Quote: What is the consensus about AoE 2 vs WOW? I'm looking to get into a game, but not sure which one I should choose. Lots of my friends go with wow, but after this review of AOE, I'm tempted to go that direction, although I would like to play with friends. Is it worth it to choose AOE and not play wow with friends?

If you wanted elements of both, you could take up StarCraft II. Or even the StarCraft: Brood War if you'd like something "retro" like AOE.

Quote: Original post by Beverly McadooIs it worth it to choose AOE and not play wow with friends?

"Worth" is subjective, "Beverly." Read FAQ 66: http://www.sloperama.com/advice/route66.htm. Only YOU can decide if something is "worth it" for YOU. Why don't you just play whatever game you want to?

I went cold turkey for a few months earlier this year. Then, during a entertainment slump where I felt bored, bought Football Manager 2010 and quickly was back in my habit of sacrificing sleep to fit some gaming time into my days. Two remedies that seem to work well for me: 1. Leave laptop power cord at work (20 miles from home. This gives me one or two hours of gaming time (depending on power usage). 2. Solium Infernum. A multi-player game where you play one game turn per day, and each game turn only occupies about 5-10 minutes of your time.

The good thing about gaming addiction... it's a relatively cheap addiction.

Quote: Original post by Instigator

I would push off everything to play more AOE 2.

HCCCCC back at you.

Do people still play that? That was the last thing I did competitively a decade ago. 28k modem and all that...

Quote: StarCraft II

SC2 has almost identical elements as AoE2 but in an obviously more polished way.

Quote: Original post by Silvermyst
The good thing about gaming addiction... it's a relatively cheap addiction.

I wouldn't say that necessarily. The secondary costs can add up quickly. People lose their jobs, health goes down, and depending upon the game, you could need to pay fees for internet, subscriptions, computer parts, etc.

I found MMO's were really horrible in the part of addictiveness. They give you this illusion that you belong, and make you feel that without you, things can't get done. It sounds hokey, but you'd be surprised how many people feel that way. Once you leave and are able to break the addiction, you learn that you were just another anonymous person who didn't matter at all, and the game moves on without you. This includes your guildmates and "friends".

While I never would say I was addicted to video games, I knew many who were. Maybe I would have become addicted, but I found that the easiest way for me to throw WoW away was to become a guild leader of one of the largest guilds on the server. You quickly stop playing the game, and treat it more like a job. And after learning all the politics that go on behind the scene, I got fed up with all the BS.

Quote: Original post by Antheus

Quote: StarCraft II

SC2 has almost identical elements as AoE2 but in an obviously more polished way.

Really? I was under the impression that StarCraft's resource/macro setup was entirely different from that of the Age of Empires series (SC2 doesn't have farms and only two resource types), not to mention the unit types and technology systems (no "age" system in SC unless you count the Zerg's transition from Hatchery -> Lair -> Hive, and even then that's only for Zerg). Then again, I've only played the first AoE, maybe the 2nd one is different. Or by "elements" do you mean "peons gather resources to make buildings and soldiers, buildings produce soldiers which can be melee or ranged, you need to get buildings to get certain types of other buildings and units, and the battle is mostly over resources rather than checkpoints?"

Quote: Original post by Nytegard

Quote: Original post by Silvermyst
The good thing about gaming addiction... it's a relatively cheap addiction.

I wouldn't say that necessarily. The secondary costs can add up quickly. People lose their jobs, health goes down, and depending upon the game, you could need to pay fees for internet, subscriptions, computer parts, etc.

I meant relatively cheap compared to other addictions.

Quote: Original post by Silvermyst

Quote: Original post by Nytegard

Quote: Original post by Silvermyst
The good thing about gaming addiction... it's a relatively cheap addiction.

I wouldn't say that necessarily. The secondary costs can add up quickly. People lose their jobs, health goes down, and depending upon the game, you could need to pay fees for internet, subscriptions, computer parts, etc.

I meant relatively cheap compared to other addictions.

You mean cheaper than porn? Which is, almost free?

I'm, interestingly, addicted to music. Maybe for the fact my anhedonia problem where I can only 'taste' music.

Quote: So I decided to master a game which I always loved playing online, Age of Empires 2.

I love this game. I played it a lot in 2005, and reached semi-pro level.

The best advice I can give you - try to play it with a group of friends. I played it a lot, but it never felt addictive or unhealthy because it was just me and my friends having a good time. It was no different than bowling or playing poker. It also made everything less competitive, so you didn't feel the need to constantly improve your game so you could be the best.

Quote: Played Planetside for a few years off and on.

I loved this game too. I played it religiously (and perhaps unhealthily) for the first few years it was out. Sadly, it never caught on with a wider audience.