# It's not a computer game, it's crack disguised as a computer game. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407 "2003-01-23T08:16:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/61 "2003-01-25T01:03:30Z")
I’m currently in the grips of **Civ III**. With each version of this game, I’m always amazed at _how_ addicted I get, and how quickly I can spend four hours moving my little guys around. I really like the new rules, although they’ve made it harder to just be nice to people long enough to build up another army for the next invasion – bastards actually remember my past bad behavior! ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/62 "2003-01-25T01:47:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skip \* > \*\*I second Transport Tycoon. That game took away years of my life… \*\* I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who got addicted to that game. Hell, I loathe to turn it on anymore because I know I’ll spend a half hour minumum playing with my trains. And I’m not even into Model Rail Road. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/63 "2003-01-25T01:52:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarinth \* > \*\*So, I picked up Black & White. > I’ve brought every single stone on the damn island to the stupid sculptor, his house looks like a rock garden, but despite having been squished by several of them (I got frustrated after a while) he hasn’t actually taken notice of any of them. That’s a very good way to have someone lose interest in the game. \*\* It’s one on the hilltop near the hermit. It shows it to you during the little cut sequence when he tells you that you need it, and it sparkles. When you get close to it your good half should say something about ‘That looks like a good stone’ or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Tree\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@Tree\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tree_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/64 "2003-01-25T04:30:48Z")
You guys are all young’uns in the world of addicting computer games. In my junior high to HS days, The Secret of Monkey Island and Leisure Suit Larry series’ were all the rage. Anyone else remember/played those? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/65 "2003-01-25T05:15:11Z")
I must agree with Nethack. I think that game has made my grad school career significantly longer. I will just try to hunt down Quantum Mechanics for hours, hoping that one will drop Schroedinger’s cat once more. . . ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/66 "2003-01-25T05:24:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tree Boy \* > \*\*You guys are all young’uns in the world of addicting computer games. In my junior high to HS days, The Secret of Monkey Island and Leisure Suit Larry series’ were all the rage. Anyone else remember/played those? \*\* Monkey Island 1 and 2 kicked total ass. Too bad 3 and 4 were rather dissapointing, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Firebat023](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Firebat023](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firebat023)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/67 "2003-01-25T05:29:20Z")
I’m still playing Starcraft. If I get tired at night, I fire up a 2 on 6 game of Big Game Hunters and try to out defend the enemy. It gets my blood up, to say the least. Deus Ex. I’ve routinely beaten that game once a year since it came out. Now that DX 2 will be out this year, I have another reason to shell out fifty bucks. The original Fallout had me going for a while. It’s a shame it crashes under XP. Quake 2 with the Action Quake Mod and AQ Co-op. Rediculous, but fun. Halo. Counterstrike had me for a while, but I’m not enjoying it like I used to. Currently, Splinter Cell is sucking my lifeforce away. I only have the demo for the PC, but I must have played it ten or twelve times, and each time I’ve seen something or done something new. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/68 "2003-01-25T05:59:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*It’s one on the hilltop near the hermit. It shows it to you during the little cut sequence when he tells you that you need it, and it sparkles. When you get close to it your good half should say something about ‘That looks like a good stone’ or something like that. \*\* Oh. That went into the lake when I threw it at the rock. No wonder things weren’t working. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Liakela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/58f4c7/32.png) [@Liakela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liakela)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/69 "2003-01-25T07:38:25Z")
It all started for me with **Infocom Games**. Yes, I feel old. Playing _Deadline_ on a Tandy. Saving my allowance and then my pocket job change to then get _Beauracracy, Plundered Hearts, Trinity, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy_ etc etc etc. Now, it’s stuff like **Zeus, Master of Olympus** , **Civ II** (Kill the French!) and **Rollercoaster Tycoon II** No life. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/70 "2003-01-25T11:26:46Z")
