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CAOS Forums => Polls => Topic started by: Tyler on 2004-09-27T10:10:49-05:00 (Monday)

Title: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Tyler on 2004-09-27T10:10:49-05:00 (Monday)
This would include games on computer, Atari, Gameboy, N64, PS2, etc.  I find that games today are good, and graphically amazing, but don't compare much to the addictiveness of a classic like Tetris.  

So what is the best computer game ever?
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: CSWizard on 2004-09-28T01:27:28-05:00 (Tuesday)
I disagree. I have never been addicted to the older games. Not enough going on to keep me entertained, or maybe I just wasn't interested. Who knows? All I know is that I have been playing Counter Strike since 1998. I can't put it down. I 've tried the other first person shooters--CAD, MOH, nothing is better. That is my opinion anyway.  ;-)
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Guest on 2004-09-28T14:13:51-05:00 (Tuesday)
best computer game ever : betrayal at krondor
     -rpg written with the help of raymond e. feist (fantasy writer)
best console game ever  : bionic commando (NES)

i agree with the original poster that there seems to be something special about older games that just isnt seen in today's releases.

for me the answer lies in the advances of technology. 2 main problems:

1) lack of effort on the designer: it seems that games just do not have the substance that they once used to. quite a few of them seem to think 'who needs a plot, we can just put a cool explosion there'

2) lack of investment from the player: when the graphics & sound & everything else was as primative as they were when these 'legendary' games came out it required you to care alot more. the whole suspension of disbelief thing.

there are still alot of great games out there (gta, far cry, etc) but there are alot of crappy ones that sell too well.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Michael Kennedy on 2004-09-28T14:36:57-05:00 (Tuesday)
I agree witht he parent that the older games are usually better. Today's games are more flash and not as much substance. All my favorite games are PC. I've not owned a console more powerful than the origional NES. Consoles blow.

My list in no particular order:
Wolf3D
Doom (1 and 2- not 3)
TIE Fighter
Monkey Island 1 and 2
Return to Zork
Half-Life
Civilization 2 and 3 along with Alpha Centauri
Freecell

Hopefull I'll be adding Half-Life 2 and Duke Nukem Forever to this list.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Michael Kennedy on 2004-09-28T14:40:35-05:00 (Tuesday)
Dupe post.  Sorry.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Brad Nunnally on 2004-09-28T15:55:26-05:00 (Tuesday)
Best PC: Might and Magic 4 and 5, could play those over and over again.
         Warcraft 1 and 2 and starcraft, some of the best RTS games ever produced.

Beat console: Up for grabs as Final Fantasy 1-7 and Legend of Dragoon.

These games are the ones that stick in my head still to this day.



Brad :pint:
"Wisdom Begins With Wonder" Socrates.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Tyler on 2004-09-28T16:21:56-05:00 (Tuesday)
I find it interesting too that the developers of yesteryear had so much less to work with.  I personally have never written a game, but it's not exactly a leap of faith to think that it took more to make an amazing game 15 years ago than it does now.

Grayscale screens, nominal processing power, (around) midi quality audio.   Anybody can make a game with thousands of polygons per second, 3Ghz machines, and cd audio.

just my 2 (well maybe 3) cents.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Jonathan Birch on 2004-09-28T23:14:49-05:00 (Tuesday)
I would argue in the other direction. Games are more difficult to make than they used to be, not less so.

Its not at all difficult to program a sprite-based game. Or at least it hasn't been since there have been standard graphics interfaces (thank you VESA). Those modern games involving thousands of polygons per second generally have much more complicated engine code than anything that was produced in the late 80's and early 90's.

Many of the classic games were actually written by two or three person teams, or in many cases individuals working by themselves over the course of a few weeks or months. Modern games are often produced by much larger, sectioned-off teams and may require years of development time.

Additionally, the standards for what is considered an 'amazing game' have risen considerably. It is still possible to come up with a good idea and make a fun and successful game with a small team of people, but because of the competition you have to do something pretty exceptional in order to stand out.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Tyler on 2004-09-28T23:45:39-05:00 (Tuesday)
good points.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Guest on 2004-09-30T08:31:55-05:00 (Thursday)
PC Games
1. Bard's Tale
2. Fallout
3. Ultima III
4. Ultima IV

Arcade
1. Pac Man
2. Ikari Warriors

Console
1. Metal Gear
2. Resident Evil

As far as older games being better the newer, maybe it's not that the games are that much different, but that we have been exposed to far far more. In other words the older you get the more jaded you become.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Guest on 2004-09-30T14:38:31-05:00 (Thursday)
Computer: The Wing Commander series
NES: Bionic Commando
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Tyler on 2004-09-30T14:59:31-05:00 (Thursday)
I remember Excitebike on NES.  That game was frickin awesome.  You could design your own tracks, that was pretty unique at the time.  

Double dribble on NES was also sweet.  I remember I got on of those special controllers with the rapid fire auto buttons.  When I used it I could pass faster than I could see.  

