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The Last Games You'd Play? 529

Rigor Morty asks: "I am an older man (44), an avid fan of video games, and I am faced with a problem; my hands are becoming arthritic as I get older. I fear I will soon have to completely give up the console games I have loved over the years. To that end, let me ask the Slashdot Nation — if you were going to give it up, what games would you insist on playing before you had to quit? I'm willing to make some effort to do this, and spend some cash; I will buy the new consoles if I need to, or try to find obscure titles."
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The Last Games You'd Play?

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  • Me..? (Score:4, Funny)

    by RyuuzakiTetsuya ( 195424 ) <[ten.xoc] [ta] [ikiat]> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:00PM (#16987748)
    Final Fantasy XII.

    Its' 110+ hours. If I'm not sick of gaming after that, I'll never get sick of games
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by nametaken ( 610866 )

      I'd play whatever I want, via emulators, with a user input device that doesn't aggravate my arthritis.
    • by Salvance ( 1014001 ) * on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:19PM (#16988406) Homepage Journal
      If you can't use your hands, why not do something that doesn't require your fingers much? Dance Dance Revolution is fun and gives you a good workout, some of the Nintendo Wii games don't require fine motor control, etc. Just because you can't hit the buttons like a madman anymore doesn't mean you have to stop gaming.
      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by tsa ( 15680 )
        Instead of working out, which gets you tired, you can also play adventure games. They don't usually require much in the form of interaction with the computer. To get you started, you can try the Carol Reed mysteries [mdna-games.com], or Syberia [justadventure.com]. Look at Adventure Gamers [www.adventuregamers] or Just Adventure [justadventure.com] for more information.
    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by wolenczak ( 517857 )
      Duke Nukem Forever =)
    • Re:Me..? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Gilmoure ( 18428 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @11:10PM (#16989086) Journal
      Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (SMAC/X). I've been playing this game for about 5 years now. Great variety.
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Zaphod2016 ( 971897 )
      I like playing the old FF games on an NES/SNES emulator. Not only can I save my progress whenever/wherever I want, but I can speed up the game while leveling up and skip some of those tedious battle sequences.

      This way, I can play for a few minutes at a time, or get sucked in for an entire weekend now and again.

      p.s. I don't have arthritis, but I do prefer a full-sized keyboard to a VG controller. I also assume that the ability to pause whenever you want is a plus.

      p.p.s. You can borrow my Power Glove
  • by zCyl ( 14362 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:01PM (#16987756)
    Learn how to play chess. :)
    • by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:07PM (#16987812) Journal
      Learn how to play chess. :)

      Or "Go". Easy to learn, difficult to master.

           
      • Learn how to play chess. :)
        Or "Go". Easy to learn, difficult to master.
        Actually, you're thinking of Othello [wikipedia.org]: "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." Perhaps it was the black and white pieces that confused you? :D
    • by corporatemutantninja ( 533295 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:33PM (#16988494)
      Think even further outside the box: 1) Learn to rock climb. 2) Learn to surf. 3) Go mountain biking. 4) Climb an Alp. 5) Get your SCUBA license. You are looking at your physical skills degrading and you're thinking about VIDEO GAMES?!?!!? Anyway, I gotta go raid BWL. Later.
      • by D-Cypell ( 446534 ) on Sunday November 26, 2006 @09:26PM (#16996868)
        Think even further outside the box: 1) Learn to rock climb.

        Insightful??

        Did nobody consider that rock climbing with early onset arthritis, would be a pretty fucking seriously extreme sport?!
  • by Nicky G ( 859089 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:02PM (#16987766)
    just about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking. *sigh* I am so jumping into an active volcano when I start to get frail...
    • "ust about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking."

      What gets me...the into saying he is an old man at age 44.

      I used to think that was ancient...but, man...you get closer to that....it ain't ancient. I pretty much think like I did as a kid or in my mid 20's....I just have more money now!!! Ok...so, that hangovers are a little worse...and thing creak a little, but, other than that....I don't fee

    • Hold on there Nic. (Score:4, Insightful)

      by fuego451 ( 958976 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @10:31PM (#16988876) Journal
      The trick is, you never give up. You let the pain or minor disability piss you off enough to fight beyond letting it hold you back.

