Alpha Centauri Forums
The Game
Is SMAC hazardous to your marriage (or other personal relationships)?
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Alpha Centauri Forums
The Game
Is SMAC hazardous to your marriage (or other personal relationships)?
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| Author | Topic: Is SMAC hazardous to your marriage (or other personal relationships)? |
| Magnanimous |
posted 03-18-99 09:50 AM ET  
While I have been playing computer games for a few years, and very much enjoy Civ II, I only played about 20 complete games. I also like SMAC, despite its hiccups, but have only played 3 complete games. I am completely in awe (and a little jealous) of the people who have posted on this forum who have the time and ability to intellectualize as much as they have about everything from strategy to futuristic science. But, I have a question that I hope will be taken seriously. An article in TIME magazine earlier this month contained the following subtitle: �Three classic empire-building games return in cool new incarnations. Warning: they are more addictive than ever.� I wonder if this cute title is more insidious than it is cute. The reason I have played only 23 games of CIV/SMAC combined is that I simply don�t have the time to play more. That is, not if I want to stay married and a parent. The question I am asking here is if you believe that SMAC is hazardous to your personal relationships. Perhaps I�m opening myself up to flaming about my marriage (which is a good one), and my children (who are fantastic), but I don�t think the quality of the personal relationship matters. Let�s face it, these games ARE addictive, because they�re so fricking INTERESTING (we�ve come a long way since �Pong�). Why else would so many of us stay up until 4am just to finish off the Spartans? Would you be as enthusiastic about staying up that late to hear your wife talk about what a big loser her boss is, or what so-and-so said about so-and-so on the 4th grade playground of your daughter�s world? If you have a choice between watching Melrose Place with your girlfriend, or kicking Yang�s butt, which do you choose? |
| JUSTICE |
posted 03-18-99 11:18 AM ET
WOW! Another dude at the top end of Generation X perhaps? I AM NOT ALONE!!! The short answer to your query is: YES. SMAC, or any other immersive game, IS hazardous to marriage, kids, relationships. There is a balm for this disease, though not a cure; talk about the game to your loved ones (wife, kids, friends) and hype it to the heavens. If they really care about you, they will take at least a tolerant interest in something that has captivated you. Then, make a decision to limit your gaming as to not interfere with family/friend time. Cool tidbit: When I first picked up Tomb Raider for the PlayStation (pre-PC), I got my wife and family involved in the storylines, cinematics, missions, etc. Now, they ASK ME TO PLAY it so they can watch! I can't tell you how often my wife hounds me about playing it so she can watch (we finished Tomb Raider and are now working on TRII). My SMAC addiction is subsiding, but I am doing my darndest to get my wife interested in it. Every time she passes me she says, "I just don't have the brainpower for this game", so I amy have to try harder, but the other night, my daughter asked me, "Dad, what is that sound that I hear sometimes when I'm in bed *ssshhhhkkkt, sssshhhhkkkt*"? I about fell over laughing when she asked... |
| Bdot |
posted 03-18-99 11:22 AM ET
Well, since I've never dated, i don't have that problem... |
| OhWell |
posted 03-18-99 12:30 PM ET
When Civ1 came out, it was addictive. I remember when I first got it, I set down to play at about 8:30 PM. When I looked at the clock "half an hour" later, it was 3:00 AM. As I had to get up at 6:00 to go to work, I immediately realized that I needed to rethink my priorities; Should I continue playing the game I was on or start a new one!  SMAC is more of the same. One is hooked by the Just One More Thing syndrome; "I'll quit after I do JOMT". L8r |
| sandworm |
posted 03-18-99 12:35 PM ET
Pong wasn't addictive? |
| C M Castleton |
posted 03-18-99 04:07 PM ET
Good job I am single, too! In the midst of a particularly good SMAC game, it is something of a struggle to put it down to go to bed, leave for work, wash and eat, irritants like that that one nevertheless has to attend to from time to time! Live long and prosper. |
| Fiannaidh |
posted 03-19-99 11:30 AM ET
good thing us transcendi don't have to eat or sleep. |
| Magnanimous |
posted 03-19-99 11:50 AM ET
