The very first computer game I ever played was Lode Runner and GRIME on a $4000 IBM (err XT?) my friends father bought it for work. I used to go over now and again to check it out when his dad would let us. But th then purchased Ultima 2 (maybe one, its been so long ago I would guess about 81-82ish) and we where both hooked. One would map, or write (dont do that much anymore) while the other played, we took turns. Once we started we spent every spare minute playing it much to his parents disapointment (it was summer, kids normally where not in parents hair). it was the changing point in my game playing life. I had a 2600 (and before that a odyssy) which i played when it was cold outside, but never when it was nice. The first RPG i played hooked me, no more consoles, i needed a computer (vic 20 to a atari 400 to a TI99/4A(mistake) to a c-64 to a Amiga, and now PC).
Ultima was singel largest influnce on me, nothing I had seen like it before. I played them all later (even Lord Britishs first effort). Then it was Wizzardry in collage. I had been so buzy with Ultima i had missed Wizzardry 1, i started on 2, and replayed one later. I liked the dungeon crawl sytle of Wizzardry more then i liked the flat look of Ultima, my tastes had changed, Wizz one my new favorite. It morphed into bards tale, everything that made Wiz so great was maginfied. Better looking, animated!!!! The new KING. All the while playing the Apshi games, and several other RPG's, all fun, but never in my mind long after I won them. During that time the GOLD box stuff had came. I loved the presentation (and was a AD&D nerd so the IDEA blew me away) but while i loved the idea, the games never grew on me, I did play them all, even the strange silver box side scroll ones. I do know the SSI Dragon combat (flight sim?) one I did get hooked on (and even fired up in dos box a few years ago). One Of WESTWOODS first efforts, you know the guys who did (DUNE 2) and a couple of the best Eye of the beholder clones (with voice! and Picard as the KING (hmmm a gig he is still doing with Oblivion). The next HUGE step was the Might & Magic 3, (recently played it and World of Xeen from start to finish just for fun). And as somebody mentioned the Ultima Underworld games... this was where i wanted to be in RPG worlds in real time. Luckly i had a PC at the time that sorta played um ok .
RPG's where the basis, heck singel reason for my computer gameing addiction. Nowdays not many RPG's seem to hold my attention for long, be it that I have played to many, or I'm jaded (and much older). MMORPG's (namely Ultima Online, but more-so Everquest) filled the gap, The first time playing Ultima, the first time playing Everquest.. they may be the best "pure enjoyment" moments from my RPG past. I know I "think" i will recapture some of those feelings with evry new RPG game i see, but never do. the new ones today look awsome, play well, but for some reason just dont capture that feel for me. I still like them, but its very rare i play a game (any) nowdasy and look up at the clock and see its 3Am and I need to go to bed.
its hard to put 25 years (wow.. maybe more, yes I'm sure more, closer to 30..yeesh!) of RPG gaming into a post, the highs and lows... the Firsts... there where alot back then, now its hard to really do anything "new".
Those days of graph paper, and friends watching having as much fun as those playing. Figureing out silly puzzles (telports, squares that spun you). The first animated sprite monsters and not just a discrption. Dungen Keepers true stereo sound and real time monster movment (cant say how much i jumped when a mob cam up behind me when i was fighting ones in front). When Xeen had 2 games that when installed made a 3rd game! When Bards tale made a constrution set so I could make my own. When Everquest took me into a 3d world with people playing my party memberes, the fear of the dark (playing a human). The save every 3 steps mentality, and the death that made you backtrack 4 hours becuase you where so "into the game" you forgot to save.
Nowdays i just bought the new FFXIII for the PS3, I like it, and played it a bit, but at about 30 hours I lost most interest and havent revisited. Dragons Age was and (when i fire it up) still is fun, but so far while good, its never reached GREAT to me. I think they made a mistake with the difuculty curve. Replaying a battle 20X just to get lucky enouhg to win is not good (and yet i hear some people had no problms with it). To be honest there are alot of good new ones, but I dont think we will ever recapture that feeling from the past.
New ones i would recomend: The Witcher (rated mature, keep that in mind), Drakensang (i think its better then Dragons Age, but think I'm in minorty on that). Mass effect (one and two).
And for those of you who like some "new" to the old RPG format, PUZZLE QUEST rocks.. very fun and different, but I'm guessing many of you have played it.
