Online Gaming

[Jessie]

Lara Croft (who started the whole trend);

This is not quit true as Lara Croft is the first to make it a man stream Samus Aran From the game Metroid was around a lot longer than Lara was.

http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/featur ... t_metroid/

Jessie

[Alexandra]

Sorry Beauty, a no vote here too, although I'm sure there ARE some online games that I'd really like -- but I don't care for the bang-em-up-shoot-em-ups if you know what I mean. I also avoid solo games like the X-box as well as PC based games, because I'd never get anything done. I got into the Sims back in the early 90's and wasted a good portion of my life!!!! LOL!

Having said that I like flight simulators and I like to think I'd make a pretty good pilot -- I can dead-stick land a out of fuel 747 that came to a complete stall pointed straight up at night in a fog during a storm!!! LOL

[Gaven McLaren]

I am a big time gamer. I do play online but not much. Though I do love a good FPS networked (Unreal, Halo, Quake). I recently downloaded Magic The Gathering Online. I sadly have not taken my Xbox online enough. I bought PGR2 and have not played online with it once. As for the PC online gaming unless it is free I do not do it. Magic does not charge monthly but you do pay for cards.

[Carolynn]

No, I do not play on-line games. I "grew up" with face to face gaming and interaction with real people, and I found the online gamers to be too impersonal and too backstabbing. Alliances were formed and discarded far to fluidly in most of the games, including those that needed trust and teamwork. The few I tried degenerated into everybody for themselves and backstabbing so fast.....well it wasn't pleasant and neither of the games lasted long. Have things changed?

[Alexandra]

I simply cannot be aggressive wearing panties.

Interesting observation Julie. It got me thinking too . . . the agressive side of me comes out quite well while en femme . . . hmm . . . I wonder what that could mean?

[Beauty]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

There seems to be a mystique about online gaming. It's not about shoot em up as much as it was before. These days it's a lot about team work. You don't have to compete against each other anymore, you get to team up with someone and do things together. (without the guns and violence)

Julie, I'm still trying to find a good link for the site. If you want the quick look though. Go to ea.com and search on, the sims online.

I hope some of you, one day look into gaming online. It doesn't have to be competitve.

Beauty

[Gaven McLaren]

I agree Beauty the online gaming community has changed quite a bit from when it started. I think the growth of the internet and pc sales add to that. Now there is a wider audience and customer base. The game industry knows not everyone wants to kill his/her buddy all the time.

[Beauty]

Thanks for the backup Gaven!

Julie,

Here's a link to the simsonline.

http://www.eagames.com/official/thesims ... /index.jsp

Beauty

[CJ]

Hi all,

I came across this interesting link on gender-bending in the gaming world (i.e., why do so many males play as females?). Worth a look-see.

Love,
CJ

http://www.womengamers.com/articles/gender.html

[CJ]

Hi all,

Gaming Goddess Stevie Case took a look at the types of games women enjoy. She had this to say about the Sims:

Although several companies have strived to create "pink" games that appeal to the traditional girl, the biggest hits among women are games that offer a gender neutral approach to design, and eliminate the stereotypes that frequently have driven away female fans in the past. The Sims is a fantastic example of a game that has seen huge success, due in large part to its appeal to gamers of both genders. Nearly half of all Sims players are female according to a recent Newsweek cover story, though the game has no specific element or character that is clearly designed to be female-friendly. It’s just a great, fun game that is equally accessible to both men and women. The Sims is specifically designed to encourage exploration and experimentation, and includes very few ways for players to fail or lose. These are all elements that have been shown to appeal to female gamers over time.

You can find the full article here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/game ... ngames.asp A word of warning, though: this being a Microsoft site, there is much horn self-tooting going on here.

Love,
CJ

[Beauty]

Hi all,

I came across this interesting link on gender-bending in the gaming world (i.e., why do so many males play as females?). Worth a look-see.

Love,
CJ

http://www.womengamers.com/articles/gender.html

AWESOME!!!!

Thank you CJ!!

YES! lol.. this is soo cool!!!! I'll read it when I get home!

YES!!!

Beauty

[Kyra]

My vote was no. But I do enjoy games. We have an old playstation, and a game cube. I don't really play much on them anymore. It has something to do with navigating the myriad of toys/clothes/dishes/etc. that cover the floor in my son's room That and the fact that HE rules the games in the house. (well, at least he thinks so!)
I do have a few computer games, and I've tried a few online. I just don't seem to have enough time to sit and play anymore

Hugs,
Kyra

[CJ]

Hi all,

Hey, Beauty, you're welcome.

The last game I played was Deus Ex II: Invisible War's solo campaign on the XBox. It's an RPG/FPS combo where you play as Alex D., the main character, either as a male or as a female. Of course, I played as a female.

I'm not sure why I tend to choose female characters (well, aside from the obvious TG reason). I think it has more to do with my style of play. I usually take my time and proceed cautiously, thinking things through instead of rushing in, guns ablaze. Even in an FPS, I'll mull over the best course of action--and I'll always aim to disable rather than eliminate (I've had my share of high body counts in Hollywood movies--enough is enough).

I also prefer games where ambience and atmosphere are important and well-realized and where the plot is rich and the story well-written and open-ended. I love to explore and discover and be delighted at what I find in these virtual worlds. Action's okay, but only if it has a point and serves the purpose of the story. I'd try the Sims Online for sure, were it not for the fact that I don't plan on getting broadband internet access anytime soon.

Kyra,

Out of curiosity, do you play games at all, any other games aside from video games, I mean? For some reason, I picture you and Amber hunched over a cribbage board, with Amber eight points from the goal and it's your crib, while the sounds of Mario Sunshine come blaring out of your son's room...

Love,
CJ

[Kyra]

Hey CJ,
Yes, we do play games. But like I said, not nearly as often as I'd like. It seems like I work, come home and do a few chores, eat/ sleep and start all over again. Ugh! I feel like a robot going through the motions. I really miss playing games. Amber and I play all manner of card and board games. Alas, time is fleeting.

Oh, and Mario is yesterday's news. Today we dance to the tune of Sonic the Hedgehog!

Hugs, and happy gaming
Kyra

[Lorna]

I too am from the Atari generation. There used to be a link to play the original Pitfall online, but now I can't find it.

Oftentimes I like to go to http://www.shockwave.com or http://www.newgrounds.com to play games online! Oftentimes they'll have free downloads there.

Here's another site I'll go to to play some very unique games... http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

And another: http://www.addictinggames.com/