I used to play a lot of PC games, but in the past 10 years moved towards console gaming. I realise I've missed a whole era of games that only really work with a mouse and keyboard. My absolute favourites were creative, engaging, long play games, such as Rollercoaster Tycoon and Civilization. I never really played to win. I played for creative ends. The best times I had playing Rollercoaster Tycoon was in sandbox mode the only limits being my imagination. Those were the days. What (PC) games offer the equivalent of this now? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Mar 26, 2013 - 15 answers

I have a beautiful, fun and energetic puppy. A Husky cross (we don't know what the other half is, but it must have been small). She loves to play games. Me and my partner alternate working from home during the day. What fun games can we play with her at home, indoors, that don't distract too much from our work? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Aug 29, 2012 - 13 answers

Looking for new ways to play with my four-month-old. [more inside]
posted by gerryblog on Jul 28, 2012 - 11 answers

Writers I like: Johan Huizenga, A. S. Neill, Christopher Alexander, Philippe Gaulier, James Paul Gee. Thoughts I'm interested in: the systemic formation of culture; how we interact with and are shaped by said systems; how those systems emerge as part of a "playful" procedure; how play is often used as a release from cultural standards. Who else will I like? What ideas will fascinate me further? [more inside]
posted by Rory Marinich on May 10, 2012 - 9 answers

What did "jerk" mean in 1964? [more inside]
posted by foursentences on Jul 17, 2011 - 32 answers

1x 1 year old daughter, 1x Sony Vaio and 1x IT Team that will do whatever I ask them to (nicely). How can I turn my old Vaio into a mini entertainment and gaming system for my little fairy? [more inside]
posted by HopStopDon'tShop on Jul 6, 2010 - 5 answers

Types of Games: I have come across various attempts to catalogue the possible varieties of stories that exist. The basic assumption being that all plots (narratives?) can be be boiled down to one among only a few types e.g. Hero leaves the kingdom; Hero steals fire, etc. I am looking for a similar classification system for GAMES, that is: how many fundamental types/kinds of game are there? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Mar 10, 2010 - 6 answers

Please help me think of some new, interesting, positive role-playing scenarios for my girls to use with their dolls and stuffed animals. [more inside]
posted by yawper on May 12, 2009 - 22 answers

I'm looking for a very specific sort of game for the iPhone: one that (a) takes almost no conscious brain power and (b) doesn't interfere with my iTunes music. I want a game I can play while listening to iTunes. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Jan 31, 2009 - 28 answers

Help me think of phrases that come exclusively from game play. Some examples would be: "Ollie ollie oxen free" and "ready or not here I come" and "ring a round a rosy".
posted by typewriter on Aug 9, 2006 - 60 answers

I'm looking for a very simple USB gamepad. It should have a d-pad, no analog sticks, and as few action buttons as possible, ideally only two. Current trends in gamepads are packing them ever-tighter with buttons, so I despair of finding a gamepad with less than 8 buttons and triggers. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by breath on Apr 12, 2006 - 13 answers

Sunday New York Times, probably November 27th, an article about urban games, possibly on the front page? [more inside]
posted by cloudscratcher on Dec 24, 2005 - 9 answers