If you had to live in a video game...

[Jake Plane]

Consider whatever scenario you'd like. A mad scientist. A Tron-like accident. A burp in the universe that throws you into one of the infinite parallel planes.

Whatever the case, you now exist in a video game of your choosing.

Which is it and why?

Considerations:

* It may be fun to smash like the Hulk, but you're green, you don't have friends, you're constantly hunted and there's little chance that even a yoga master can "accommodate" you. Consider the pros and cons.

* Your favorite games may not make a preferred new "reality." Running, shooting and constantly looking for life and power-ups may make for a stressful life. Or may simply make you a New Yorker.

* Your least favorite games may make for a preferred new "reality." Three words: Leisure Suit Larry. Think about it.

* Few games provide for Maslow's hierarchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs). And whether in this world or the next, who doesn't want to become a self-actualized being?

[Jason McMaster]

Secret of Monkey Island.

[Flowers]

Minesweeper

[Ben Sones]

Fallout. Or maybe Painkiller.

[Hanzii]

Leather Godesses of Phobos

[Jason McMaster]

Leather Godesses of Phobos

I almost said that. Or Knights of Xentar.

[Jake Plane]

Gentlemen, you're dating yourselves.

[Justin Fletcher]

Myst series. If forced to choose one, Uru.

[Kaigen]

Myst or Grim Fandango.

[Hanzii]

Gentlemen, you're dating yourselves.

Yeah, we're old... but cool and hip to you youngsters games, yo!

[Jake Plane]

I'm surprised that Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball has yet to make the list.

[Ephraim]

Leisure Suit Larry, any of them.

If Larry can get laid in those by assembling a condom out of saran wrap, a cat whisker, and a strawberry... Anyone can.

[Brian Rucker]

Probably some Star Trek adventure or sim that has a holodeck. The holodeck's for when I get bored of the world I'm in and want to check out a new game. Even Leisure Suit Larry.

Err: I guess that's a clever line but not a good answer. I guess, probably, Morrowind. Nice little places to settle down and people to talk to (if repetatively so). Maybe a MMO would be better for more interaction, say, SWG. Get my own house, my own ship and can decide just how exciting or not I want any given day to be.

[AndrewM]

Fallout 2. Strolling around a post-nuclear-holocaust landscape in power armor with my posse of freaks, doing good and helping to rebuild society. Though the whole fall-of-civilization thing might be a downer after a while.

[Fugitive]

Elite. High-tech enough to please my inner SF geek, but not so squeaky-clean as to be boring or where most of the planets look like the third world.

(Edit: Though if I actually had to 'be' the game and strike out into space on my own, I'd probably be dead within a week.)

[Moore]

Dead Rising.

[LesJarvis]

Half Life 2. Down with the Combine!

[Equis]

Final Fantasy X.

Sure, it was kind of a mediocre game, but man, JRPGs have the most idyllic seaside villages ever.

[Incendiary Lemon]

I'm torn between Fallout and Syndicate.

[MarchHare]

Either Pirates! or Wing Commander: Privateer. Probably Pirates!, since Privateer doesn't have the option to cavort with governors' daughters.

[Jake Plane]

Wouldn't KOTOR cover the appeal of both? You'd have travel, some romance (far limited options admittedly) and a party of friends to keep you company.

[Bee]

The Sims

[playingwithknives]

I'm surprised that Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball has yet to make the list.


First thing i thought of before i read the thread. Except would be Number 2 so i could get to play about on jetbikes too.

[Flowers]

Wouldn't KOTOR cover the appeal of both? You'd have travel, some romance (far limited options admittedly) and a party of friends to keep you company.


Yeah, and no fucking rum, and no fucking letters of marque and fucking reprisal from the King of fucking Spain.

[Gordon Cameron]

I find the fantasy RPG settings most alluring, generally -- probably one I'd be inclined to pick would be the "golden age" Britannia of Ultima IV (just make sure I get out of there before Blackthorn usurps power). I could be a grad student at the Lyceum, or maybe own a cabin in Skara Brae.

But! Then I reflect on the lack of plumbing and I'm not so sure. No anesthetic either, but they do have clerics.

Maybe a sci-fi world would be better because then they have all the modern conveniences. I'll have to get back to you on this one...

[Hanacker]

What was the game that was like the Sims but focused more on having sex with sexy people? Singles?

[Charles]

Freespace 2.

