# Recommend me a computer game **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902 "2006-12-13T01:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/1 "2006-12-13T01:07:39Z")
Now that school is almost out, I am thinking about rewarding myself with a new computer game. But I really don’t know what is out there right now, and I hate just window shopping. It is too easy to drop a lot of cash on a bad game. I really enjoyed **Medieval: Total War** , though I never picked up **Rome**. It just didn’t seem as interesting to me. I play the **Sims 2** quite a bit, but the newest expansion packs (after Open for Business) don’t seem to offer that much I care for. And I am getting bored with it. I really enjoy the type of strategy game where you construct your little city, manage your populace and raise an army. I prefer real-time rather than turn-based for this type, though it isn’t any hard and fast rule. I found **Tropico** delightfully fun though limited. So what have you all run across lately that has been fun? ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/2 "2006-12-13T01:30:50Z")
Civilization IV It’s the best turn-based empire building game I’ve ever played. It might be hard to get into it at first, but it’s really good. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/3 "2006-12-13T01:39:55Z")
Age of Empires 3 is damned good, and it’s already got an expansion pack. Rome: Total War was VERY good, better than Medieval. If you get Rome, beat that, THEN download the Total Realism patch on the Internets. Find **xtisme** if you want some more feedback on the topic. I have Tropico and liked it as well. I wondered how Tropico 2 was but never got it. Black and White was a good game as well. If you wanna get more complicated with city building, you can’t get better than Sim City 4…until the next one comes out, that is. I’ve heard great things about Medieval 2, Civilization 4, and Neverwinter Nights 2, but I’m still waiting on my video card. Grr. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/4 "2006-12-13T01:41:12Z")
My newest game is Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. It’s sort of like Age of Empires in space. You start out with a home planet and a couple of ships. You explore to colonize new planets, manage the economy, deal with political stuff in your empire, research new technology, engage in diplomacy or warfare, and expand your empire. You can go for victory by conquest, diplomacy, technology, or influence. Combat is more strategic than tactical–once battle is joined you can’t really do much but watch the animation waiting to learn the outcome. I enjoy it, but it’s for the patient gamers. One turn is considered to be a calendar week. I finished a game after a little over 10 years of game time. 500+ turns. There are some shortcuts to speed up turn time–you can set up queues for ships/improvements to be built so you don’t have to scroll through every planet every turn. Can also assign ships to fleets so you can issue one fleet command rather than umpteen commands to individual ships. Also has a utility that lets you do some ship design…working with set pieces, but you get to pick hull size, weapons/defenses/engines/extras. I think there may be a new Age of Empires out as well… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/5 "2006-12-13T02:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=liirogue] I found **Tropico** delightfully fun though limited. [/QUOTE] Have you tried [its pirate-themed sequel](http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/tropico2piratecove/index.html?q=tropico%202)? [Speaking of pirates…](http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidpirates/index.html?q=sid%20meiers%20pirates) ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/6 "2006-12-13T02:35:09Z")
Check out the games by [Paradox Interactive](http://www.paradoxplaza.com/); Europa Universalis II is their best in most people’s opinion, but EUIII is coming out in January. > [@](#): > > Europa Universalis invites you to a global struggle for supremacy from the dark times of Jeanne D’Arc to the flaming wars of Napoleon. As the leader of a country you have to guide domestic and foreign policies. Engage in religious struggles, set up expeditions to claim the New World, lead your country to prosperity and victory. Send your Privateers to roam the seven seas, muster mercenaries to bolster your defences, and send missionaries to convert infidels to your State Religion. Interact with true historical events and persons to determine which path your nation will take in the game. It covers military, political, dynastic, religious, trade, and exploration/colonisation aspects of world history from 1419 to 1819, and is downloadable from [Gamers Gate](http://www.gamersgate.net/) for $US15. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/7 "2006-12-13T05:25:07Z")
You guys undoubtedly know your games. Perhaps you can help me out. In the last week or so, I have seen references to an online sample of some hot new game - WOW? I intended to look into it, since I am **not** a gamer, but now I don’t recall what it was. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/8 "2006-12-13T05:29:34Z")
It was probably World of Warcraft. Online MMORPG, fantasy genre. Similar to Everquest, Lineage, and others. > **[World of Warcraft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Warcraft)** > > World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment. Set in the Warcraft fantasy universe, World of Warcraft takes place within the world of Azeroth, approximately four years after the events of the previous game in the series, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. The game was announced in 2001, and was released for the 10th anniversary of the Warcraft franchise on November 23, 2004. Since launch, World of Warcraft has ha... ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/9 "2006-12-13T07:31:39Z")
Does the OP like business management type games? I’m enjoying _Sid Meier’s Railroads_ right now. No armies but you do get to see the cities grow if your trains deliver the goods. I second _Civilization IV_. Then get the Warlords expansion pack. If the OP liked Medieval Total War, get the sequel _Medieval 2_. I haven’t picked it up myself but I have played _Shogun Total War_ and _Rome Total War_ and enjoyed them. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/10 "2006-12-13T07:39:13Z")