The very first computer game I ever played was Lode Runner and GRIME on a $4000 IBM (err XT?) my friends father bought it for work. I used to go over now and again to check it out when his dad would let us. But th then purchased Ultima 2 (maybe one, its been so long ago I would guess about 81-82ish) and we where both hooked. One would map, or write (dont do that much anymore) while the other played, we took turns. Once we started we spent every spare minute playing it much to his parents disapointment (it was summer, kids normally where not in parents hair). it was the changing point in my game playing life. I had a 2600 (and before that a odyssy) which i played when it was cold outside, but never when it was nice. The first RPG i played hooked me, no more consoles, i needed a computer (vic 20 to a atari 400 to a TI99/4A(mistake) to a c-64 to a Amiga, and now PC).
Ultima was singel largest influnce on me, nothing I had seen like it before. I played them all later (even Lord Britishs first effort). Then it was Wizzardry in collage. I had been so buzy with Ultima i had missed Wizzardry 1, i started on 2, and replayed one later. I liked the dungeon crawl sytle of Wizzardry more then i liked the flat look of Ultima, my tastes had changed, Wizz one my new favorite. It morphed into bards tale, everything that made Wiz so great was maginfied. Better looking, animated!!!! The new KING. All the while playing the Apshi games, and several other RPG's, all fun, but never in my mind long after I won them. During that time the GOLD box stuff had came. I loved the presentation (and was a AD&D nerd so the IDEA blew me away) but while i loved the idea, the games never grew on me, I did play them all, even the strange silver box side scroll ones. I do know the SSI Dragon combat (flight sim?) one I did get hooked on (and even fired up in dos box a few years ago). One Of WESTWOODS first efforts, you know the guys who did (DUNE 2) and a couple of the best Eye of the beholder clones (with voice! and Picard as the KING (hmmm a gig he is still doing with Oblivion). The next HUGE step was the Might & Magic 3, (recently played it and World of Xeen from start to finish just for fun). And as somebody mentioned the Ultima Underworld games... this was where i wanted to be in RPG worlds in real time. Luckly i had a PC at the time that sorta played um ok .
RPG's where the basis, heck singel reason for my computer gameing addiction. Nowdays not many RPG's seem to hold my attention for long, be it that I have played to many, or I'm jaded (and much older). MMORPG's (namely Ultima Online, but more-so Everquest) filled the gap, The first time playing Ultima, the first time playing Everquest.. they may be the best "pure enjoyment" moments from my RPG past. I know I "think" i will recapture some of those feelings with evry new RPG game i see, but never do. the new ones today look awsome, play well, but for some reason just dont capture that feel for me. I still like them, but its very rare i play a game (any) nowdasy and look up at the clock and see its 3Am and I need to go to bed.
its hard to put 25 years (wow.. maybe more, yes I'm sure more, closer to 30..yeesh!) of RPG gaming into a post, the highs and lows... the Firsts... there where alot back then, now its hard to really do anything "new".
Those days of graph paper, and friends watching having as much fun as those playing. Figureing out silly puzzles (telports, squares that spun you). The first animated sprite monsters and not just a discrption. Dungen Keepers true stereo sound and real time monster movment (cant say how much i jumped when a mob cam up behind me when i was fighting ones in front). When Xeen had 2 games that when installed made a 3rd game! When Bards tale made a constrution set so I could make my own. When Everquest took me into a 3d world with people playing my party memberes, the fear of the dark (playing a human). The save every 3 steps mentality, and the death that made you backtrack 4 hours becuase you where so "into the game" you forgot to save.
Nowdays i just bought the new FFXIII for the PS3, I like it, and played it a bit, but at about 30 hours I lost most interest and havent revisited. Dragons Age was and (when i fire it up) still is fun, but so far while good, its never reached GREAT to me. I think they made a mistake with the difuculty curve. Replaying a battle 20X just to get lucky enouhg to win is not good (and yet i hear some people had no problms with it). To be honest there are alot of good new ones, but I dont think we will ever recapture that feeling from the past.
New ones i would recomend: The Witcher (rated mature, keep that in mind), Drakensang (i think its better then Dragons Age, but think I'm in minorty on that). Mass effect (one and two).
And for those of you who like some "new" to the old RPG format, PUZZLE QUEST rocks.. very fun and different, but I'm guessing many of you have played it.