Thanks JUSTICE for your great reply. I guess technically I am at the top end of Gen-X (b. 1965). It does make me wonder what the age range is for game players. I like your suggestion about trying to get the family interested. The only problem is the logistics of my home, which necessitates location of PC in my basement office. My next strategy is to buy a notebook so that I can hack in the livingroom. With my presence there, maybe I can persuade the wife into giving me credit for "family time." To the rest of you non-married, non-dating types (who don't have to interrupt your interrogation of Sister Miriam to wipe your kid's ass), the same question originally asked could apply to any of your other personal relationships, including family members, friends, responsibilities to employers and/or teachers. |
| OhWell |
posted 03-19-99 12:24 PM ET
sandworm - Peronally, I didn't find Pong to be addictive (and I did have it) but I did get hooked on Tempest for a while though. I ended up cannibalizing my Pong maching to use the RF modulator to hook my first computer (an OSI C1P) to a TV. L8r |
| Lee Johnson |
posted 03-19-99 12:41 PM ET
One of the distasteful events of my life was finding out that, despite being born in late 1962, I am still considered to be a boomer. Eeeeewwww. ObTopic: My wife knew I was waiting for this game, and she's used to seeing me play it nearly every spare moment when my newborn son is asleep. :-) So, on that score, it hasn't created much friction beyond that already caused by my long standing computer gaming habit. Magnanimous: "With my presence there, maybe I can persuade the wife into giving me credit for "family time."" heh. heh heh. ha ha ha HA HA HA <snort> BWAH-HA-HA-HAAAA! <wiping tears from eyes> Thanks, Mag, that was a good one. :-) Not only your presence is not only required, but your complete attention, too. If I brought a laptop into the family room, I'm pretty sure my wife would crown me with it. |
| Lee Johnson |
posted 03-19-99 12:43 PM ET
Ah, the perils of posting with insufficient sleep. "Not only is your presence required, but your complete attention, too." That ought to get readers past the parsing errors. :-) |
| will |
posted 03-19-99 03:06 PM ET
Magnanimous & Lee: A while back, there was a thread on this forum called "A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION" which asked whether there were any adults playing SMAC. I, who was born in 1964, was surprised at how many people 30+ years old were playing. There were even a few 50 and 60 year-olds. It's also comforting to hear that other people have some of the same problems I have balancing game and family. My two-year-old daughter occasionally likes to watch the screen as I play, but I have to be careful because she thinks it's hilarious to hit the spacebar. My wife couldn't care less about the whole thing, although she is quite indulgent. Would any of you family types like to try an MP game? I've been curious, but am hesitant to get involved because I don't know that many players would be patient with waiting a turn while I went to comfort a crying child. |
| mauibound |
posted 03-19-99 04:40 PM ET
This thread has given me comfort. Although their is no baby to change yet, my wife of 15 months must feel like a widow since SMAC came out; although-- truthfully, before that it was just some other game. To the singles out there, SMAC can be even more detrimental. If playing SMAC is preventing you from getting out of the house to meet people, you may not have some of the problems mentioned on this thread, but you'll be missing something just the same. I know, I never used to get out b/c of too much time on the computer (or watching TV) and only actually got out there in time to meet my now wife b/c my computer had become to old and obselete to run any of the new software being created at the time. In an ironic twist, my in-laws bought us a new modern computer for our wedding present AND so better late than never I got introduced to CIV II, Warcraft, SIM 2000 and now SMAC. My wife isn't thrilled but she is indulgent -- after all, she goes to bed early anyway and I keep staying up later and later and later and... If I could only give up my job then I'd have plenty of time for her and for SMAC! |
| DerekM |
posted 03-19-99 05:16 PM ET
I live with my fiancee, and we have, in the past, had arguments over playing computer games. Lee is ABSOLUTELY correct. Being present is not enough. My solution is two fold: 1) Every once in a while, remind yourself that it is only a game, and therefore must not take priority over other things in life. That means that going to bed on time should take priority. Unless you are on your deathbed, then there will be plenty of time to play games in life. 2) Make sure that you set aside time every once in a while to play it, to get your fix, and that your significant other knows that you have done so. Of course, having my fiancee in law school helps. She's so busy with coursework that there are times when she would just ignore me anyway... |
