It may look like guns and the Olympics are all I’ve been thinking about lately. But looks can be deceiving. I’ve actually been spending an inordinate amount of time this week playing Civilization V. It’s my latest gaming “discovery” (even though the franchise has been around since 1991) and has the huge advantage of being playable on my laptop so I can watch TV while I play (unlike Xbox or PC games).
Those who have played Civ (likely every other gamer in the world) already know it’s the world’s biggest time sink. None of that “I’ll stop when I finish this quest” or “Just 20 more minutes ….” There are always multiple things in motion in the game and multiple trains of thought. I’ve been up late (1:30, 2:00, even 2:30) more than once just looking for a good stopping place. After I capture Russia, after I defeat the invaders, as soon as I move my army over there, and while I’m thinking about it.
I blame my son. He got me into it. He got me into the whole gaming thing with Everquest, way back when, whenever that was. Unfortunately it been almost that long since he’s had much time to play for himself. (Wife, two kids, job, stuff like that.) When he does, it’s usually FIFA 2012, which I gave him. We’re enablers, the two of us.
Oh well, they say keeping the mind active is important for old farts. So this is a good thing, right?
(Okay, granted there are guns in the game. But it’s not the same thing. Honest.)
_
Also on Pied Type:
The down side of gaming
Best wishes, Tinkerhell
Grandma gets an Xbox
My dirty little secret is about to go public
I’m a gamer, you’re a gamer
I’ve been playing a bit of Rage lately. It’s rather fun, albeit somewhat limited for my taste in regard to the quests. I prefer more open worlds like Skyrim. Still, the graphics are pretty good. I just wish I didn’t have to spend so much time driving around. I’m not really into driving games, and this one has got you in a vehicle about 30% of the time.
Civ sounds fun. I’ve avoided it primarily because of the addiction factor. It’s a game that can go on forever if you let it.
You were wise to avoid Civ. It is insanely addicting. Before I hit it (or it hit me), I was deep into Skyrim Dawnguard, and will no doubt be going back to work on it. Like you, I love the big open worlds.
I used to play “Gardens of Time” and would spend hours and hours playing, then decided I liked sleep better! LOL Are you having fun? Go for it. 🙂
Trust me, if it’s not tons of fun, it’s not allowed to interfere with my beauty sleep!