      I won't bore you with all the injuries I've suffered in my life from sports to Vietnam to the fire service or tell you about my arthritis or skin cancer and other minor problems. I will tell you that I am a month and a few days shy of 62, I run 6 miles every other day, surf whenever I can get to an ocean and I can sport a nice rod just thinking about shanking my neighbor's girlfriend; I'd never do that because he is a brother firefighter....on the other hand......

      Sorry to get off on a tangent. My point is, you can not let pain or the disability that comes with older age rule your life. It can be overcome with spirit and determination.
    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      just about the saddest goddamned thing I've ever read on slashdot. The thought of becoming an arthritis-ridden man who can't play video games is just... shocking. *sigh* I am so jumping into an active volcano when I start to get frail...

      I'm 41 and I know that if I agree that 44 is old then I will be paying for it in three years time. The fact is that this has little to do with age. I am in better shape than I was when I was 20 and I plan to be in better condition by 60.

      The poster may have an overuse injur

  • zelda (Score:5, Interesting)

    by joe 155 ( 937621 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:02PM (#16987770) Journal
    I always say that occarina of time and majora's mask were really two parts of the same game, play both right through. Best games ever. I personally think that Majora's mask is a little better out of the two... still they are both fantastic.

    I've got happy memories which will last me a life time from these games, I feel happy recomending them.
  • Ms. Pacman (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Groo Wanderer ( 180806 ) <charlie&semiaccurate,com> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:02PM (#16987776) Homepage
    Duh. You can pick up a good machine for under a grand. It is _THE_ game.

              -Charlie

    P.S. You can probably play it with arthritic hands too, just modify the screw on joystick head and play it with your palm.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:03PM (#16987786)
    If you're truly going to be losing the use of your fingers, I'd recommend that you finger your wife as your "last game". Massage her clitoris with your thumb, while your index finger gently rubs her G-spot.

    You should give her at least one shocker. Two in the pink, one in the stink. I'll let you figure that one out on your own.

    But really, video games should be the least of your concerns. Fingering your wife is what really matters in life.

  • What about the Wii? (Score:5, Informative)

    by no reason to be here ( 218628 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:03PM (#16987788) Homepage
    i know arthritis can be quite painful. is it such that you would be unable to grasp the Wiimote? if you can, well, you might have several more years of gaming in Nintendo's brave new world.
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by enharmonix ( 988983 )
      Just speculation, but isn't there suppsed to be a new Wii controller in the works, similar to the power glove? That might be even easier on the hands than the mote.
    • Other good options: (Score:4, Informative)

      by cgenman ( 325138 ) on Sunday November 26, 2006 @01:17AM (#16989756) Homepage
      Eyetoy-based gaming. They almost never require finger movement. *plug* Like Eyetoy:Antigrav *plug*

      DDR. No fingers required.

      Light-gun games. Use one hand to aim and the other to pull the trigger.

      RPG's. Most menu-based games play fine with feet controllers, or without fine motor movements.

      Point-n-click adventure games like The Longest Journey.

      Singstar.

      As for last games suggestions it would really depend upon what kinds of things you enjoy playing. I'd go Ikaruga on the GC (not Dreamcast), and Radiant Silvergun on the Saturn. I'd plug Guitar Hero, but it's usually enough to induce arthritis in most people. Katamari Damacy (PS2). Ore no Ryouri [pandora.be] (PS1). Bionic Commando [thealmightyguru.com] (NES). I'd get some interested friends together and throw some Saturn Bomberman parties.

      Really, what you should do is grab your gaming friends, have them bring over their NES / Atari / whatever old systems they have around, and just play as many different things as possible one night a week every week. By the time your hands go, you'll have played through a slice of history, and you'll have some very close friends.

