Hey, figured I should put this in a blog and see what people think. Right now I'm going through the ever stressful period of trying to finish what is the equivalent of Senior yeah in High School for America (or year 12 over here) and I need a release.
I play lots of Starcraft 2, at least a few hours a night but its gotten to the point where its more habit than anything else. I feel like I need something new, something awesome. I have an extensive steam library of games of which I have all played through (~40 games or so) and have no intention of returning to.
So I made a list of the things the game should preferring have, be or not have etc.
- Something that is easy to relax with, I don't want something like WoW to stress me out more than usual
- If its an MMO that can be played with the lag associated with being aussie and no aussie servers
- Must not be LoL/HoN/DotA types... played enough of that
- NOT minecraft or EVE
- Something I can preferably talk to about with friends easily, or ideally play with them. However this is necessary.
Shout some random games at me guys, this might prove helpful for some others who are looking for games.
PS. I wouldn't mind a Browser based MMO so long as its decent and works properly.
On April 04 2011 21:00 ~_~ wrote: WoW is the ultimate casual game. If that is too stressful for you maybe you should find a new hobby.
I've played WoW since release on and off, whenever i've come in as a casual player I've always being sucked in some way or another into raiding or PvPing competitively. I also just feel like i'm done with the game. I've being with it for WAY too long even though I haven't played it since Jan.
Depends on what genre of game you are looking for, I guess.
As far as FPS games go, Team Fortress 2 is the ultimate casual FPS. Games from the Battlefield series are also pretty good.
You can try some free FPS games if you are really casual. Quake Live is pretty good, though the community is diminishing a bit. Battlefield Heroes is nice to pop into once in a while. Battlefield Play4Free is about to enter the open beta, and it's decent for a free game.
Guild Wars is a pretty good MMO and can be played casually, especially since a lot of the game revolves around completing a well-defined story arc.
You can always try out some free MMOs just to sample them. Lord of the Rings Online, Warhammer Online, and Runes of Magic are good free MMOs to try out.
I recommend Subspace/Continuum, it's a 2D spaceship shooter; the most populated and popular zone is TrenchWars (http://www.trenchwars.net/). You've got 8 different ships and fly around in teams or solo and try to get to grips with the inertia-based 2D physics engine. Easy to figure out, hard to master, and a lively community with tons of chats. Let me know if you visit someday, I can give you a tour.
And here's a brief tutorial:
Oh, and there's also a separate alt-tab chat window, so you can just park your ship somewhere and forget about it for a while as you chat or do whatever.
On April 04 2011 21:00 ~_~ wrote: WoW is the ultimate casual game. If that is too stressful for you maybe you should find a new hobby.
Wow can be hardcore and very time consuming. I find offline games to be more relaxing then online games probably because I always get very competitive in any sort of online game. I'd recommend something like Civ 5 which is just a chill turn-based strategy game. I play it only with my mouse while I'm lying back and watching tv, i.e. when I'm just trying to relax
Other less stressful games would be some kind of rpg where you just really try to get lost in the world it self although I'm not really a big fan of that but I've played really good rpgs like oblivion and fallout and they have a world you can get absolutely absorbed by if you're into that kind of stuff.
On April 04 2011 21:04 eviltomahawk wrote: Depends on what genre of game you are looking for, I guess.
As far as FPS games go, Team Fortress 2 is the ultimate casual FPS. Games from the Battlefield series are also pretty good.
You can try some free FPS games if you are really casual. Quake Live is pretty good, though the community is diminishing a bit. Battlefield Heroes is nice to pop into once in a while. Battlefield Play4Free is about to enter the open beta, and it's decent for a free game.
Guild Wars is a pretty good MMO and can be played casually, especially since a lot of the game revolves around completing a well-defined story arc.
You can always try out some free MMOs just to sample them. Lord of the Rings Online, Warhammer Online, and Runes of Magic are good free MMOs to try out.
I stopped TF2 once it became less about the shooting more about the items (when the store came in), and I loovvveee basically all of the BF games (can't wait for BF3!).
I'm a pretty good QL player yeah the community isn't here anymore, especially in Australia, there are only a few full servers at peak each night so its kinda hard to stay around. Never tried Guild Wars and I might give it a shot, but I've played LOTRO a bit (thought it wasn't bad but I prefer DDO), I never liked Warhammer Online when I played it on release unfortunately. I heard decent things about Runes of Magic but was told it was basically a WoW clone which is a little unappealing to me (which is a big reason for me not giving Rift a shot either).
Thanks though I'll definitely be checking both GW and RoM out a little!
On April 04 2011 21:00 ~_~ wrote: WoW is the ultimate casual game. If that is too stressful for you maybe you should find a new hobby.
Wow can be hardcore and very time consuming. I find offline games to be more relaxing then online games probably because I always get very competitive in any sort of online game. I'd recommend something like Civ 5 which is just a chill turn-based strategy game. I play it only with my mouse while I'm lying back and watching tv, i.e. when I'm just trying to relax
Other less stressful games would be some kind of rpg where you just really try to get lost in the world it self although I'm not really a big fan of that but I've played really good rpgs like oblivion and fallout and they have a world you can get absolutely absorbed by if you're into that kind of stuff.
Everytime I got bored of gaming or life in general I would do a playthrough of Fallout 3.... Steam says I've played 130 hours of it xD. I've got all of them and also Morrowwind + Oblivion and have played through them a few times. Huge fan of Bethesda but I can't bear playing more Fallout 3 than I already have
I cringe every time i reccomend this to someone, but it sounds like it would fit your wants.