| Bluemax |
posted 03-19-99 05:37 PM ET
First, I admit that I am a baby boomer (1958) and loving it. Both the gaming and my age. Yes, I had an Atari 2600. Yes, I cut my teeth on a C64 in 1981. Paid $3.50 each for 5.25 inch floppy disks. (I was once asked by a market research company how many computers games I owned. It is somewhere over 300. A lot of them did not earn a 98% in PCGamer.) Second, you always have to ask yourself, "what comes first" computer gaming or people? TV or people? Fishing or people? and so on. If you have a loving spouse and kids, the answer must always be people. (If you remember your wedding vows, I'm sure that you promised to foresake all others (SMAC included) and cling to your spouse. You also probably promised to accept the childern that God gave you. If you forgot your vows, I'm sure your wife will be very happy to watch the video tape with you "just one more time"). People must always come first. Having said that, one of the reasons my love for my wife continues to grow this 14th season, is becuase she also puts me first. She understands how important gaming is to me. It releives stress. It entertains me. It keeps me home. (Ask yourself where you would be or what you would be doing without the PC. Watching TV? - then it's a wash. Helping your aging parents - then make some adjustments). She knows that I am here for her if she needs me. She also knows that I must play games. She's such a great person that when I considered a new (and as always for a gamer's machine) expense computer, she told me I deserved it and she didn't even want to know what I spent. (Which was really cool because it negated the spousal law of equal spending). Computers do not fade away from lack of attention, relationships do. The computer is an electronic servant that does not care how you treat it. So it's okay to ignore the computer, it will always be there. For all those out there that are cultivating computer widows, I have this advice, put your spouse first and she will put you first. Now fishing is another story... |
| josebueno |
posted 03-19-99 05:40 PM ET
LOL, Derek... that's actually not to far from my situation... Anyway, my fiancee and I both are gamers, she knows what to expect when you're expecting (a Sid Meier/Brian Reynolds game...)and I've gone so far as having to build a second machine in order to get any SMAC time in lately. From the beginning, it hasn't been too difficult as we set aside time for it among other activities such as sleeping, eating, doing the laundry, et al. I do have one caution... under no circumstances have the computer in the bedroom, and try to minimize JOMT. We don't have any kids, and its the sole reason we have any time to game anyway. It probably sounds a bit anal to schedule time for your hobby (well, passion?) but in the long run, its probably worth it. In all honesty I'd rather wake up next to my wife in bed than slumped over the computer desk with a smudge from my forehead on the monitor... Jose Bueno |
| DerekM |
posted 03-19-99 05:52 PM ET
I think a lot of people would rather wake up next to your...er...their wife (sorry - lame joke at your expense, you may get me back ) in bed than a computer. If not, then I wouldn't want to lay bets on the marriage. Usually you don't intend to ignore your partner. Most of the time, it is JOMT syndrome. As you tire, you don't pay attention to things like the clock any more. By the time you notice what time it is, she is already in bed and ready to open a can of whup a$$ on you in the morning.  |
| Pyramider |
posted 03-19-99 06:32 PM ET
I could not stop my ROTFL at Mag's comment of having to break off the game to change the baby. My 5-week-old seems to sense when I'm stressed out, either from writing my thesis or racing another faction to finish the only Secret Project available to me, and selects that time to let loose. I'm lucky that my wife is understanding. She became much more receptive to my gaming after she got hooked on Caesar III, and is now buying me a CPU upgrade for my birthday. Multiplayer gaming for us family types (I'll be 32 soon and hesitate to say "older Gen-X'ers", even though it's true 8O) seems like it is best done via e-mail, since those games can be tended to in the smaller pieces of time that we have available to us. A combination of a single player game and a couple of e-mail games going on at the same time will keep one busy even if it takes a while to complete a whole mp game turn.