[Jake Plane]

I just want to point out that living in a fantasy RPG setting means no computers, no cell phones, no video games. At one point, that's gotta suck.

[Fugitive]

The Sims
Don't forget the nude patch, or you'll be terribly disappointed come nightfall.

[Flowers]

I would live in Ultima Online, but the bizaare blackouts and repeated, overwhelming sensations of Deja Vu might be a bit disconcerting. I would also be a bit weirded out to have the laws of nature change every now and again. It would be nice to be able to become a Grandmaster Mage in five or so days of intensive practice.

[MarchHare]

Wouldn't KOTOR cover the appeal of both? You'd have travel, some romance (far limited options admittedly) and a party of friends to keep you company.

KOTOR doesn't really have the open-ended "here's a ship and some starting cash, now go make your way in the world" appeal that both Pirates! and Privateer do.

[Skipper]

Oblivion for the beauty. Fallout 2 for the sense of humor that mimics my own. And Playboy: The Mansion for ... well, just because.

[Jake Plane]

You can't pick three. Please, we're trying to have a "realistic" conversation here.

[Sam Jones]

Fallout 2. Strolling around a post-nuclear-holocaust landscape in power armor with my posse of freaks, doing good and helping to rebuild society. Though the whole fall-of-civilization thing might be a downer after a while.

That would be great, until some punk gets lucky and crits you in the eye with his 10mm, painting your brains all over the inside of your power armour helmet.

[Skipper]

You can't pick three. Please, we're trying to have a "realistic" conversation here.

Okay then, probably Oblivion. So many areas you could see and so many things to do. Let's face it anyway, Hef's the only one getting action at the Playboy Mansion, I wouldn't stand a chance.

[Jake Plane]

Fallout 2. Strolling around a post-nuclear-holocaust landscape in power armor with my posse of freaks, doing good and helping to rebuild society. Though the whole fall-of-civilization thing might be a downer after a while.

Plus... mutant chicks. 'nuff said.

[Saxman_72]

Pretty much any Star Trek Next Gen era game where the galaxy is pretty much at peace.

Pretty much.

[Gordon Cameron]

I just want to point out that living in a fantasy RPG setting means no computers, no cell phones, no video games. At one point, that's gotta suck.

The ability to cast a fireball would compensate somewhat.

Although I suppose one can do a pretty good approximation in our world, with a few simple devices...

[Jason McMaster]

that's my least reliable illusion.

[Raife]

Something like Privateer. A space sim with a pile of different worlds and fairly common ships.

[Bee]

Don't forget the nude patch, or you'll be terribly disappointed come nightfall.

I'm married so I'm used to the disappointment come nightfall.

[Skipper]

I'm married so I'm used to the disappointment come nightfall.

Don't forget things in your home will spontaneously combust while you are cooking unless you read cookbooks every night. That's a lot of homework considering you're already pretty booked up with the weightlifting, talking into mirrors, and dancing with brooms.

[MonkeyPunky]

Animal Crossing

I can't believe i'm the only one so far? :)

[Lorini]

WoW, since I already live in there anyway.

Lorini

[AndrewM]

That would be great, until some punk gets lucky and crits you in the eye with his 10mm, painting your brains all over the inside of your power armour helmet.

That's when another feature of the Fallout 2 world comes into play: saving and reloading.

[IkeVandergraaf]

Everquest. Maybe EQ2.

[Jaysun]

Grim Fandango

[ElGuapo]

Planespace: Torment, but only if I'm on the top of the food chain.

[Balasarius]

WoW, of course.

Someone mentioned that fantasy realms sucked because they lack cell phones and computers.

Well, duh - they have magic which more than compensates.

[Cosmic Hippo]

I'll second Privateer. Either that, or Star Control 2.

[snowcrash22]

Tetris

[Gordon Cameron]

Planespace: Torment, but only if I'm on the top of the food chain.

I would definitely *not* want to live in Sigil. That place is a dump.

[Gordon Cameron]

WoW, of course.

Someone mentioned that fantasy realms sucked because they lack cell phones and computers.

Well, duh - they have magic which more than compensates.

But does that extend to magic chamberpots?

This is something I think is important to nail down.

[ElGuapo]

You know, I'd love to be an Amberite. Too bad there is not a Amber based videogame yet.

[Gordon Cameron]

You know, I'd love to be an Amberite. Too bad there is not a Amber based videogame yet.

Well, there was (http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/nine-princes-in-amber).

