Computer games of all kinds are just awesome.

[clyde]

I feel like expressing my affection for my favorite art form. I really enjoy computer games. Some of them are not well made, some of them are made well for people with different tastes, and some of them are my jam, but I think it's great that they exist at all. In college, I became obsessed with the Parisian abstract art movements of the early 20th century and said to myself "Wouldn't it be great if I was there?" No, probably not, with World War threats, poverty, widespread ignorance, status-quo bigotry, not to mention that I would probably spend all my time putting orphans to work in factories rather than enjoying the elite tea-times of Gertrude Stein and Andre Breton; it likely would have sucked. Hard. But what I got was even better. A somewhat populous, consumer driven medium where there is a given faith that if the artist makes what he/she would love to play, someone else will enjoy it too. 
The democratized investment of Kickstarter Projects and paid Alphas; An enormous community consisting of every gradient-strata of participation; the constant potential of creating or discovering something innovative, expressive, influential, and/or fun; Computer games is a good place to be right now, and I get to participate YAY!

SHOUT OUTS!!
For context: I just played two matches of Super Monday Night Combat after playing La Havre and Zen Pinball on my iphone at work and I'm now choosing between Prison Architect's alpha and the Crusader King II's tutorial. 
We all got our favs and our failures, and most importantly, we all have passion. Usually we talk about the details, whether a platforming cartoon character should adjust their direction mid-air or whether or not a hidden-picture game can respectfully address issues like sexual-assault, but we got our face buried so deep in this most excellent pie of savor, that I rarely have an opportunity to just be like: "I FUCKING LOVE COMPUTER GAMES!" 
Know what I'm sayin?
Feel me. 

[Sno]

I like this post.

video games are pretty fucking sweet.

[Ucantalas]

I approve of this message. Games are awesome, and for all the complaining people like to do about the industry or about the small things in games, they are still amazing feats of technology and artistry that are just so much fun.

[Gormongous]

Sometimes I sit down at my computer and feel frustration that I have so many games I want to play, when I ought to feel elation that I have so many games I want to play.

 

Currently playing Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den DLC, Tropico 4, Monaco, Kerbal Space Program, and now Dark Souls. Oh, and Crusader Kings II, now and forever.

[Nachimir]

A somewhat populous, consumer driven medium where there is a given faith that if the artist makes what he/she would love to play, someone else will enjoy it too.

 

I don't disagree, but would like to expand on that a little: some of the most interesting work being done at the moment is by groups choosing to make that work explicitly non-consumer driven, e.g. One Life Remains, Babycastles, Glitchnap. That the spectrum for things to be made is so extremely wide is precisely why I think videogames are amazing, and I wrote a little more about that here.

[Colourful Stuff]

Kerbal Space Program has reinvigorated my passion for the art form. It was beginning to feel less special, almost like sitting down in front of reality TV.

This is the moment which really reminded me how singular the medium is.

I built and operated a machine which landed on another world. That is completely beyond the reach of other art forms.

[twmac]

I just finished Heavy Rain and although I think that a lot of it was a bit rubbish the underlying awesomeness of trying to do something different and in many ways successfully putting together a mood, setting and pacing for a story told over 10 hours was really impressive.

 

Well done Quantic Dream.

[Twig]

Week-by-week, I go from loving to hating to loving to hating to loving Dota 2, and yet I never want to stop because it scratches an itch that has never been scratched before. It's like I'm a sports fan all of a sudden. Hold me.

 

Fuck yeah video games.

 

I recently finished Max Payne 3, and I don't give a fuck what a bunch of people I know say, that game was rad, go go Max, you whiny, noir-wannabe, bullet-dodging, bullet-timing son of a bitch. I love you.

 

Fuck yeah video games.

 

I started up Waking Mars last night, and holy shit, I am learning about an ecosystem that has existed for apparently millions of years, in perfect equilibrium until I broke everything FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE. Now I'm balls-deep and have to continue destroying-by-creating for the sake of survival.

 

Fuck yeah video games.