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| LovingTheAlien |
posted 03-19-99 06:40 PM ET
Add me to the list of SMAC players at the top end of Gen X (born 1966) who are happily married (over four years). Another wrinkle others have not mentioned is the addition of work into the mix. I am dedicated to my career as well as my marriage. That said however, the question at hand is whether SMAC is hazardous to personal relationships. I believe that the answer is no. The reason is that if your personal relationships are damaged as a result of gaming, then the problem is probably not the game. The problem likely lay elsewhere. Gameplay and a life requires balance, much like any hobby does (I think Bluemax addressed this earlier). I've only been able to play four or so games since I purchased SMAC the day it came out. And I read these message boards a little too often. But I do it in my spare time (I don't have any kids yet). In fact, I am writing this at work as I wait for my wife to meet me here so we can go see the play RENT tonight. How's that for balance? |
| Maheno |
posted 03-19-99 08:01 PM ET
It's cool to know about other thirty-ish playing SMAC, other PC games and generally interested in gaming. I am 33 and, believe it or not, my addiction ranges from Magic The Gathering and Virtua Fighter (both I quit) to now Rainbow 6, Half-Life and SMAC. Love and relationships are about sharing, n'est-ce pas?! My 2 cents: have her play Grim Fandango. It worked for me.:-) |
| Nylan |
posted 03-19-99 08:14 PM ET
Being only 19 now, I've always had a slightly different problem with games like SMAC - namely it upsetting my relationship with my parents. Especially my mum since she does not understand how anything can be so addictive. I always found (in my rather childish way when I was 15) was to set aside some time every day to do something with my mum. Now this problem is less of a problem (being at university), but it still occasionally occurs in the holidays. BTW, good to hear that us teenagers aren't the only ones infected with SMAC/Civ2/other computer games addiction. Nylan |
| wickedwombat |
posted 03-19-99 08:20 PM ET
29 and still a junkie for these kind of strategy games. Right now I am happily divorced and don't have that little nag problem. ---pitchman for RAID for fungus--- |
| PrinceBimz |
posted 03-20-99 02:39 AM ET
I am 29 also, and single with no children so I don't have to worry about that stuff yet But I still have a hard time trying to find time to play due to work and other things. |
| Giant Squid |
posted 03-20-99 02:39 PM ET
The more important question, of course is "Is marriage hazardous to your ability to play SMAC all day?"
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| JUSTICE |
posted 03-22-99 12:00 PM ET
mauibound: BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAA!!! I am all for giving up my job for more SMAC time!!! hee hee haw haw ha ha ha!!! What a great thread this turned out to be... Similar to the other posts, I would summize that using SMAC to 'escape' instead of to 'REcreate' is where the problem lies. I have to say I am encouraged at all the others who speak so highly of their significant others; it is a breath of fresh air in our cynical world. RE: Multiplayer game...has anyone pulled one of these off successfully? I went to the Alpha.HQ site & wierd stuff happened. |
| JUSTICE |
posted 03-22-99 12:02 PM ET
BTW: I am at the top of the Gen-X @ a ripe 29... ICQ# 25279705 anyone else ICQ? |
| OhWell |
posted 03-22-99 12:11 PM ET
I am 47 and love to play computer games like a little kid! But that is because I have yet to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!  L8r |
| HMFIC |
posted 03-22-99 12:56 PM ET
41 and was up til 1:30am playing my addiction. Just One More Turn... |
| Magnanimous |
posted 03-22-99 01:15 PM ET
Loving The Alien brings up a good point about work. Both my wife and I are heavily involved in work, and that leaves even less time and energy for all the other aspects of life (including playing SMAC). I guess I'll abandon my previously discussed strategy of using a laptop in the livingroom. As it turns out, most of the communication and even flirting between my wife and I is done via email when we are both at work (different employers). My new strategy will be to take that to a new level. I'll give her the laptop in the livingroom, I'll stay in the basement,and the two of us can play a multiplayer game of SMAC against each other. Then I'll employ the kids to run our diplomacy back and forth (and "libation refills" if I'm playing Miriam", just to keep them busy, and then everyone will feel involved. I think I will submit this strategy to Dan Quayle, so he can use it in one of his future "strengthening the American family" campaign speeches. By the way, it's interesting that so many of the faction profiles are women. I wonder if this has had any impact on the number of female players. We haven't heard from any wives in this thread have we? |