[Fugitive]

But does that extend to magic chamberpots?

This something I think is important to nail down.
Just line it with a spare Bag of Holding. Though your heirs might be in for a bit of a shock as they're rummaging through your stuff.

[ElGuapo]

Well, there was (http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/nine-princes-in-amber).

Wow, was it any good? Anyone rememeber this?

I was thinking more sandbox RPG, but at least it's been attempted.

[Shadarr]

I'd probably have to go with Fallout, or maybe Survival Kids.

I can tell you which game I would not want to live in: Harvest Moon.

[Gordon Cameron]

Wow, was it any good? Anyone rememeber this?

I was thinking more sandbox RPG, but at least it's been attempted.

I peered over my brother's shoulder while he played a bit, back in the '80s.

Pretty standard graphic/text adventure of the era, seemed faithful to the first book. I have no idea if the puzzles etc. were any good.

[Alan Au]

Alpha Centauri

- Alan

[Jake Plane]

Interesting. Why not Spore?

[Saxman_72]

I would definitely *not* want to live in Sigil. That place is a dump.
Agreed. As much as I oh so love delving into that wondrous land of magic and portals, I don't believe I'd want to live there.

....maybe visit for a little while....but not live there.

[Ben Sones]

Is it too late to change my pick to Bad Mojo?

[Saxman_72]

Alpha Centauri

- Alan
You mistyped "Mon Calamari Cruiser".

[Alan Au]

Interesting. Why not Spore?That would depend on whether you were the creator or the, uh, createe.

- Alan

[Bill Dungsroman]

Jedi Knight 2. Just sometime around the end. I just want to run around and clown Stromtroopers for eternity.

[Desslock]

Animal Crossing - I like the purple cat and the red ape, your friends always remember your birthday, there's always an appropriately festive party for the occasion, you get delivered new video games occasionally, and I'm ambitious enough to go fishing every day.

Winner!

[Jason Cross]

Playboy: The Mansion.

There would be hot women and celebs and stuff around, but also things like, y'know, food. And chairs. And a swimming pool.

[Skipper]

Playboy: The Mansion.

There would be hot women and celebs and stuff around, but also things like, y'know, food. And chairs. And a swimming pool.

But if you can't guarantee you're Hef in that game ... it's not nearly as good a choice. Lets face it 90% of the fun and action in that game was Hef's.

[Hetzer]

Playboy: The Mansion.

There would be hot women and celebs and stuff around, but also things like, y'know, food. And chairs. And a swimming pool.


Mr Jason Cross, you beat me to it... Of course Playboy the mansion...

What do you want

Fuck for a living; or

fight for a living!

[Damien Neil]

Brittania, sometime around the Ultima IV era. (i.e., the one time when a Big Bad Bastard isn't making the entire place into a hellhole.) No computers, but learning magic will offer compensations. :>

[Jojo]

Wow, but on a PvE server. There's a constant stream of people to talk to if I want, or I can go hide out in some remote spot if I want to be alone. There's food, taverns, stores and teleportation.

Animal Crossing would drive me insane within a couple of days, you can't have a meaningful conversation with one of those animals!

[Bill Dungsroman]

* Your least favorite games may make for a preferred new "reality." Three words: Leisure Suit Larry. Think about it.
I did. What's your point? Almost never getting laid? Wow, that sounds great.

[Alan Au]

* Your least favorite games may make for a preferred new "reality." Three words: Leisure Suit Larry. Think about it.This all depends on whether you're playing as Larry, or whether you have to deal with being hit on by this funny-looking guy in a polyester leisure suit.

- Alan

[nutsak]

Interstate '76. Cool music, nice cars, poems, guns, warm weather and the women have no mouths. So really... where's the down side ?


I did. What's your point? Almost never getting laid? Wow, that sounds great.

There'd be basically no change for you there then, Bill. ;)

[roguefrog]

Brittania is a good one. It's really hard to beat because of all the towns living in synchronized harmony. Specifically when there was "no evil foozle" during Ultima IV's timeline. Although you'll likely to live to see Blackthorne's Oppression, Gargoyles, etc...

[Bill Dungsroman]

Interstate '76. Cool music, nice cars, poems, guns, warm weather and the women have no mouths. So really... where's the down side ?
The women have no mouths.

[Hery]

The women have no mouths.

That is a double edged sword if ever there was one.

[Old Man Gravy]

City of Heroes. The pedestrians' lives seem pretty much like mine. Except for the heroes everywhere.

