# Old computer games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 24, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804 "2016-08-24T12:25:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/141 "2016-10-15T16:49:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Aside: This thread inspired me to fire up Alpha Centauri again, and I paid attention to the opening movie. Guess when the Unity launched from Earth? Sometime around 2020, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/142 "2016-10-15T17:18:27Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > To this day I wish World of Warcraft had never existed. It took the concept, inherent in the old D & D games, that becoming powerful took effort and time, and threw them on the trash heap. Everquest 2 followed along because they had to, and it all went downhill from there. ☹ ehh the jrpgs on the consoles did that way before wow … as I as I was told “AD&D was too slow and boring why take all that time just go get to lvl 17-20 when I can play ff whatever and be lvl 122 in a week and be godly” ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/143 "2016-10-15T17:25:08Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > BTW- how about the old Magic:TCG game set in Shandalar? That strange, buggy, random, beautiful mess of a game…fond memories. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/144 "2016-10-15T20:16:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **DSYoungEsq** : > > Sometime around 2020, IIRC. Specifically, around four years before 2020. Anyone planning on traveling down to French Guiana to watch the launch? ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/145 "2016-10-22T22:14:37Z")
Heroes of Might and Magic 1-3. Still play 3 on occasion. Also, a no-longer-online MUD called Thieves World. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2016, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/146 "2016-10-25T08:30:48Z")
Leisure Suit Larry Kings Quest Space Quest Police Quest Micro League Baseball… my first fantasy baseball type draft. The Art of War ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/147 "2016-10-28T17:57:24Z")
_Warcraft II_ Any/all of the _MechWarrior_ PC games _Chuck Yeager’s Advanced Flight Trainer_ _F-19 Stealth Fighter_ Those last two got me pretty decent at flying an airplane via keyboard; the computer I had at that time (a Compax 286 portable - “portable” if you felt like carrying a 40lb steel suitcase around) didn’t have a “game port” to plug a joystick into until I badgered my stepdad enough to have a “game port card” installed. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/148 "2016-10-29T05:54:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > _checks_ > Not only Chip’s Challenge, but the long-awaited sequel! Yay! > _checks again_ > Windows-only for both. Boo! You ever look into getting Wine running on your Mac? ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/149 "2016-10-29T19:40:07Z")
In no particular order: [Stunts/4D Racing](https://youtu.be/qT30-TCwDjM) Timon & Pumbaa’s Jungle Games Lego Creator Jazz Jackrabbit Sonic & Knuckles Collection Sonic CD ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/150 "2016-10-30T01:06:47Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > [Stunts/4D Racing](https://youtu.be/qT30-TCwDjM) Oh my god, yes! I loved that game. I think I remember spending endless hours designing custom tracks for it. This also reminds me of another favorite: [4D Sports Boxing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvbVIo6UHHM). Best boxing game I ever played; the punches felt so satisfying. Which in turn reminds me of the best football game I ever played: [Dynamix Football](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmPP-W2pE8A) (Front Page Sports) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/151 "2016-10-30T20:06:41Z")
> [@](#): > > You ever look into getting Wine running on your Mac? I have it, and run a few games that way (including the original Chip’s Challenge), but I’m not sure how I would get it to work with Steam games. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/152 "2016-10-31T02:37:37Z")
:smack: I FORGOT [SID AND AL’S INCREDIBLE TOON!](https://youtu.be/C-7LgrEUOL4):smack: > [@Chronos](#): > > I have it, and run a few games that way (including the original Chip’s Challenge), but I’m not sure how I would get it to work with Steam games. Not much sense running an Atari Lynx emulator. The Windows version is much more convenient. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/153 "2016-10-31T05:11:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I have it, and run a few games that way (including the original Chip’s Challenge), but I’m not sure how I would get it to work with Steam games. Steam is [supposed to work on Wine](https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=19444)([possibly with some tweaks](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Steam/Wine)), though I admit I’ve never tried. Though I do note that I often buy Steam games and then download a different version. I’m not too worried about malware due to using different Wine prefixes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/154 "2016-10-31T14:22:47Z")
As in, get the Windows version of Steam, and run _that_ through Wine? Having done that, would downloaded Windows versions of games then run transparently, or would I also have to set up Wine for each of them individually? ---
**Author:** ![Trevor\_Does\_Not\_Exist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@Trevor\_Does\_Not\_Exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trevor_Does_Not_Exist)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/155 "2016-11-05T10:11:05Z")
jet set willy ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/156 "2016-11-18T15:06:11Z")
I’m going to bust out my old Oregon Trail 3rd edition (1997). My son is old enough now to appreciate it. As I recall the secret to success was choosing different varieties of settlers (e.g. not all practical blacksmith/farmer types or not all wealthy banker/shopkeeper types) and to rely on fishing, hunting, and gathering as an integral part of supply management, and trading surplus foods in exchange for cash or fancy household goods near the end of the trail. Anyone else have fond memories of the game, or strategies to share? ---
**Author:** ![Overly\_Sentimental](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/overly_sentimental/32/4454_2.png) [@Overly\_Sentimental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Overly_Sentimental)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/157 "2016-11-18T21:08:10Z")
PC games I remember from the 90’s, already mentioned, include Carmen Sandiego, Doom, King’s Quest IV, and Mortal Kombat I and I (which both had great DOS releases). My favorite game probably barely qualifies, Deus Ex, which may have been released in '99. Probably my best fun was this game called “EGA Trek”, which was a shareware text based Star Trek kind of game where you flew around to different sectors to kill aliens. I remembered it a few years ago and you can still find it out there and it runs fine on a DOS emulator. It’s a really good throwback play, I’d recommend it to anyone who likes Trek or misses low-graphics games. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/158 "2016-11-18T22:28:04Z")
Two old time games I haven’t seen mentioned that I spent a lot of time on - War in Middle Earth from 1989 (although I played it a couple of years later) and Descent from 1995. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/159 "2017-05-26T14:05:59Z")
So last night I loaded Tropico: Mucho Macho Edition on the ol’ desktop. What fun! I forgot how enjoyable the music was. In fact I enjoy simply listening to the music almost as much as playing the game. There aren’t that many games I can say that about. Back in the day I usually pursued an economic/happiness based game strategy, but this time around I may switch to the militaristic brutal dictator route for kicks. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804/160 "2017-06-13T23:15:55Z")
“HARDWAR” Easily my favorite game when I was younger, came out in 1998. Graphics were top notch at the time, ran smooth and had a great soundtrack (experimental industrial) with decently acted movie cutscenes. The game was about living on the moon Titan after the mining companies had packed up and left, but with two mining company factions still fighting it out. It was pretty much space-ship warfare (called Moths) with a focus on making credits by scavenging stuff, trading or taking contracts (hits) on others. Storyline was pretty cool too. If you have the means to find it, I highly recommend it if you are into Sci-Fi/Space games with customization options (customizing ships etc, bringing certain items into shops so they can build new crafts). It was one of the first open world games I ever played, probably one of the first overall and was so underrated. I found it when I was like 11 years old in at Menards of all places, it was so good, I bought an extra copy in case I lost or broke the first. Great replay value as well for its time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-computer-games/763804.md?page=9)