| JByroade |
posted 03-22-99 01:28 PM ET
Well, I'm 49 and I am a PC gaming addict. I have tried to kick my habit and watch TV but I can't stand what my wife watches (or her either). Since my kids are grown in college I can't get away from my wife to play games since my computer is in the living room. She moved out once, but came back. I would gladly trade her for a new computer. She thinks all her problems are because I play games so much - go figure. |
| Klug |
posted 03-22-99 03:52 PM ET
When I was 7 years old I used to bug my dad for a quarter so that he could the new arcade game called Pong. That was 24 years ago. I'm now 31 & now my current addiction of choice is SMAC. (Go figure) I've single & have never been married. I've never had to balance a significant other with my Gameing habit. I've heard that getting you Significant other hooked on a game can help but has the side effect of making the computer a coveted resource. My dad bought my mom (Both 61 & they regularly email me) a computer of her own. But If I do find an interesting woman to be with. I don't suspect I'll have too much of a problem spending time with her. I figured out that although gaming is cool it isn't a substitute for human interaction. My friend at work plays alot of Quake 2 who did he marry? Another Quakehead! Ah...marriage made in heaven. Seriously, obviously balancing your habit with your relationships is vital. Regularly ignoring your wife/girlfriend is a good way to breed resentment. But hey what do I know. It not like I have a social life or anything. |
| DHE_X2 |
posted 03-22-99 05:21 PM ET
Damn I feel young. I'm 15, got a girlfriend, exams in all of my classes (and honors classes to boot), in marching band and science olympics. Smac is a detriment to all of these, so much so that i've restricted myself to playing only PBEM games. It is, after all, only a game (hears someone cry "heretic" from across the room), and, frankly, I kinda value my girl a little more than a mere game. BTW, I'm gen-x, in spirit . |
| Vorrin Nal |
posted 03-22-99 05:55 PM ET
I'm 21, and SMAC has had a curious effect on my relationship. I don't have a computer of my own, so I had to install SMAC on my girlfriends computer. She isn't really interested, but I've made a deal: for every hour I play SMAC, I've got to take out her dogs. I get to play SMAC, she gets to see me more, and her dogs never have to wait to get walked... |
| Brian Reynolds FIRAXIS |
posted 03-22-99 08:43 PM ET
Well, I'm 1967, and proud to be a high-end Gen-X'er! Yes, I was there on Saturday mornings when the very first Schoolhouse Rock videos were coming out (3 is a magic number, Noun is a person place or thing, etc), and I'll freely admit that a lot of Colonization was inspired by "No More Kings" :-) Anyway, after two years writing SMAC I've still got my wife, 3-year-old, and 1-year-old, so you can do it too! BR |
| JaimeWolf |
posted 03-22-99 10:36 PM ET
Speaking as one who just missed out on Gen-X (1972), and also who's been married a while (4 years, 6month son Joshua [http://javelin.commed.unsw.edu.au/joshua/]) I have to agree with the trend of this thread. I've been a computer addict for many years (anyone remember the Sorcerer computer?). I used to get up several hours before I had to go to school to cram in some morning gaming. When we first got married we lived in a two room apartment. A kitchen and a bedroom so the computer lived in the bedroom. My wife was happy that at least I was there with her, and not out drinking/partying/etc. Now we've bought (or had a friendly bank buy) a 4-bedroom house it's a little harder and I have to schedule time to fit in my computing. I'm blessed with minimal need for sleep (5-6 hours a night is plenty) so I get some late-night gaming time. However, one of the best excuses has been our new son, Joshua. When he won't go to bed, I can offer to sit him on my knee and look after him late at night. One hand for him, a spare keyboard for him to pound on and one hand for the mouse works beautifully, and my wife gets the rest she so desparately needs Anyway, just thought I'd ramble here since I was starting to worry, from the general level of maturity evidenced in the posts, that I was getting too old for this forum. Cheers |
| MikeH II |
posted 03-23-99 05:55 AM ET