Plus, no fatties! All chicks are hot! And the criminals in the streets leave the weak alone, just letting civilians go their way, and then they run willy-nilly at the first hero to come by.

Magic is abundant! Sci-fi technology is here! Health care is free and can be gotten from magic healers or technological wonders! Criminals constantly getting maimed and left in the gutter or abandoned warehouse! It's like heaven.

[Zylon]

SimEarth.

[BlueJackalope]

City of Heroes. The pedestrians' lives seem pretty much like mine. Except for the heroes everywhere.

Plus, no fatties! All chicks are hot! And the criminals in the streets leave the weak alone, just letting civilians go their way, and then they run willy-nilly at the first hero to come by.

Magic is abundant! Sci-fi technology is here! Health care is free and can be gotten from magic healers or technological wonders! Criminals constantly getting maimed and left in the gutter or abandoned warehouse! It's like heaven.

ya beat me too it, so I'll say Project Gotham Racing 3 - have you seen my fricking garage(s)?

Plus a 150 mph head on crash = paint scratches

[Shadarr]

That is a double edged sword if ever there was one.
I'll take a game where the women have mouths but you can mute them with a keystroke.

[Jake Plane]

City of Heroes. The pedestrians' lives seem pretty much like mine. Except for the heroes everywhere.

Plus, no fatties! All chicks are hot! And the criminals in the streets leave the weak alone, just letting civilians go their way, and then they run willy-nilly at the first hero to come by.

Magic is abundant! Sci-fi technology is here! Health care is free and can be gotten from magic healers or technological wonders! Criminals constantly getting maimed and left in the gutter or abandoned warehouse! It's like heaven.

Birthday boy makes a very compelling case. The only thing missing is any kind of space flight.

[Beer]

Postal 2
or maybe Redneck Rampage......

Nuff' said.

[Mike O'Malley]

Edit: move on, nothing to see here.

[Raife]

Edit: move on, nothing to see here.

Wasn't that by MicroProse?

[Beach123456]

Probably Oblivion, even though the lack of technology would get annoying, the ability to kill whoever i want, whenever i want would more than make up for it. "What!? Murder?!? That'll be $500 please."

[Vincent_GC]

Warhammer 40K universe.

Or WoW.

[Wobbo]

* Few games provide for Maslow's hierarchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs). And whether in this world or the next, who doesn't want to become a self-actualized being?

A Transcend or Talent in Alpha Centauri.

[Kryten]

I'd just hang out in one of the empty houses in IF, regaling the young'ins with stories of my wild adventures, drinking ale and ogling (sp?) the nice asses on the human females as they walk by.

[Robert Sharp]

You know, I'd love to be an Amberite. Too bad there is not a Amber based videogame yet.

ZangbandTK. I play it every night. And yes, you can be an Amberite.

[Robert Sharp]

I choose Kingdom Hearts. It's just so cute. And anything can happen, and I can hang out with cool characters, and probably steal Meg from Hercules! He's a chump.

[metta]

What I'd really l ike is to be a member of Special Circumstances, but no one has yet made a videogame about The Culture (http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/~stefan/culture.html).

I'll happily live in the Thief universe if I get to be Garrett.

[shift6]

Damn you metta, you beat me to it! Thief FTW.

[Shadari]

May as well just choose WoW... I'm pretty close to living in that game already anyway.

[Enduro_Man]

One more vote for Privateer--the original, not the sucky sequel with the good actors. True, there's no explicit cavorting with governors' daughters, but think about it: You've got an entire university planet (Oxford) plus a load of drugs hidden in your ship's secret compartments. Who needs ballroom dancing?

Thief's world would be nice, but I like my eye where it is.

[deccan]

May as well just choose WoW... I'm pretty close to living in that game already anyway.

Also, however many times you die in WOW, the Powers That Be always say it's not your time yet and send you back to the world of the living. And even when you stay dead, you can run around the world as a ghost and come back whenever you feel like it.

[MightyMooquack]

What I'd really l ike is to be a member of Special Circumstances, but no one has yet made a videogame about The Culture.

What, Halo doesn't count? (I kid, I kid!)

If the question were "which sci-fi universe would you want to live in," The Culture would probably be at the top.

[Shadari]

Also, however many times you die in WOW, the Powers That Be always say it's not your time yet and send you back to the world of the living. And even when you stay dead, you can run around the world as a ghost and come back whenever you feel like it.
And just think of all those lovely night elf females!

