Best Strategy Games Part Two.

[stethnorun]

I'm starting to think that Blizzard is the first gamer-created religion. It has people blindly proclaiming it the god of all gaming...when they only produce mediocre games. Just goes to show you...even atheists are susceptible to blind faith in things.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I'm starting to think that Blizzard is the first gamer-created religion. It has people blindly proclaiming it the god of all gaming...when they only produce mediocre games. Just goes to show you...even atheists are susceptible to blind faith in things.

Is posting nonsense part of a religion too?

Nobody, not a single person on this thread, proclaimed blizzard the god of gaming (I don't even see anywhere where a person said "all blizzard games", most just listed 1 or maybe a couple).

Starcraft IS one of the best games ever made, but that doesn't necessarily mean we feel all Blizzard games hit that standard (the duping/bots and tedium of diablo, and especially the highly questionable addition of WoW, AND the more obscure things like when you played as Thrall in that adventure game are all examples of Blizzard products that are hardly top-tier). While other companies have done worse, Blizzard isn't perfect. However, Starcraft itself is very close. Race, timing, play style, tech pace...it balances them all close to perfectly. You can take gambles, and one strategy is absolutely never guaranteed to win.

Just goes to show you that even random internet posters are prone to ignorant statements and reading patterns that aren't there in this case .

Although I might agree with you in part. Those WoW people almost seem to have started a cult or something. A lot of war III players were upset because even some legit RTS skill/talent went the way of MMORPG, never to be seen again. Painful. But even before WoW, warcraft III was not balanced upon release, and stayed not balanced through many, many patches even with FT.

 

[stethnorun]

Calm down there. You agreed with my basic point. I wasn't calling anyone out, I was calling the current group-think phenomenon out. I simply looked at the poll results and commented on a trend.

And in case you reacted so harshly because you thought I was attacking atheism, I am an atheist myself (as I've noticed lots of others on here are too). Even if one is an atheist, one can still fall victim to a lack of critical, objective thought in other areas of life.

 

[Ai Shizuka]

No Hearts of Iron and Red Alert 1/2 again?

Voted homm3 this time, but it was a close call vs RTW.


And what's with Blizzard? Let's not get into a WoW debate but jesus, MILLIONS of people have been playing that thing for years. Maybe there's something good in that game?

But I don't give a damn about WoW. Stuff like the first Diablo and Warcraft 1/2 are some of the best games ever created. Never played Starcraft but once again, the numbers don't leave much room for debate.
Enough to make Blizzard a top-tier company, imo.

 

[Iranon]

3. Not really startegy games, but D&D type games are fun, too.

Actually, my biggest beef with D&D is that it's turning into a strategy (or rather, tactics... but nobody ever makes the distinction) game and I vastly prefer it as a more open-ended 'adventure simulator' with a heavy emphasis on 'rules are suggestions to make the GM's life simpler, nothing more.'
This might be a futile and somewhat illogical protest, since it originally descended from tabletop wargames though...

*

I was boring and voted for chess, although I really really REALLY wanted to make a case for NetHack... if it qualifies in the first place.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Actually, my biggest beef with D&D is that it's turning into a strategy (or rather, tactics... but nobody ever makes the distinction) game and I vastly prefer it as a more open-ended 'adventure simulator' with a heavy emphasis on 'rules are suggestions to make the GM's life simpler, nothing more.'
This might be a futile and somewhat illogical protest, since it originally descended from tabletop wargames though...

*

I was boring and voted for chess, although I really really REALLY wanted to make a case for NetHack... if it qualifies in the first place.

Good GMs are so rare though . The anti gaming stigma is only STARTING to vanish in the US but for games like D&D it's definitely still around. I don't know a single person who plays it other than my little sister and a couple of her friends (I would probably too on occasion, if circumstances were different).

 

[AmazonQueen]

Good GMs are so rare though . The anti gaming stigma is only STARTING to vanish in the US but for games like D&D it's definitely still around. I don't know a single person who plays it other than my little sister and a couple of her friends (I would probably too on occasion, if circumstances were different).

But get a good GM who can react to player actions, either brilliant or idiotic, and depart from the path the scenario has mapped out, knows when to ignore the rules, and can improvise quickly and you have a great gaming experience.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

But get a good GM who can react to player actions, either brilliant or idiotic, and depart from the path the scenario has mapped out, knows when to ignore the rules, and can improvise quickly and you have a great gaming experience.

Yeah I've played with a couple good GMs in the past...it really makes it a better experience.

 

[PaulisKhan]

I can't choose just one game. I refuse!
That list is pretty much my perfect gaming collection.

ps. CivIVMonger: The Settlers Rise of an Empire is some new iteration of the settlers franchise. It's probably missed the point like every version since the first. The original is "The Settlers: Serfcity".