Well I'm 23 and I have a problem, I'm letting my personal relationships and work get in the way of SMAC, I seem to be so busy that I just don't have time to play the game. I sat down with my PC yesterday and we had a long chat. Apparently a quick multi-player game of some sport simulation when my friends come round is not enough. We need to spend more quality strategy game time together. We never talk anymore, apparently I'm more interested in fancy graphics than gameplay, always looking at those Voodoo IIs in shop windows and computer magazines. I tried to say that I have been busy at work and I will spend more time on SMAC when the project is over but it's no good. The PC won't listen to me. I'm not interested in Pentium IIIs and 3D accellerators, I just want to come home from work and get a few hours SMACing in, I'm just so tired. All the peripherals I bought just don't seem to matter, what's the use of a scanner and a printer if all you do is go down the pub and leave me here turned off in the dark, it said. A fair point I think you'll agree. Has anyone got any idea how I can make it up to my poor neglected PC? |
| master k |
posted 03-23-99 06:51 AM ET
my experience: smac came into shops on thursday. on friday my girl-friend visited me (she is living in another city) to spend the weekend together. torture. i just had the time to istall and go for a little appetizer (didnt have the demo) and then wait till monday afternoon to learn how to colonize a planet. and of course my social life is getting, well, sort of quite master k |
| MikeH II |
posted 03-23-99 06:53 AM ET
Ouch! |
| Aredhran |
posted 03-23-99 07:12 AM ET
IMO, with SMACaddiction, the game itself is only the tip of the iceberg. The other, more important and sneakier problem is that your whole life now revolves around that game (Curse You, Firaxix ! ).Just to name a few: Speaking of Santiago, you probably know that Corazon means "heart"... Methinks she doesn't have one, and if she does it must be black ! And she got that quote for the Children's creche... Isn't it ironic ? -Aredhran |
| henriks |
posted 03-23-99 07:25 AM ET
Well, with my 27 years I'm a bit younger than most people on this thread. I have no kids yet, but I am two years married and my wife really doesn't like me playing. One reason I switched to TBS games as opposed to realtime is that she used to demand attention from me in the middle of the game, inevitably causing me to lose the raging battle. I haven't dreamed about SMAC yet, but last night I was so worried about being overtaken by the unholy Deidre/Miriam/Zakharov coalition that I couldn't fall asleep. I did consider sneaking up for a quick "few turns more", but then I'd probably end up banned from the bedroom for the rest of the night :-( Besides, isn't anyone worried about not getting any _more_ children (for a while) due to SMAC? Oh, and I did get up early this morning to consolidate my defences vs the evil trinity, so at least I can concentrate on my coding now... |
| MoSe |
posted 03-23-99 08:58 AM ET
Gen-X? Which are the time range limits? I'm late 1962 like LeeJ (nov 21st), and, like Ian Gillan & Deep Purple sung 'since my baby left me, I'll be (I've been?) mistreated... (uuuoooohhhhh.....babebabebaaaabeeeee)' Than, as ever more usual in Italy, I'm staying home over thirty. I here state and declare, it's TBS to blame!!! I never set aside the time to look for and set up a house on my own. Gave up looking for a new relationship too! What was it all about? I had Civ dreams. Neatly ordered in the grid, one-square steps, more you know more you manage. If SMAC works as a birth control device, then the Vatican will ban it (remember Excommunicate city in 'Machiavelli'? market prices rocketed, like with the plague...). 'Do you believe in life after love?' MariOne |
| The Emperor |
posted 03-23-99 11:27 AM ET
My wife is also very good about my gaming. I think I balance my time and responsibilities to her and my 4-year-old son pretty well, and she understands that my computer gaming is a good stress reliever. My motto is "Every man needs a hobby" and she is very supportive of that--she has her hobbies too--some we share, and some we don't. Unfortunately, she doesn't share my hobby of computer gaming--she has no interest in it whatsoever--but she doesn't mind that I'm into it. The thing I have to contend with is the "just one more turn" syndrome (if I'm not careful, I'll have to join the "Gameaholics Anonymous"). |
| umbra1 |
posted 03-23-99 12:32 PM ET
Hello, I think I have a problem... If it wasn't for the occasional crashes in the game I would never get any sleep ! My work is suffering ! My girlfriend only ever gets to see the back of my head ! I try to stop playing just as soon as I've destroyed Myriam, but once that's done, it's then just afew more turns whilst I rebuild the new captured cities... And then I've got to start mustering the remaining troops near the Spartan boarder... JUST ONE MORE TURN ! I admit it, I am a weak man.
