Computer games

Hello everyone.

One of my many hobbies is computers, gaming consoles and the like. I believe that computer games may have already been discussed in this forum, but I started using computers in 1984, at the age of 3 years old. Back then, there was no Internet, no email, and a relatively limited number of educational games, unlike the thousands there are today.

My first computer was an Amstrad CPC464. My parents bought it in 1984, packaged with a dozen gaming cassettes (I think that some computers of the time used disks instead of cassettes). I got what would be my first ever printer a year later, as a Christmas present. There were no Microsoft Office applications in those days, but even so I was a young kid, and I would only just be starting to go to school.

Some of the games I played included 'Oh Mummy', where I had to uncover the rectangular boxes and exit the gaming area without beng caught by the 'mummy' characters, and also 'Trap Door', which was one of many of the time to be based on then-current children's TV programmes. I enjoyed playing those games, but some were completed rather quickly, and more easily with practise, which made them somewhat boring after a while.

Although I still play modern computer games on my phone, web tablet etc., I still like playing the 1980s-style classics today. Either way, I don't like playing games that contain violence or swearing, as such schemes can scare or otherwise offend me. I try to avoid gambling games as well due to their high age certification (i.e. 16+). Although I am 32 years old (as of 2013, meaning I should be OK with any reasonable game), I prefer games that are family friendly and have low age certifications (i.e. 3+). I do enjoy playing the amusement arcade games, especially the coin dozer machine games, which are virtually endless in terms of levels.

Parents
  • Yes, when I was young I had a BBC computer and remember learning to code in Basic, with a text book that came with the computer.  e.g. getting the computer to draw a circle on the screen in 3 different ways.

    I like turn taking games, and dislike most real time games as I always struggle with the idea that i'm missing something.  I spent a LOT of time in my 20s playing Sid Meier's Civilisation although I like some versions better than others.  I also like "The Settlers" but prefer the initial set of phase of the game before the enemies appear (its SO disappointing if you have spent 10+ hours building your village then those nasty vikings come and burn it down in the 5 minutes you were in the bathroom).  I've done a few versions of an online game called Travian too, which is real time but very rules and levels based.  Oh, then there were the months I lost to Facebook's Farmville.... I had a very pretty and large farm before I decided that maybe it would be nice to spend time with my husband occasionally.

    I also like board games, settlers of catan is good and more recently a group of friends and I have been playing the Battlestar Galactica boardgame which is lots of fun because it involves accusing each other of being Cylons.  I like Risk too but am not very practised.

    I dislike first person shooter games and have never been into the Grand Theft Auto or Tomb Raider type of action game.  I wouldn't know what to do with a games console, everything I play is on the laptop or iPad/iPhone now.

    Do other people find real time gaming difficult too or is it just me?

Reply
  • Yes, when I was young I had a BBC computer and remember learning to code in Basic, with a text book that came with the computer.  e.g. getting the computer to draw a circle on the screen in 3 different ways.

    I like turn taking games, and dislike most real time games as I always struggle with the idea that i'm missing something.  I spent a LOT of time in my 20s playing Sid Meier's Civilisation although I like some versions better than others.  I also like "The Settlers" but prefer the initial set of phase of the game before the enemies appear (its SO disappointing if you have spent 10+ hours building your village then those nasty vikings come and burn it down in the 5 minutes you were in the bathroom).  I've done a few versions of an online game called Travian too, which is real time but very rules and levels based.  Oh, then there were the months I lost to Facebook's Farmville.... I had a very pretty and large farm before I decided that maybe it would be nice to spend time with my husband occasionally.

    I also like board games, settlers of catan is good and more recently a group of friends and I have been playing the Battlestar Galactica boardgame which is lots of fun because it involves accusing each other of being Cylons.  I like Risk too but am not very practised.

    I dislike first person shooter games and have never been into the Grand Theft Auto or Tomb Raider type of action game.  I wouldn't know what to do with a games console, everything I play is on the laptop or iPad/iPhone now.

    Do other people find real time gaming difficult too or is it just me?

Children
No Data