Posted 7/5/2010 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
I was initially going to put this as a reply to the "I need new friends" thread, but as I typed I realized I'd be hijacking it for something that most of you probably won't be interested in.
Anyway, due to my health, I am unemployed. As such, I have a lot of time on my hands. I pass the time (and keep my mind off my guts) by playing online games. I find it actually helps me feel better. Perhaps because it's something I enjoy doing that can be done mere feet from- or even on- the toilet. Some of them are First-Person Shooters, like Halo and Call of Duty, others are Action-RPGs, like Mass Effect... but the most enjoyable are Massively Multi-player Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG, or MMO for short).
Anyway, MMOs are particularly enjoyable for me because they provide an environment close enough to real life that you are able to form real friendships. I met some of my closest friends while playing Final Fantasy XI. We can't hang-out in real life all that much, as some of them live halfway across the world, but it's nice to be able to talk to a good friend without reminding them that you're not there because you're sick, or having to make constant plans for what you'll do if you really need to poo.
It's no replacement for friends that live in your area and whatnot, but its nice to have people to talk to when stuff is going on and you can't participate, so it makes a nice supplement. Like tonight, for example. 4th of July, all my friends are out partying and whatnot, and I'm running to the bathroom every 5 minutes. So, I log into the game and chat/play with other people who, for whatever reason, aren't out attending the festivities.
Some games I'd recommend that are out right now:
EVE Online: You are a capsuleer; an immortal. After undergoing intense training and surgical augmentation, you board a Capsule. From this capsule, you control warships as large as cities with a mere thought. Should your ship ever be destroyed, and your capsule ruptured, your neural implants inject you with a poison that freezes your brain's synapses. They then scan your brain and beam this information to the nearest stargate, where it is instantly relayed across thousands of lightyears to where you installed your clone. Machines then write your synapses into your new body, and it is activated. You live on. This game is like a giant sandbox. There are very few restrictions to what you can do, outside the basic game mechanics. The learning curve is more like a cliff with spikes at the bottom and a guy standing at the top trying to sell you the cure for stupid. Also there's a pirate shooting at you. It's rather complex, and the people you meet are as likely to scam you as they are to shoot you.... which is pretty likely. However, it is extremely fun, especially if you find a group of good people. Uses a unique training system that does not require you to be online for your character to grow, which means it can take months (or in some cases years, but thats only for the really really big stuff) for you to fly a ship effectively. Expansions are free, and subscription costs can be paid using in-game currency (make money in-game, buy an item in-game, apply it to your account in-game, and get free game-time) which makes it possible to play for free. Has one giant server that everyone plays on, except the Chinese. They get their own because of censorship issues. I'm currently playing this.
World of Warcraft: You play as a member of the Horde or the Alliance, and can choose from several races each. You spend much of your time killing zebras for their hooves, finding lost axes, killing evil monsters, and lots of other quests like that. This game is the sequel to Warcraft 3, which is an awesome game, so WoW itself is pretty awesome by default. Low learning curve, easy to get the hang of, time consuming to master. Extremely popular. Lots and lots of people. It's a fun game, but full of teenagers with full anonymity and a lack of consequences. A new expansion is coming out fairly soon, introducing new features and a raised level cap. Requires a subscription. Has several regional groups of servers, such as European servers, US servers, Asian servers. In order to switch server groups, you need to buy a game from that region... so not great if you want to play with friends from other regions.
FFXI is soon to be replaced by FFXIV and Star Wars Galaxies is soon to be replaced by Star Wars: The Old Republic. Warhammer Online fizzled, as did several other MMOs that I've played. I've heard that Aion is doing fairly well, but I haven't tried it.
Some games I'd recommend taking a look at when they come out:
Final Fantasy XIV: The successor to FFXI, my first MMO. It's looking like a good game, and the Final Fantasy series has always had a strong following, so it won't lack for players. I don't know much about the story, but I expect there to be damsel-saving, nation-saving, and world-saving. Appears to have incredible customization options. Not quite as many as some others, but still impressive.
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Looks pretty good. I'll probably try it out, because Star Wars is awesome. Set during the war between the Sith Empire and the Old Republic. I expect many lightsaber battles.
Diablo III: Diablo I and II were very gory. I expect the same from Diablo III. However, they were also extremely fun. They're not really MMOs, but they're close enough, and they're great games, so yeah. Basically, you're a hero fighting the forces of hell in a struggle to save Sanctuary, the realm between heaven and hell that mortals inhabit.
Anyway, even if you're not a gamer, I'd suggest giving one or more of these games a shot. They're incredibly fun. I should warn you, though, that they can be extremely addicting. I eventually learned to practice moderation, but I know a few people who never did and almost lost their jobs over it. Just pay attention to your habits (nothing new to a Crohnie) and you'll be fine.