another "concentration" game. So, ideally: iphone games that I can download. I especially like Tetris-type puzzle or word games. Thanks, hivemind! Why not jailbreak it? I'm scared I will hurt my iPhone, mess up my warranty, what-have-you. I love my phone and don't want to hurt the precious.

Why downloadable? Because AT&T frequently sucks, and I can't always get a connection to the internet.

I don't care, btw, if they cost money, I just want something better than "touch the screen and match up the pictures" concentration-style crap, which is what the majority of the online games seem to be lately.

Who was that girl sitting next to Jack Nicholson at last nights Laker game (game 3)?

Plug1 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:14:50 -0800

Who was that girl sitting next to Jack Nicholson at last nights Laker game (game 3)? So I'm watching the Laker game last night and ABC does its typical "Which celebrity is at the game" camera shot. And of course they pan the camera to Jack Nicholson and to my amazement I see this REALLLY cute blonde girl sitting next to him (to his left). I'm thinking granddaughter, niece, maybe friend but I thought I'd ask if anyone knew who she was.

Forcing animated splash screens before every game load.

TheManChild2000 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:50:14 -0800

What is the benefit to game publishers and developers such that they force their animated logos to run every single time their game loads? Note that I'm not talking about the advertisements that often run during the same cycle, such as those for video cards. And yes, I know that with some games there are ways to turn them off. I'm just curious if there is a well-known benefit to the pubs and devs above and beyond making me want to punch faces.

What's that Word

Student of Man — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:44:41 -0800

What is the word or Phrase for a situation where competing persons become emroiled in a "sub game "? A different level of competition, so to say. Relates to game theory somehow. It may or may not include the word "pareto". Thanks.

Help me break my Video Game Addiction and get back to work!

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:51:35 -0800

Help me break my Video Game Addiction and get back to work! Hi guys. I just finished my freshman year in college and am on summer vacation right now. The whole year I was mostly able to keep on task, and have gotten ok grades. However, I did play some games back then as well, often at the worst moments (day before exam etc.) Right now i regret doing this, since i know i could have gotten better grades if i could just stop booting up those .exes

Now that I am on summer break, I promised myself that I would get to work learning extra things for my major (computer science) such as python. However now the urge to play is so much greater since I dont have deadlines or a strict schedule. If im reading a book, I let my mind wander and start thinking about games again, and usually just think that ill play for an hour, why not?...which always turns to more than just one hour. Same thing if im having a problem understanding something or im just having other random problems. I boot up my favorite games to just get away from it all.

Here are some reasons why I think im addicted (in my opinion):

1. Im just really good at basically every video game
I'm not bragging here, since i wish I actually was not. Im usually in the top three of every game I play, and its fun. Sadly this fun just makes me want to play more and more, since i keep getting more kills, points etc. Most of my friends have given up on video games, or play them very rarely, but they arent very good at them. My guess is if your always losing, your not really having much fun so you would play less.

2. I dont really have to think to play games, while looking at a technical book or dealing with problems does. Plus it seems there is only so much i can read before i just get bored. It also kind of helps me get away from the world if things are going on.

I know i have a problem, im just having a hard time fighting it. I've tried uninstalling the games, but I always end up installing them again later thinking ill control myself more this time or when I have friends come over and they want to play some. Ive tried setting notes around my computer reminding me not to play, or play for only a limited amount of time but they always seem to be ignored. Even when im writing this its 2 am, and I just finished playing for four hours...in short i need help. I need methods to make sure I do my work with hopefully no more playing video games ever (except those few times when friends might come over). I also need help just getting my stupid work done. I know im wasting summer like I have always done but i want to stop doing so. I want to actually get ahead for once, and I know im as close as ever if i could just break this stupid addiction.