 

[katipunero]

I'm starting to think that Blizzard is the first gamer-created religion. It has people blindly proclaiming it the god of all gaming...when they only produce mediocre games. Just goes to show you...even atheists are susceptible to blind faith in things.

wut? who diz people calling blizzard god? and why the reference to atheism and atheists after? don't see the connection really. boy you are missing a few premises or making bad ones.

 

[civverguy]

Starcraft is my favorite out of these games.

 

[stethnorun]

wut? who diz people calling blizzard god? and why the reference to atheism and atheists after? don't see the connection really. boy you are missing a few premises or making bad ones.

I'm referencing the general opinion held among a good chunk of gamers that thinks Blizzard and do no wrong. I don't think they've done WRONG...but they've definitely done "meh" for a very long time.

And I referenced atheism because I have observed that this forum has a high percentage of them (including myself). I was simply saying that while atheist pride themselves on their critical and objective thinking, they still can have their intellectual weaknesses.

I was commenting on the paradigm of "Blizzard is so great". That's all.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I'm referencing the general opinion held among a good chunk of gamers that thinks Blizzard and do no wrong. I don't think they've done WRONG...but they've definitely done "meh" for a very long time.

It just goes to show how key staff leaving can hose projects. The crew that made starcraft are not exactly the same that made warcraft III, and I don't know much about WoW's production but given its a different genre I bet it's even MORE different in terms of staff. No company can get past the limitation (and potential) of being comprised of individuals in a system...and game design/creation is essentially project management from what I hear, and having experience in doing that as part of my MBA training I know that a LOT can go wrong and only very talented/experienced individuals can deal with it well.

Hopefully they pick it up for Starcraft II, because that sequel has some of the biggest shoes to fill in all of gaming .

 

[stethnorun]

I admit, I've never actually played Starcraft. By the time I was even aware of it, it was way too old for me to get into (I only hit up the decade old games when they are RPGs). It may be wonderful, but everything I've read about it sounds like a very typical RTS. I know some will claim that it INVENTED those cliches, but still by today's standards...it looks like Warcraft in space. I've also never played a Blizzard game I thought was great (Diablo was probably their best game that I've played and even that was "meh" when it comes down to it), so I'm assuming that Starcraft, while perhaps better than the rest, is still leaning more towards mediocre than great.

But I could be wrong. I doubt it though.

 

[Da_V_Man]

I admit, I've never actually played Starcraft. By the time I was even aware of it, it was way too old for me to get into (I only hit up the decade old games when they are RPGs). It may be wonderful, but everything I've read about it sounds like a very typical RTS. I know some will claim that it INVENTED those cliches, but still by today's standards...it looks like Warcraft in space. I've also never played a Blizzard game I thought was great (Diablo was probably their best game that I've played and even that was "meh" when it comes down to it), so I'm assuming that Starcraft, while perhaps better than the rest, is still leaning more towards mediocre than great.

But I could be wrong. I doubt it though.

The Koreans would like to have a word with you.

I chose AoE II because I played that game a bit. I preferred the third game though, but now that I've discovered TBS I like them more due to the fact that that the speed at which you play does not affect the game (unless you have a turn timer in a multiplayer game) :-\)

 

[Qasar]

"Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic" esp. w/ the Brave New World 3.0 Mod!!

I know you could not list them all, but this one needs props... Definitely!

 

[Abraham Lincoln]

I voted for the borad game Settlers of Catan. Wonderful game! But boring if you are alone.

 

[phungus420]

Rome Total War. But the mod RTR is so good, you should just check that out instead.

 

[Racsoviale]

CIVIVMONGER: I would recommend you get settlers 2 for the pc if you want a good settlers game, it has a very laid back attitude, and you can really learn a little about the art of logistics and manufacturing.
Remember to play with music from your itunes library instead of the ingame music though(oldschool sounds/music gets annoying very quickly).
The problem with the later installments of settlers is that they try to make it more into a genuine wargame(while still trying to keep the management part, in this they fail and I think you will only have bad experiences with that) It's a bit amusing but it seems that every new settlers game they make, it gets worse. I have: the settlers 2(as well as the 10th anniversary edition), settlers 4, and heritage og kings(and in my mind they go from very good to bad to worse.
I dont know much about the rise of an empire, but in my experience with settlers, I think you should try end get the settlers 2 10th anniversary edition(I promise you that your computer can run it) the only extra you get from the 10th anniversary edition is some polished graphics, sound and some new maps I believe, but it should also be a little more vista friendly(you know what vista is like concerning games riiiiiiight)

 

[CivIVMonger]

Well, if it bothers you (though nerd-dom might be something to take pride in ) you can always take the "scares small children" approach. That seems to work for me regardless of whether I try to apply it .

In your defence, maybye...