[Raife]

And just think of all those lovely night elf females!

Played by men.

[Jojo]

What, Halo doesn't count? (I kid, I kid!)

If the question were "which sci-fi universe would you want to live in," The Culture would probably be at the top.
Absolutely, its decadent and has all the whizzy gadgets I really want (AI, robots, spaceships etc).

[Zylon]

I'll happily live in the Thief universe if I get to be Garrett.
All together now...

"You're going to put your eye out!"

[Demorve]

Seven cities of gold.

[EviLore]

Baldur's Gate II. You have the NYC of the fantasy world in Athkatla, all the necessities taken care of for a piddly amount of gold easily attained through a little adventuring, beautiful environs to explore, incredible mage battles to have, and lots of interesting people to speak to (far more interesting than WoW degenerates). Just gotta watch out for Kangaxx if you don't have a magic immunity scroll; otherwise you're all set for a great time ;b

[Jake Plane]

Barbie's Horse Adventures could be an interesting reality... Or I could just go to TJ. Either works.

[JMR]

Hmmm think I'll go with the Starflight universe. Kicking Spemin ass is fun.

[Kitsune]

Ooooh, so many of them are enticing! To think of it alone is spicy! Here are some of my considerations:

Rez - Well, it sure would be interesting. Everything I'd do would have a rhythmic, musical connotation and everything would be in brilliant, geometric light and color. Plus, eventually I'd know the whole history of existence and gain enlightenment to the next plane. Perhaps if I got sick I'd de-evolve into a prism and perhaps, if I got a promotion, I'd evolve into a dove. T'would be a nice vacation.

Super Mario Bros./Mushroom Kingdom - Imagine what it would be like to walk around! Bouncing on mushrooms, flinging around on tightropes, climbing beanstalks to coin heaven. And then every time I got a 100 in the kingdom's currency I'd earn a whole nother lifetime! Think my girlfriend is cheating? Send a Teresa after her! Noisy neighbors? Bomb guys for the win! Feeling shy? Shyguy! Plus, you get to ride Yoshi, your emotions can power you up and I get to fly with a cape or turn into a statue. Watch out for those caterpillar guys in the garden! Flying on the sandbird? Thawing my ice cubes to find coins inside? Got a bully? Eat a mushroom and stomp him!

Rockman - Just because I need to live in a world where those little guys in hard hats exist!

Rocket Slime - Just imagine how fun this would be. Tank battles on the weekend!

Nah, but the real enticing world, the real runner ups would be:

Final Fantasy VIII - Imagine growing up in a Garden and becoming a SeeD. Coolest. School. Ever. Learn how to get all sorts of magical powers from guardians. Play Triple Triad in your free time. Take a jaunt to the battle simulator and fight fake beasties. And then when its time for vacation the whole school gets up and hovers over to awesome places like Esthar or Dollet. And any world that Zell exists in is a good world.

Mana games - Man, this would be tight. Imagine playing the drum that summons Flammie and then riding it through waves of clouds all over the world. And the eight elemental spirits? Summon Djinn if you're feeling really cold, summon Undine for a drink of water, summon Shade to curse your enemies. Then there's totally charming places to visit everywhere. And of course if you eat candy or chocolate that's all you need to heal your injuries. Keep a rabi for a pet! Buy stuff from Nikita! This is a very close runner up, just for the vividness of the world.

But the alltime winner would be definitely be...

...Hyrule! Not only is it picturesque and beautiful, it is frought with summertime adventures and wonderfully sublime places to visit. Swim with the Zora, go roll around with the gorons, go take a picnic in Kokiri forest or dream off to a vacation in Link's Awakening's island. If you're sick, get somebody to see the witch or carry you a fairy in a bottle. Not to mention the coolness you can get by mastering the playing of an instrument. Shift between dimensions and seasons and times at will. Living in an enchanted fairytale land.

It would be awesome.

Place I'd least like to live?

Intelligent Qube, definitely. Silent Hill for a good runner up.

-Kitsune

[Bill Dungsroman]

Jesus, Kitsune. Try just once to keep it short.

[Kitsune]

No.

-Kitsune

[andrew_fm]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1037/animation1et9.gif

[Theodore Rex DX]

Furcadia.

[nabeel]

Elite.

[AaronSofaer]

Hard one. Probably Amber.

[Ben Sones]

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1037/animation1et9.gif

You make a compelling argument.