Hmm, I am so conservative in acquiring games that I am rarely 'disappointed'. I usually wait years after they are released and then survey the opinion field. And even then I often get ... 'evaluation copies' ... before actually buying. My involvement with SE IV before it was even released is highly unusual. Well, completely unique, actually.
Still, I have to agree that nearly anything 'Real Time' is a pain in the arse. I recently tried to play Starfleet Command II, partly out of curiousity at how RT games are developing (what with the RT component added to MOO 3) and partly out of attraction to getting to control a Trek-type starship. The graphics are beautiful. It's a very attractive
looking game. But it's about speed and timing, and the computer will
always win a contest of speed and timing. I managed to win a few of the early scenarios by retrying several times, but they get more and more difficult. And the game has bugs. SERIOUS bugs. Like solid lockup bugs. Managing to get within seconds of winning some difficult scenario and having the game lock solid has got to be the definition of frustration. I uninstalled SFB2 and carefully searched my registry for any remaining trace of it. End of story.
The original MOO and MOO II are very good games, though they have their flaws. Master of Magic is awesome.
Why haven't they updated it for Windows? The Civ series is good, though it seems Civ II is actually better than Civ III.
All of the SimCity games have been great. I hope SC 4 gets patched/fixed so it can carry on the tradition.
[ February 28, 2003, 18:07: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]