Thanks hive mind :)

XPSP3AMD6440003GBetc.

boosh — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:20:38 -0800

Games PC CPUFilter: Is it worth upgrading from an Athlon64 3500+ Venice to a 4000+ San Diego? (plus a bonus question on 3GB RAM in XP and dual channel memory). I'm considering upgrading my games machine. The current guts:

Abit AN8 Socket 939 motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice
2 x 1GB PC3200 CAS3.0 DDR
Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB (PCI-E)

And the upgrade that I'm considering:

Swap CPU for an Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego
Add an extra 1GB of RAM

I can't justify splashing out on a whole new mobo/CPU/RAM bundle anytime soon, nor spending silly money on a used FX-55/60 chip dredged from the depths of eBay, so it's pretty much this or nothing I think. But is it a worthwhile upgrade - will I see a noticeable performance boost? Really I've got three questions, and I can't seem to Google up anything approaching a definitive answer:

1: Is it worth going from 3500+ Venice to 4000+ San Diego (with its extra cache and extra 200mhz)?
2: Is it worth going from 2GB RAM to 3GB on an XP machine used for gaming?
3: If I add the extra gig, should I add 2x512GB or a single stick of 1GB? Currently I've got the 2x1GB memory running in dual channel and I've got two ports free.

Some additional info:
1: The OS is WinXPSP3, with the fat stripped away, running on a 36gb WD Raptor. I don't think I can make any performance improvements on the software/disk side.
2: This machine is only used for games - nothing else at all. I don't do any multi-tasking (there isn't even an AV program running).
3: I won't be upgrading to Vista for DX10. I don't play that many games and the ones I do play tend to be a few years old (Rome Total War, Oblivion).

So would one or both of these upgrades give the PC an extra lease of life, or would I be throwing money away for no real benefit?

PrinterFilter

LSK — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:25:40 -0800

I have pages of cardstock that are perforated such that one can print on them and rip them apart to produce 10 business cards. What software on these? To be a bit more precise, I'm designing a card game and wish to rapidly prototype the cards. I have a particular layout in mind that I'd like to test, but my first priority is printing these.

Co-op shooters/FPSes?

flibbertigibbet — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:42:35 -0800

My sister loves playing co-op shooters. Can you recommend any? Our systems are the PS2, and a PC running Windows XP that was middle-of-the-road 3-5 years ago (so no Army of Two, thank you). Freeware/shareware/indie are great, but so are huge blockbusters. It just needs to have as long, good, co-op section.

SimEarth remake? (Not Spore)

agress — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:30:10 -0800

Does anyone know if there's anything like a re-make, or any game that's very similar in gameplay/mechanics to SimEarth? I loved SimEarth growing up, had great fun evolving molluscs to go into space (on Mars, no less!)
I know that Spore is going to be somewhat similar in that you get to evolve species and stuff, but I'm wanting something that's got a more wide-angle view of a planet.
Something that measures albedo, atmospheric composition, etc. Also, I'd hope for it to be either less ugly than SimEarth, or at the very least that it runs at reasonably modern resolutions (I'd be willing to deal even with 640x480x8bpp)

Oh, I'd prefer that it run in Windows, since I don't own a mac, and don't really have much of a desire to install linux.

But if non-windows software is all that's available, I'd still love to know about it.

Like the Nerd crossed with Charlie Brooker.

By The Grace of God — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:59:09 -0800

What's the name of that guy who does videos of game reviews; whose visuals are made entirely of stick cartoons, and who is hilariously funny? He has done a series of these, and generally pans the shit out of everything, like the Angry Video Game Nerd but slightly funnier and snarkier. I think but am not sure that he is from the UK.

My other half has suggested that he has never seen these, but I clearly recall him dying in a fit of mirth when he saw one once..

Show me some mystery objects.

djstig — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:23:02 -0800

Are there any good online resources for "Mystery Object" games? A friend teaches EFL students and once a week takes a quiz with them. We decided that showing mystery objects and asking the students to talk about what they could be would be a good way of making learning fun!!

However I can't find many websites with mystery object pictures, can you help. They could be a random object that people are not sure what it does, or preferably a close up of a well known object.

I can find a lot of "What the hell is this thing?" - especially on AskMe & Flickr. But sites with a collection of different pictures (with answers) would be very handy.

wii repair!

quseio — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:35:35 -0800

i am searching for a video game console repair preferably in or around ephrata/denver (pennsylvannia)area but within lancaster will do (specificly repair for a nintendo wii) uh nothing much else to say other than lower prices is better ) and the closer to ephrata/denver the better

Where can I get a set of loteria cards in Toronto?

greatgefilte — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:14:25 -0800

Where can I get a set of loteria cards in Toronto?