  • Advanced Gaming (Score:4, Insightful)

    by teh MrCrow ( 965340 ) <mrcrow@moco-clan.at> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:03PM (#16987790)
    Maybe you could try to find something you can play without stressing your fingers too much? Eye-Toy is the first thing that comes to my mind.
  • Some like quest games, others like to blow things up. I like hand-eye coordination games like pinball (may I recommend 3D Ultra Pinball Thrillride) and arcade games like Centipede and Arkanoid. If you want more from us, you have to narrow your question.

    [And if you don't want arthritis, (1) give up meat and (2) improve your elimination -- I take senna leaves daily.]
  • by MillionthMonkey ( 240664 ) * on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:04PM (#16987794)
    If my hands were soon going to be unable to grab things, I wouldn't be wasting my time with video games.

    In 20 years stem cell technology will have progressed so that you can grow a brand new Wii controller right in the palm of your hand anyway.
  • Go out gracefully (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Tx ( 96709 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:05PM (#16987804) Journal
    The poster sounds like the kind of guy that would respond to news of terminal cancer by starting a 40-a-day smoking habit. Personally I'm not a fan of the "it's better to burn out than to fade away" philosophy. As long as you can drag your arthritic claws over a mouse or trackball, you can play turn-based strategy games, so you should never have to quit as such, just change what you play. Plus a few years down the line, you'll probably be able to get a neural interface and be back in business ;).
  • Eight Ball Deluxe is the damn pinball machine ever made. Or, if you like more chrome, fancier fields and a sexy android voice, try Xenon.
  • 44 = old? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:10PM (#16987842) Journal
    I am an older man (44)

    44 is "old"? Oh shit!
                   
  • Arthiritic? At 44? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Colin Smith ( 2679 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:13PM (#16987872)
    Typing wear and tear? Take glucosamine, chondroitin (they often come together) and cod liver oil. They're food supplements. Your body uses them to build and maintain joint tissues.

     
    • To the above add MSM. If your work involves things that heavily stress your hands, try to reduce that stress or find a different kind of work. Do some research on the subject of arthritis and alter your diet accordingly. Wear gloves to keep your hands warm. Try pain-relieving rubs, ben-gay when the odor is tolerable, aspercreme otherwise. Look carefully at your habits to see if you're doing anything to make matters worse.
    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by timmarhy ( 659436 )
      if he has arthitis at 44 it's not wear and tear, it's rehumatoid arthitis and food supplements will do jack shit to help him.his hands are probably swollen and painful beyond what you can imagine, it's a horrible condition.if it was me i'd be searching for other input methods though, instead of putting up with the pain.
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by bullok ( 155096 )

        if he has arthritis at 44 it's not wear and tear

        That's completely untrue. I've had osteoarthritis (the wear and tear type) since I was 25. Traumatic injury, various diseases, bad genes, bad luck, or some combination of these can all be responsible for early onset osteoarthritis.

  • by Kunta Kinte ( 323399 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:15PM (#16987896) Journal

    Playing the first game you played last at least seems poetic. Nostalgia may help for a pleasant send-off.

    For me, though it I'd want to play the original Super Mario Bros for the NES. First game and first console I owned.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      disagree... I have no further desire to play Pong.
      • by Danse ( 1026 )
        disagree... I have no further desire to play Pong.

        Roger that. The 2600 is the first console I really got to play, but I moved on to the C64 after that. Of course if you want to give up gaming, you could always get ahold of a 2600 and go back and play E.T. until you have no further desire to touch a gaming system. Should take about 10 minutes. :)
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      For me, though it I'd want to play the original Super Mario Bros for the NES. First game and first console I owned.

      Ditto. And I'd have my wife wrap it and put it and the NES console (in original box) under the tree so I can scamper down the stairs all bleery eyed and shred it like I was 7 again... ah, good times.

      But I don't think they make footie pajamas for folks my size... and if they do, well... that's just creepy.

