Good Wayne

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Civ II

We have one of those give-a-book, take-a-book areas in the cafe at work. You know, based on the give-a-penny, take-a-penny system, which seem so wildly popular that it extends to just about every other communal system (except for the dismal failure of give-a-kidney, take-a-kidney).

Anyway, the other day, instead of a book or audio tape, I spy a CD. And not just any CD, but a copy of Total Annihilation, one of the best RTS games ever made. I burned more time playing TA than any other game while I was working at Impressions. Awesome kick ass units, spectacular graphics (for the time) and a wide array of varied terrains to fight on. Hands down, my favorite RTS of all time.

I don't need another copy. But, always willing to share the love, I quickly run through the index of people I know and Shaun's name pops to the top.

1. Fan of Warcraft—an RTS.
2. Likes explosions
3. Doesn't spend enough time on the computer.

As I prepare the CD for mailing, I think that I should add something else. That one game - while a great game, it is possible he might not like it, and that might seem a little cheezy. So I find a copy of Civilization II, another hall-of-famer game.

I mail it, thinking that if he doesn't find something interesting there, he must be brain dead.

Then, I start thinking of Civ II. How you build your civilization from a single tribe. How you map the world, settle cities, develop technology through the ages and meet other civilizations. Trade, treaties and war. I think of some of the great games I've played and suddenly I'm regretting sending it to him.

I get an email, in part:

I received a mysterious package through the International Letter Post yesterday, but sadly there was no name upon which to pin responsibility. The mailer seemed to consist of two CDs, both of which were emblazoned with glowing red letters that said "DANGER: TIME SINK" on them. Now I know that you, in particular, object to me living a fulfilled life free of computer-based gaming addictions, and would find yourself well pleased to see me converted to what we may from here on refer to as "The Darkness".

Ugh. I advise him to sprinkle some holy water on the package and set it on fire. I have no idea if he's done this, but his suspicious lack of email lately, leads me to some dark conclusions. I certainly hope he won't hold it against me.

For you see, my unrelenting dwelling on Civ II has finally led me to fire it up again. To relive some of the glory days of gaming. Now, I promptly loose 4 hours at a wack. If I had a vicious plan to deprive Shaun of valuable free time, even subconsciously, then the plan has utterly backfired and it is I who am sucked in instead.

Damnit.

posted by Evil Wayne | 11:40 AM

2 comments 2 Comments:

Shaum likes WC? Well, why don't we have a weekly game?!? I'm sure DaveE would be happy to join, as well as JoeC.

As far as FPSs go, you've heard me rave about CounterStrike... I even bought BF:1942 to try it, but didn't even open the CD yet... Too busy killing Terrorists.

-- Cranky Dan

By Anonymous, at Mon Jan 24, 12:30:00 PM 2005

I think we're talking about the original Warcraft here, which, while a classic, is waaaaaaay dated.

Also, I get the feeling he's not exactly on the whole multiplayer scene. Frankly, I envy his ability to dodge all kinds of distractions shiny and pixel.

*sigh*

By Evil Wayne, at Mon Jan 24, 11:40:00 PM 2005