[Zeusthecat]

I've been weaving Idle Thumbs approved games into my normal gaming repertoire lately and I feel like I am going through my own gaming renaissance. I've recently played Secret of Monkey Island and Journey and am in the middle of Monkey Island 2 right now. Experiencing these games has been amazing. Not just amazing, fucking amazing.

 

It has reminded me that video games were amazing 20 years ago and video games are amazing now. Plus, video games still allow me to play pretend even as an adult. I miss playing pretend.

[Colourful Stuff]

Plus, video games still allow me to play pretend even as an adult. I miss playing pretend.

You aren't going to start LARPing on us, are you?

[Zeusthecat]

You aren't going to start LARPing on us, are you?

 

I wish I could but I just can't suspend disbelief to that degree without devolving into a retarded caricature.

 

I still remember the last time I played pretend. I was 18, had just graduated from high school, and was working nights at the only ice rink in Tucson, Arizona. After closing up we would usually skate(board) around in the parking lot and hang out for a bit before going home. But one night we decided to explore around in the desert area adjacent to the ice rink where there was a wash (a dry river for people that come from places with water) and other random junk that homeless people used for makeshift shelters. One of the other guys claimed that he had heard something which caused the rest of us to pick up some swords (sticks) that were lying around. We knew he didn't actually hear anything but played along anyways. Then as we cautiously explored the area we made up an elaborate story about the area being an ancient city for homeless people and that it was haunted by their leader "Bum-esus" (bum crossed with Jesus). At one point I half expected that we would have to battle Bum-esus, but alas we eventually came back to reality never to pretend again.

 

So, yeah, video games. I can still pretend in those.

[Colourful Stuff]

Until recently (I'm 20) I would pretend to be somebody else while falling asleep. A great general contemplating the bloodshed the dawn would bring, an astronaut lost in space or a criminal laying low in a lonely motel. I only stopped two years ago when I started sleeping with my partner, now when I'm sleeping alone I just pretend I'm lying next to them.

Wow, that sounds depressing written down.

[Zeusthecat]

Until recently (I'm 20) I would pretend to be somebody else while falling asleep. A great general contemplating the bloodshed the dawn would bring, an astronaut lost in space or a criminal laying low in a lonely motel...

 

Nice! I should try that. I never dream any more and I miss having badass dreams. I bet going to bed in that mindset makes you have some good ones.

[Dewar]

If nothing else, this thread has reminded me I haven't played Crusader Kings in a while. I need to rectify that.

[Gormongous]

If nothing else, this thread has reminded me I haven't played Crusader Kings in a while. I need to rectify that.

 

The Old Gods DLC is landing soon. Once the CK2+ mod is updated for that, I'll be losing another weekend as one of the grandsons of Charlemagne.

[Dewar]

CK2+ mod? Color me intrigued,

 

Steam seems to indicate that Old Gods has already landed.

[Gormongous]

CK2+ mod? Color me intrigued,

 

Steam seems to indicate that Old Gods has already landed.

 

Damn! I guess I picked the wrong time for a visit home then.

 

Anyway, like I said in the Crusader Kings II thread, there are three main "vanilla" mods: Project Balance, CK2+, and The Prince and the Thane. The first focuses on balance, the second on gameplay, and the third on atmosphere. I find Project Balance to be too much like the base game, frantic and arbitrary, and The Prince and the Thane too focused on roleplaying, plus bugs galore, so I'm a big advocate for CK2+, which has a very deliberate pacing that highlights decisions and consequences.

 

Sadly, the mod creator, Wiz, got hired by Paradox to work on Victoria II, so the mod is going to be discontinued after a promised compatch for The Old Gods. Who knows what's next.

[Patrick R]

Proteus is a great computer game. Most excited I've been playing a game since I finished The Walking Dead. Thanks Humble Bundle!

[darthbator]

There are computer games that aren't dota? I'm super confused guys!

[Ben X]

What are computer games? Are they like video games?

[dibs]

Computer games are like jake video games Rodkin?

[dibs]

But they don't run through my dreams so they can't be the same?!

[Twig]

They're like video games but the good kind!

 

snicker

[ImAwesome2]

Yes, Video games is amazing