      But for the original poster - man get a Wii and play for the next decade, don't give up.
  • by Lord Kano ( 13027 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:17PM (#16987906) Homepage Journal
    Splurge and pay for memberships to all of the adult sites that you have ever wanted to.

    Do a LOT of masturbating now, before the arthritis takes away the ability.

    LK
  • Arthritis shouldn't keep you from playing; even quadriplegics can play games. Maybe a simple isometric joystick would do the trick for you. Experiment a little, or see a specialist.
  • Game (Score:5, Funny)

    by AnotherAnonymousUser ( 972204 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:17PM (#16987914)
    I'd go with Duke Nukem Forever. By then they'll have cured your arthritis.
  • More info (Score:5, Insightful)

    by stonecypher ( 118140 ) <stonecypher@nOSPAm.gmail.com> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:17PM (#16987918) Homepage Journal
    Well, it'd help to know what kind of arthritis it is. For example, if the arthritis is only in your hands, then you should be largely uncompromised on the Wii, which is largely about the shoulder and elbow. If that's not good enough, it depends a lot on the kinds of games you like. For example, if you prefer fighting games, you're pretty much out of luck. However, if you play strategy games, maybe shift away from realtime (like starcraft) and towards turn-based (like civilization.) That way you can move at a pace that's more in keeping with your hands, and you can consider alternate input devices - keyboards, tiltpads, even voice recognition software if it's bad.

    Generally, if neither hand controllers like traditional joysticks nor shoulder-and-elbow controllers like the Wii suit you, then persistant speed-driven games and twitch games are pretty much out. No more tetris, no more street fighter, no more heli attack. On the other hand, timing based games like You Don't Know Jack and Jeopardy are largely unaffected, if you can type. Most turn based games - not just civilization, but traditional games like chess and poker, untimed puzzle games like bejewelled and bookworm, puzzles like sudoku and crosswords, et cetera.

    It's more productive to ask which games are removed, and then to just look at a game catalog or a game site, than it is to ask which games are left. All of the console manufacturers have lists of games on their websites. The internet game sale sites have lists, too, unsurprisingly. Look for games which work with input devices you can still use - mice, keyboards, the microphone, et cetera. If you can use the joystick in some situations but not others, figure out what those situations are. Sure you can't play Tekken anymore, but is that because these two specific fingers are hurting, or all of them? What about your wrists? Can you play Wii Sports? There's only one button press anywhere in Wii Sports, namely letting go of the bowling ball.

    The disease you have is terrible, but it's also very different for different people. There are a lot of games that are probably still open to you, but until we know what you can and cannot do, as well as what you do and do not enjoy, we can't give you good advice.

    I feel for you, man. It's awful. I'm starting to feel it; I'll be where you are in five, maybe ten years if I'm lucky. There are a lot of games left for you, but you get any five people in the room and you're lucky to find two games in common. We need more data.
  • Acupuncture (Score:2, Interesting)

    by rasper99 ( 247555 )
    My brother is 51 and has been getting accupuncture for his arthritis. He swears by it. If you have tried everything else it couldn't hurt.
  • But really. You should play the games you like.
  • Heh. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Phydeaux314 ( 866996 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:19PM (#16987926)
    Try Dance Dance Revolution. You don't play with your hands, AND you'll get a workout!
  • by E-Sabbath ( 42104 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:19PM (#16987932)
    But, well, the Wii seems like it might be decent for the arthritic gamer. ExciteTruck just needs pushing one button, and a lot of leaning back and forth.

  • Two (Score:3, Informative)

    by grub ( 11606 ) <slashdot@grub.net> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:21PM (#16987942) Homepage Journal

    1) Thief: Deadly Shadows (actually any of the Thief series but you specified console)
    2) Oblivion.
  • There is much more arm and body motion than fingers. Also, check out the prescription drugs, they made a WORLD of difference for my mom.
  • Secret of Mana (Score:2, Informative)

    by LionKimbro ( 200000 )
    I'd play Secret of Mana, [gamespy.com] straight through.