Oh, the simple days, when my only worry was how to get to the eighth level of Mario Brothers.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Jarod Neuner on 2004-09-30T17:43:56-05:00 (Thursday)
Starcraft.

Period.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: William Grim on 2004-10-03T19:40:51-05:00 (Sunday)
prboom on Linux.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Jon on 2004-10-06T15:24:39-05:00 (Wednesday)
Doom.  The original, no OpenGL ports, nothing fancy.  Just Doom.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: William Grim on 2004-10-06T22:12:11-05:00 (Wednesday)
prboom is as close to the original as you get.  The only major difference I notice is that it has native TCP/IP support and can support up to 32 players....

We should have an on-campus deathmatch (or co-op play).
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Michael Kennedy on 2004-10-07T03:09:53-05:00 (Thursday)
i used to be pretty decent at doom when it was, well, my life, but after playing all the newer real 3d games that no looking up and down thing just gave me fits.  i used to be a master at the circle strafe with the mouse, but i couldnt hardly get past level 3 on nightmare now.

playing would be fun, but man it would also be frustrating.  :)
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Alex77 on 2004-10-07T11:17:45-05:00 (Thursday)
Still a fan of Metal Gear Solid.  Doom 3 just didnt do anything for me :(
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: WrexSoul on 2004-10-08T09:19:20-05:00 (Friday)
Quote1) lack of effort on the designer: it seems that games just do not have the substance that they once used to. quite a few of them seem to think 'who needs a plot, we can just put a cool explosion there'

But the past of gaming isn't exactly devoid of absolutely horrible games either.  Arguably the worst game ever made was ET for the Atari 2600 (though, that did set the standard for licensed games being crap).  

And many games back then didn't really have as depth as we're led to believe.  Games, for the most part, were filled with straight forward goals that leave little room for deviating from the main "plot" and consisted primarily of high scores instead of story.  That is, unless you consider the story from Super Mario Bros. 2 to be a work of literary art. :-D

Now if you were to say that games were more difficult back then, you'd have a point I'd agree with.  The Mega Man series still frustrates me to this day, whereas most games I play from present time don't offer me as much challenge as I would like, but since I'm more of an RPG person, story is more important to me anyway.

And as for my opinion about the best game ever: Final Fantasy VII.
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Josh on 2004-10-10T21:23:22-05:00 (Sunday)

The best computer game ever in my book is Ultima online.  It's a limitless world allows you to be anything you want to.  Plus you get to communicate with other people. It's just the right blend of magic, fighting, and role-playing. Now with third-party servers the world becomes even more limitless as users can design their own maps and quests and so on.

I do have to throwback to the old school though.  Sierra's 'Quest' series like Kings quest, police quest, space quest have to be some of the best games ever made.  So much humor combined with exciting puzzles and deep involving plot.
oh and don't forget about leisure suit Larry :-P
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: John Eachus on 2004-10-14T10:19:08-05:00 (Thursday)
For MMORPG it has to be Lineage II.
     I've never played a game 48 hours straight till now.

FPS has to be FarCry.
     RagDoll Technology has really enhanced the physics and the environment is phenomenal, not to mention the game play.

Although I love the old school stuff, I have to move on to better things when they come out.

John Eachus
Elite Gamiing
316 N Main
http://www.elitegamingonline.com
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: bandyguy on 2009-01-17T12:21:12-06:00 (Saturday)
My vote is half life 2
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: and459d2 on 2009-01-17T17:48:13-06:00 (Saturday)
ultima online


Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: raptor on 2009-01-20T12:20:35-06:00 (Tuesday)
GUYS! seriously quit bringing up old threads :(

Scott
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Novic on 2009-01-20T13:42:01-06:00 (Tuesday)
i would have to go w/ Jedi Knight 2 as my fav computer game. Been playing it for 5 years online, and its been out for like 14 and it still has tons of people playing. Not the greatest graphics, but very customizable. Love it
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Alex Towell on 2009-08-24T15:48:05-05:00 (Monday)
I have the most nostalgia for games like Zelda, early Ultima games, Dragon Warrior, Mario, etc... However, if I were to replay those games, I would quickly realize how unimpressive they are compared to more modern games. Time has a way of making the past seem sweeter than it really was. And, no doubt, I also simply enjoyed that kind of activity more in the past. So, it's rather difficult for me to say.

But if we go by the amount of time devoted to playing, it would have to go to Doom 1 (multplayer).
Title: Re: What is the best computer game ever?
Post by: Devon Berry on 2009-08-27T18:14:19-05:00 (Thursday)
This thread is destined to live forever!  :lol:

Anyways, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Master of Magic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_magic) or Master of Orion II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Orion_II:_Battle_at_Antares). Those are two of my favorite classics. I am in the middle of a Master of Magic game right now in fact!

As for more modern, I can't seem to stop playing Savage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage:_The_Battle_for_Newerth) and Spring (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_project).

There are plenty of others though, too many to list that are on a similar level. I play way too many games.  :D