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| Ganraeln |
posted 03-23-99 02:54 PM ET
I must say, this thread has been a ray of light in an otherwise bleak world for me. For those of you over 30 (i just turned 30 myself - am i gen x or what?), i am encouraged to see that you have balanced your hobby with the rest of your life. I have to agree, that those of us who neglect other aspects of our personal lives for the sake of hobby gaming would likely have this problem even without computer games. It's a personal choice - are you entertaining, or escaping? For those of you still in school, i have a personal story to tell. As i already said - i just turned 30... I remember when Civ1 came out. I lost an entire quarter of college to this game (or should i say to my own inability to moderate my addiction to this game? Anyway, cheers to all for a great thread! And i totally agree that we should use PBEM as a great way to play. SMAC on, folks! -Ganraeln |
| MoSe |
posted 03-24-99 07:13 AM ET
To UMBRA1: > ...the old classic Elite... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I lost the backup of that game, Can you somehow send me a copy of it? MariOne |
| umbra1 |
posted 03-24-99 07:43 AM ET
MoSe, I'm afraid I don't have a copy of Elite myself anymore, I used to play it on an old C64 which has long since passed away :-( I do have Frontier - First Encounters for the PC, but frankly I wouldn't bother with it. Apparently ArcElite on the Acorn Arc was the definitive version. Know anybody with and Arc ? Still, the Classic Elite was one of the finest JOMT games, or in its case, Just One More Jump...
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| SHardy |
posted 03-24-99 08:35 AM ET
Glad to see other over 30 players out there. I am 32, married, with 2 children (2 and 5 yrs old). My wife is tolerant of my playing as long as I keep it to certain times. My children go to bed by 9 pm and I can usually play games until bed time. I find that it is a constant battle with spending time with my family and playing and sometimes I push it over the edge (my wife lets me know it!!!). I am trying to get to an equilibrium with my priorities and am trying to schedule more family activities. SHardy P.S. I haven't had much luck trying to get my wife to play any of my games. Luckily she does like Star Wars and plans to go with me and my oldest son to The Phantom Menace. |
| Chillum |
posted 03-24-99 10:18 AM ET
27 years old, engaged + mortgage..doh! I have had problems with my SO over the last four years wrt games. When we met, she was into Antiques and thought Sci-Fi was for kids, so were cartoons for that matter. Now she fights for control of the PC/N64/PSX whatever, loves my 'complete' collection of Blake's 7 videos, and loves South Park and The Simpsons. The secret of my success ?.. Take an interest in her hobbies. You don't have to like them, just learn to appreciate them. You have no idea the power of appearing to understand 'Female logic'. You don't 'understand' it, no-one can. Just 'ACCEPT IT' and you will live long, prosper, and get to play SMAC for as long as you like (as long as you clear off the computer long enough to put today's food into her 'Weight Watchers program' Yahoo. My only problem now is that I have to come to work. There is a steady growth of people talking 'shop'. Even non-techies (ie Sales people) are beginning to understand a game which they have never even seen ! God..put me in a room with my PC and SMAC and make outside time stand still for a year..please !! It's the only way..you know it makes sense |
| December Man |
posted 03-24-99 11:22 AM ET
THE CONFESSION: Male. . .37. . .married. . .two kids. . .40 hour a week job. . .and totally addicted to SMAC. I didn't think I'd ever fall victim to an addiction. . .but then. . .!!! THE BEAST AT WORK: SLEEPLESS IN CENTAURI A QUICK FIX THE FORUM: |
| peo |
posted 03-24-99 11:24 AM ET
I actually used to play a lot of CivII on a notebook around my wife and small child. While my daughter cannot yet comment on it, my wife definitely prefers it to my being absent altogether. (Since I'm a programmer, this also applies to my work.) Unfortunately, neither SMAC nor CivII MPGE run without a CD drive, and the one in my notebook is broken. In general, I found that if I sporadically play a lot, and then put it aside again for a few weeks, my wife tolerates the bursts of gaming quite well, because she's had the experience that I'll be coming back.