For me : Empire The Civ family (I, II and now III) Colonization (reminded me of the old board game Conquistador) MOO II The Panzer General family (PG, Allied General, Pacific General, PG II) Alpha Centauri Steel Panthers : World at War (Squad Leader for the computer !) ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/71 "2003-01-25T12:43:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*Monkey Island 1 and 2 kicked total ass. Too bad 3 and 4 were rather dissapointing, to say the least. \*\* ??? I thought 3 was right good. 4, not so much. Anyway, the longest I’ve ever played a computer game in one sitting was _SimCity 3000_. Played it for around 12 or 13 hours one day, and then hardly ever touched it after that. That was just creepy. I’ve spent way too much time playing _The Sims_ as well, and still spend at least a few obsessive days on it every time they release an expansion pack. That’s a game where I can spend 15 minutes trying to figure out what could be the problem because all the Sims’ bladder meters are in the green, and then finally realize that the problem is that _I_ need to go to the bathroom. Still, I think _Diablo_ and _Diablo II_ were the worst offenders for me. I’ve spent 50 hours or more on console RPGs like the _Suikodens_ and the _Final Fantasies_, but at least when I finish one of those games, I’m done with it. The _Diablo_ games have this weird hold on me where I’m compelled to play through them over and over again. I played through _Diablo_ three times and then again with the monk in the expansion pack. And _Diablo II_ I’ve finished twice and keep meaning to go back through. What _is_ it about those games? It’s just a pretty random number generator!!! Now that I think about it, though, I’ve played _Final Fantasy Tactics_ (the Best Videogame Ever Made) at least 4 times all the way through… It may be time for another go-round… where did I put that disk? ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/72 "2003-01-25T15:32:46Z")
For those of you who, like me, absolutely adored the original Transport Tycoon game, there’s a new one… Transport Tycoon DELUXE. I got it off the web. I’m not sure tSD’s policy on this so I won’t link to it or anything, but it’s out there. The best part is that it has a map editor… build your own worlds, and make PERFECT transportation networks. I’m working on maximizing a single station right now, pump several thousand passengers out of it a year on my trains alone! it’s a beautiful thing. X-com, a true classic. I even liked the third one. MOO, indeed. I always got a kick out of the aliens repeatedly asking me to be emperor of the universe, and telling them “No”, then destroying all their planets. Good times, good times. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/73 "2003-01-25T20:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Liakela \* > \*\*It all started for me with **Infocom Games**. > > Yes, I feel old. > > Playing _Deadline_ on a Tandy. > > Saving my allowance and then my pocket job change to then get _Beauracracy, Plundered Hearts, Trinity, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy_ etc etc etc. > \*\* ZORK! I played through all three original Zork games way back when. Then, a year or so ago, the company that now owns them relreleased them in a version that could be played on a Palm Pilot. Made me feel quite old, that did. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/74 "2003-01-25T22:04:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > \*\*??? I thought 3 was right good. 4, not so much. > \*\* 3 was good, but the last two chapters felt like they were tacked on because they needed to ship the game out. They either needed to end the game by the end of chapter 4, take out 6 and make 5 longer to make a proper ending, or just go with the 6 chapters and just push onto another disk so chapters 5 and 6 could be done properly, not these mini-chapters we did get. But I really rather enjoyed chapters 1-4. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/75 "2003-01-25T22:31:32Z")
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than four consecutive hours on a computer game before, or more than 60 total. (I like this one so much I’d even pay money for it!) ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/76 "2003-01-25T22:31:37Z")
I’d like to make an addendum to my previous post, based on how late I was up last night playing my new copy of **Medieval: Total War**. I’m taking a break now for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407/77 "2003-01-26T01:41:07Z")
Another vote for **EQ**. I played about two years ago. I was frustrated with my pally in the 40s cuz he didn’t have an FBSS, so I set out to camp it. I camped it ALL day. I woke up at 6AM, played till 3PM, went to football camp, got back at 6PM, got back on and played till 3AM. Did that for 3 days STRAIGHT. I finally got it at some ungodly hour of the morning and passed out in the corner somewhere. Two weeks later, I quit. I guess I just got burned out. Oh well, good times. But nothing beats the first couple hours or days in your first MMORPG. It seriously is like a drug. It is never as good as it was, so you keep trying and you keep trying… (vote for FF7 too 🙂 ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-computer-game-its-crack-disguised-as-a-computer-game/150407.md?page=3)