So, I've recently been on a massive space 4X bender, in search of a game that would provide me with, essentially, Civ4 in space.

After trying almost every big name in the field, I finally recently wound up settling on Galactic Civilizations II, which for the most part, I rather like, despite some flaws.  The tech tree works in a very weird way, and it seems I've still some tweaking to go before I can get a galaxy with a half decent number of planets.

The biggest problem though, is that I apparently suck ass at it.  I seem to get beat to all the good planets, and the openness of the whole Starbase concept is still a bit tricky for me to wrap my head around, the fact that you can just build the damn things anywhere with no consideration for location or anything opens up so many strategic possibilities as to confuse.

I managed to do OK for a time in last night's game, trying to push for an influence victory as best I could, but wound up getting in a war with a bigger empire because the fuckstick tried to build an influence starbase right next to my capital, so I blew it up, only to discover that the computer knows far better than me how to get to the good ships.  I got stuck in a position where after the third or so war, he just plain refused to sign a treaty, I lacked the military force to scare him into one as I had on previous occasions, and the UN war tax and the effect on trade and such were killing me.  

so it seems I'm still getting the hang of this thing, especially the tech tree.  It's a cool game, but it's started to be like playing Civ2 for me was:  not about winning, but just trying to actually survive half decently for once.

If you like it, then by all means try to get your hands on Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar expansion, it takes everything from GCII and improves it, to the point that it is now considered the best 4x galactic game ever made.

Quote from: UmaSamaIf you like it, then by all means try to get your hands on Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar expansion, it takes everything from GCII and improves it, to the point that it is now considered the best 4x galactic game ever made.

I want DA soooo bad.  I'm running on a shady copy right now, but thanks to the clever nature of Stardock's anti-piracy strategy, I have no choice but to go out and buy the Gold Edition as soon as I have some cash.

Not that I mind that in the least.  These guys deserve the cash.  From what I've been reading about Dark Avatar, it seems like they have achieved exactly the game I've been looking for.

First person shooters, particularly Gears of War.

Seanchai

Counterstrike.  I just can't keep up with the kids, but damn I love it.

Quote from: HalfjackCounterstrike.  I just can't keep up with the kids, but damn I love it.

+1.  In college my friends and I had a clan.  All but two of us were varying levels of mediocre; one of them was lured away by a better clan and the other spent most of his life in a ganja haze.

Good times.  When you walked the halls, they echoed with the roar of digital gunfire.  Even our RA was hooked.

Too many to list, as I generally suck at games.

The ones that generally kick my ass are also strategy games though.  I dearly love stuff like Heroes of Might & Magic II, but the AI just stomps me through the ground.

I have a natural tendency to turtle up in games though.  I love building big overwhelming forces and tearing through the opposition like a hot knife through butter.  Most games are designed to actually require tactics, though, so I lose.  

Beat 'em up games. When it comes to blows, I just forget every special move and turn into a button-mashed. Which doesn't get your far with most characters. Quite sad, as modern fighting games are really neat and I love to watch the moves and combos. I hope some RPG uses this a bit more, and executing those special maneuvers just requires some points, not thumbs of steel...

Every RTS ever made...i like the concept, but i hopelessly suck at them.
(although the old Might & Magic series is still pretty fun...and i don't completely suck at them, so there's that..)

Quote from: SeanchaiFirst person shooters, particularly Gears of War.

Seanchai

I'm good at FPS, I suck at driving games thought

Quote from: pathfinderapI'm good at FPS, I suck at driving games thought

Well, I ain't good at those either. I'm an old skool button masher.

Seanchai

I love the WipeOut series games, but at the higher levels I'm your classic wall-bouncer. Question though: is there something in a game (particularly in a console/computer game) that will make us persist, despite being bad at it? Is there one thing for a specific game that you can nail down and say "This is why I persist"?

Cheers
Malcolm

I suck at platform jumpers because I am afraid of heights, and the possibility of falling to my death, even vicariously, is unpleasant and nerve-wracking.

Quote from: PseudoephedrineI suck at platform jumpers because I am afraid of heights, and the possibility of falling to my death, even vicariously, is unpleasant and nerve-wracking.

Ooh, that touches on something else:  I love FPSes, even though my skills vary pretty wildly depending on the game.

But one thing that's a bitch for me is horror.  Doom3 scared the unholy piss out of me, to the extent that my first attempt lasted about 20 minutes.  The haunted hotel in Vampire: Bloodlines so far remains unconquered, as seriously freaked me the fuck out.  I lasted about 45 seconds into the demo of Echo Night Beyond.  

Silent Hill was creepy as hell, but I got pretty far into it, but the more immersive presentation of an FPS drives that horror home so much harder.

Quote from: SeanchaiWell, I ain't good at those either. I'm an old skool button masher.

Seanchai

You CAN'T be my wheelman then!,

Nothing but Space invaders and pong for you mister,