[QUOTE=Strinka] Civilization IV It’s the best turn-based empire building game I’ve ever played. It might be hard to get into it at first, but it’s really good. [/QUOTE] Second that! The whole Colonization/Civilization series are my favorite games of all time, bar none. [QUOTE=liirogue] I really enjoy the type of strategy game where you construct your little city, manage your populace and raise an army. I prefer real-time rather than turn-based for this type, though it isn’t any hard and fast rule. [/QUOTE] They have real-time games like that? Not turn-based? ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/11 "2006-12-13T13:36:53Z")
Rather than jumping into Medieval 2, I’d recommend getting Rome Total War and see if you like it. It’s cheap, there’s an expansion pack and plenty of good mods for RTW. MTW2, on the other hand, was released with some bugs that still haven’t been patched, and to be perfectly frank it isn’t anything more than a heavy mod for RTW itself. If you don’t like vanilla Rome, then don’t bother with the fifty bucks for MTW2. Mine is gathering dust. I’ll second getting Civ IV as a good return for the money and time invested. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/12 "2006-12-13T17:11:58Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] > [@liirogue](#): > > I really enjoy the type of strategy game where you construct your little city, manage your populace and raise an army. I prefer real-time rather than turn-based for this type, though it isn’t any hard and fast rule. They have real-time games like that? Not turn-based? [/QUOTE] [Heritage of Kings](http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesettlersv/index.html?q=the%20settlers) (aka The Settlers V) is real-time city construction with some scripted elements. I’d have suggested that earlier had I thought of it. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/13 "2006-12-13T18:24:59Z")
This thead is really interesting beause I’m always looking for a new game. The only game that I’ve ever really played long term as been the Sims and probably because enjoy the house building and I’ve started to learn how to recolor objects and work with meshes. The last game I bought was Syberia because someone recommended it on another board. The graphics are beautiful but it’s sort of an annoying game to play. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/14 "2006-12-13T18:34:22Z")
Have you tried [Defcon](http://www.everybody-dies.com/)? Ever see the movie “Wargames”? It’s kinda like that. Basically, you try and nuke your opponent and try to take the least amount of casualties. I downloaded the demo a few weeks ago, and it’s pretty good. I really like the music and the retro-style graphics. Pretty easy to learn too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/15 "2006-12-13T18:40:15Z")
My hands-down favorite game is GuildWars. If you’re looking for cheaper thrills, try [Dicewars](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=386721&highlight=dicewars). ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/16 "2006-12-13T19:09:53Z")
In stark contrast to a number of above posts, I would like to strongly caution you against purchasing Civ IV. No good, I repeat, no good can come of it. Should you purchase this game you will not eat or drink for hours on end, you will forego the bathroom, and your little ones will cry helplessly in the night as their father battles the endless minions of that bastard Montezuma and that bitch Isabella. Barbarians will sack your cottages as you deperately try to connect your newly aquired horses, others will complete world wonders one turn before you do, and the AI will employ techniques that will astound you. Do not give in. Do not tempt yourself with the forbidden fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/17 "2006-12-13T19:13:33Z")
There’s a new one either out now or coming soon (I forget which) called Paraworld that sounded fun. It’s a realtime world building game set in quasi-prehistoric times. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/18 "2006-12-13T23:47:32Z")
[QUOTE=liirogue] I really enjoy the type of strategy game where you construct your little city, manage your populace and raise an army. I prefer real-time rather than turn-based for this type, though it isn’t any hard and fast rule. [/QUOTE] RPG much? I have just recently started building games with the **Neverwinter Nights** engine. If you have an Inner D&D geek, this is an amazingly addictive passtime. I’m having trouble coming up with scenarios that _can’t_ be constructed in it. I view it as a kind of “dollhouse” hobby that can entertain me either by letting me create in detail pretty much anything I want, or as a standard RPG. The game engine is quite popular and modules of varying quality and personality created by the teeming millions can be downloaded – for free. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/19 "2006-12-13T23:55:04Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] There’s a new one either out now or coming soon (I forget which) called Paraworld that sounded fun. It’s a realtime world building game set in quasi-prehistoric times. [/QUOTE] It’s gotten decent to mediocre ratings across the board. [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/paraworld?q=paraworld](http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/paraworld?q=paraworld) I didn’t care for the demo I played of it. Rome: Total War has a demo available. Seems like with all the positive comments for the game, it would be worth downloading and checking into it. (I found it on FilePlanet, but I’m sure it’s available elsewhere, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902/20 "2006-12-14T02:39:07Z")
[QUOTE=Oslo Ostragoth] You guys undoubtedly know your games. Perhaps you can help me out. In the last week or so, I have seen references to an online sample of some hot new game - WOW? I intended to look into it, since I am **not** a gamer, but now I don’t recall what it was. Any ideas? [/QUOTE] WoW has been out for 2 years so is hardly new or hot. But the first expansion for it **The Burning Crusade** is due out on Jan 16 so maybe that was it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-computer-game/383902.md?page=2)