Felix’s Blog

I think next time I’m stuck on a computer game I’ll just get some sleep.

There has to be a reason why I don’t really want to play Galactic Civilizations 2 anymore. (And after just a few days, too!) The most important reason is also really simple– Galactic Civilizations is not the game I went to the shop to buy.

I was looking for a game called Dominions 3. When I didn’t see it on the shelves, I picked up other games to fill the time. I think the only reason I played Galactic Civilizations for so many hours these past few days was the surface simplicity of these games. You hit “turn” maybe several hundred times and that’s how your civilization gets larger. You could micromanage more of the colonies, ships, etc., but on the whole hitting the turn button is just another skinner box. You start to sense the walls.

It was still fun. I enjoy these sandbox games. They’re called sandboxes because a sandbox is a place for open-ended play. Sure, there are some rules (Rule number 1: Do not eat the sand. Some kid has already peed there), but the game is whatever you want it to be.

Another way I could describe these empire building games is that they’re kind of like virtual gardens. If you do the right things in the right conditions, your empire grows. Half the fun is just watching the change happen.

So I created a huge sandbox to play in, populated it with other empires, and started from scratch last night. I’d probably defeat the other races if I played the game to its conclusion, but I probably won’t.

By then, I hope to have Dominions 3. Muahaha…

felixnation :: Jan.17.2007 :: Hermit Cave :: 1 Comment »