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| peo |
posted 03-24-99 11:26 AM ET
December Man: That's a nice twist, playing in Transcend to get beaten quickly. I'll be trying this... |
| micje |
posted 03-24-99 12:22 PM ET
SMAC isn't hazardous to my personal relationships at all. Rather the opposite: I post messages about SMAC to my friends every day! Oh, wait, you were talking about the OTHER thing, what's it called? Well, I must admit, I sometimes hear strange noises outside my room. Maybe a probe team? And I've noticed that the food in the fridge downstairs gets refilled spontaneously. No wonder. What do you expect with 5 sky hydro satelites. |
| JUSTICE |
posted 03-24-99 02:39 PM ET
I, too, had to remove it from my computer at work. Mostly out of principle. Luckily, I have quite a lot of control over what does and doesn't happen at work and am able to schedule time, but I felt like I was stealing after a while. I mean at least 2 or more hours PER DAY on SMAC. I am just grateful that I never got in trouble. Now that it is only on my PC at home, I am getting much less SMAC time and going through withdrawls. I just created my first custom faction (see 'Factions' forum under "International Brotherhood of Teamsters"), but I haven't been able to get good gaming time in to see how it works... Oh well, perhaps it is enabling me to 'get off' SMAC (note: heroin reference); kind of like a methadone program. LOL JUSTICE |
| Magnanimous |
posted 03-24-99 03:06 PM ET
I intentionally did NOT install SMAC at work. I'm a teacher, and it would be way too easy to sit and play SMAC while the kids (10th graders) are watching a video, or are working on a project, or during my planning period. I would never get anything done, and my teaching would suffer tremendously. peo made an important comment. I too play in spurts, and quit because of that empty feeling, which for me stems from guilt. When I stop I look around and see how the general condition of the house has deteriorated, the laundry and cleaning, even the kids' hygiene (you know, "well, I can wait until tomorrow to give him a bath"). The most obvious and hurtful evidence is when I sit down with my 4 year old, who practicly worships me, and show him some attention. His reaction, the way he seems to just suck in any drop of attention I am giving him, is when I realize just how much I've been neglecting. A few days later, however... Thanks to the many people who have left great posts here. I'm happy that this thread has helped reveal that there are many of us out there struggling with the same problem. |
| RSHER |
posted 03-24-99 03:54 PM ET
I too am a 30+ year old gamer (1967) and thought that I had finally figured out how to lick the CivX/MOOx obsession. There is no room for addiction with a career, wife, and 1 year old child (not necessarily in that order) in my life. My solution: I just wouldn't buy the game. Unfortunately, I did download the demo. Now I catch it when the playing gets out of hand and I only get 100 turns. I haven't missed work to stay home and play it, yet, but I don't know for how long I will be able to resist actually purchasing the game. It is tough to balance, but I can usually get away with playing frequently for a few weeks if I can take the following several weeks off. I have tried getting my wife involved to no avail. And so the battle continues...... |
| December Man |
posted 03-24-99 04:26 PM ET
RSHER: Have you tried your staple gun? No drone riots that way. I'll try it with my wife tonight and I'll let you know how it went. |
| outlyr242 the rebirth |
posted 03-26-99 04:13 AM ET
I'm a proud Gen-Xer [1975], am married and have a 16 month old son. My wife takes the gaming side of me fairly well but I think it is mostly because she does not understand computers that well. My son though, now HE does not like me gaming. We live in a 1-bedroom appt with the comp in the living room. When I'm on it he toddles on over and starts grabbing at the keyboard or pushing buttons and lights on the CPU. Preventing this behavior is met with loud screams and limb flopping. Family + School (honors thesis + double major) + Job 1 + Job 2 + Kid + Wife (Works evenings) + SMAC + SMAC website = What the hell am I doing here now? "Well I'm older now and am still running against the wind. Against the wind..." |
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