Runescape.
- Something that is easy to relax with, I don't want something like WoW to stress me out more than usual - You can just chill with your friends, skill or do pvm combat. Or quests. Or Minigames.
- If its an MMO that can be played with the lag associated with being aussie and no aussie servers - Iirc there is a couple of aussie servers, if not the lag shouldn't be too great.
- Must not be LoL/HoN/DotA types... played enough of that - Its nothing like them
- NOT minecraft or EVE - Runescape is not minecraft/EVE
- Something I can preferably talk to about with friends easily, or ideally play with them. However this is necessary. (im assuming you meant not necessary) This is the only one you may have problems with...
On April 04 2011 21:11 57 Corvette wrote: I cringe every time i reccomend this to someone, but it sounds like it would fit your wants.
Runescape.
- Something that is easy to relax with, I don't want something like WoW to stress me out more than usual - You can just chill with your friends, skill or do pvm combat. Or quests. Or Minigames.
- If its an MMO that can be played with the lag associated with being aussie and no aussie servers - Iirc there is a couple of aussie servers, if not the lag shouldn't be too great.
- Must not be LoL/HoN/DotA types... played enough of that - Its nothing like them
- NOT minecraft or EVE - Runescape is not minecraft/EVE
- Something I can preferably talk to about with friends easily, or ideally play with them. However this is necessary. (im assuming you meant not necessary) This is the only one you may have problems with...
Im not gonna lie I've being thinking about exactly that too.... I just don't think I could bear the title of being a Runescape player since I played it back when it was socially acceptable (when I was 12) and was able to make loads of in-game money by manipulating the economy (until they patched in valuation or something).
Something along the lines of Runescape is great however.
On April 04 2011 21:11 57 Corvette wrote: I cringe every time i reccomend this to someone, but it sounds like it would fit your wants.
Runescape.
- Something that is easy to relax with, I don't want something like WoW to stress me out more than usual - You can just chill with your friends, skill or do pvm combat. Or quests. Or Minigames.
- If its an MMO that can be played with the lag associated with being aussie and no aussie servers - Iirc there is a couple of aussie servers, if not the lag shouldn't be too great.
- Must not be LoL/HoN/DotA types... played enough of that - Its nothing like them
- NOT minecraft or EVE - Runescape is not minecraft/EVE
- Something I can preferably talk to about with friends easily, or ideally play with them. However this is necessary. (im assuming you meant not necessary) This is the only one you may have problems with...
Im not gonna lie I've being thinking about exactly that too.... I just don't think I could bear the title of being a Runescape player since I played it back when it was socially acceptable (when I was 12) and was able to make loads of in-game money by manipulating the economy (until they patched in valuation or something).
Something along the lines of Runescape is great however.
Well, they put free trade and the old wilderness back in, but with the bonus of all the (op) weapons of the new era. But yeah, it comes down to the reputation the game has. I know like two or three people at my school that still play, but they don't tell anyone else because they don't want to be associated with the game and the people that play it.
Edit: Wow, 1337th post talking about runescape. T_T
On April 04 2011 21:11 57 Corvette wrote: I cringe every time i reccomend this to someone, but it sounds like it would fit your wants.
Runescape.
- Something that is easy to relax with, I don't want something like WoW to stress me out more than usual - You can just chill with your friends, skill or do pvm combat. Or quests. Or Minigames.
- If its an MMO that can be played with the lag associated with being aussie and no aussie servers - Iirc there is a couple of aussie servers, if not the lag shouldn't be too great.
- Must not be LoL/HoN/DotA types... played enough of that - Its nothing like them
- NOT minecraft or EVE - Runescape is not minecraft/EVE
- Something I can preferably talk to about with friends easily, or ideally play with them. However this is necessary. (im assuming you meant not necessary) This is the only one you may have problems with...
Im not gonna lie I've being thinking about exactly that too.... I just don't think I could bear the title of being a Runescape player since I played it back when it was socially acceptable (when I was 12) and was able to make loads of in-game money by manipulating the economy (until they patched in valuation or something).
Something along the lines of Runescape is great however.
Well, they put free trade and the old wilderness back in, but with the bonus of all the (op) weapons of the new era. But yeah, it comes down to the reputation the game has. I know like two or three people at my school that still play, but they don't tell anyone else because they don't want to be associated with the game and the people that play it.
Haha and you hit 1337 posts while talking about Runescape :3... I might actually put that down on the list of games to try. Even if it does become a closet thing I do for a while.
In terms of FPS games, I would recommend anything is the battlefield series. BF2 is pretty amazing and is still a lot of fun to play online. Bad Company 2 is pretty good too. Super Meat Boy is by far one of the most fun games I've ever played, but don't take it too seriously or it will get really really stressful!
Portal I would definitely recommend, its pretty casual and relaxing while it's also pretty challenging at the same time. A lot of fun!!!
On April 04 2011 22:11 Flaunt wrote: Rift? Maybe try playing Diablo 2 since there was just a ladder reset. I could give you an account if you need one ;o.
Ill be giving diablo 2 a shot, its cool I have my own CD key however. Thanks for the offer :D
if I was to concentrate energy in a new game, it would be Halo Reach on xbox 360.. Actually I really want to get back into it, but I already waste enough time playing sc2, I shouldnt do both =[
EPT