    I swear, it is the most beautiful game in the world.
    • by MrZaius ( 321037 )
      More importantly, Secret of Mana should be played with the full set of three players. An Excessively Multiplayer RPG cannot reproduce the depth of plot of an old school CRPG. SoM is rare, in that it allows a happy medium between the conventional RPG and the MMORPG, and in a much closer, more intimate setting, as all players have to be gathered around a single monitor. If this really might be the last game you play, make it social and memorable.

      If it's possible to emulate, or to run on the Wii, that might
  • Mouse replacements (Score:4, Interesting)

    by PIPBoy3000 ( 619296 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:30PM (#16988032)
    There's starting to be a number of replacements for traditional controls. There's eye tracking products [eyetechds.com], software solutions [disability-resource.com], and a variety of hardware replacements like a Wacom tablet.
  • by pbjones ( 315127 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:30PM (#16988036)
    I'm an X-plane user, I can build, fly, go on-line. It uses my brain and teaches me something new. I have to look at many real-world (tm) things like geography weather etc. I can play hard flying through canyons or relax with a long flight across the pacific. Re-enact historic flights on-line with other flyers, dog fight, whatever. Move into building your own scenery, model aircraft etc.
    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by Randseed ( 132501 )
      Agreed on that count. X-Plane is undeniably the best PC flight sim out there. Enough time with it and you could probably be somewhat comfortable getting a 737 down safely, albeit with a little damace owing to the fact that you aren't used to the 'feel' of the plane. Definately a good skill, and you can mod it all to hell by doing things like designing your own aircraft. For extra points, scale model them down and build actual models. ;)
  • (Google for any that aren't familiar. None of these would qualify as "twitch" games, though some do take some coordination. At 44, I would think you'd be good to go for at least another 20-30 years with any of these...)

    None of them involve the whole if-it-moves-shoot-it thing. Maybe that's your cup of tea, but if not...

    Flight Simulator.
    Syberia.
    Chess.
    Ballance (rare, but fun).
    MS Train Simulator.
    Civilization (or FreeCiv).
    Zork (sometimes the imagination is better than any graphics).
  • Maybe you should tape a wiimote to your hand and still play the tennis games for example.. I see no reason to give up gaming, theres always something else you could try.
  • RE4 for gamecube and Goldeneye for N64
  • Tempest (Score:4, Funny)

    by iamdrscience ( 541136 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @08:36PM (#16988090) Homepage
    Tempest is one of the best games ever. Invest in a working arcade version and enjoy.

    When you become to arthritic to play it though, you have to give it to me.
  • Q: "if you were going to give it up, what games would you insist on playing before you had to quit?"

    A: All.
  • In no particular order (except for maybe the first one):
    Katamari Damacy (PS2)
    Lego Star Wars (Various)
    Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
    Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
    Final Fantasy 7 (Various)

    If you're partial to older consoles (and in particular, RPGs):
    Secret of Mana (SNES)
    Chrono Trigger (SNES)
    Final Fantasy 6 (SNES)
    Contra (NES) [Not an RPG]

    You seemed to specify console gaming. If you somehow haven't yet had the opportunity to play first person shooters on a computer, that is also something
  • by GrpA ( 691294 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:02PM (#16988304)
    What games you should play depends on what you like. Simple. I'm suprised you didn't mention the sort of games you like to play.

    Additionally, you haven't described the limitations of your medical issue.

    Firstly if you like playing games, why stop? Is it only the button mashing games that you like? There are so many games that you don't need to stop playing. Just find something you enjoy that doesn't aggravate your condition.

    Second, forget consoles. They are more likely to cause CTS or other issues than support a medical issue. Go PC. Just PC. Unlike consoles, PCs have hundreds of interfaces designed for everything from people with disabilities through to being ergonomic to support sufferers of similar ailments. Even without knowing what your issue is, if you can move a part of your body, you can buy something for a PC that lets you emulate mouse and keyboard.

    PCs cost more, and you'll need to aim high for a games box, but the disadvantage of consoles is that they are designed with a difficulty level around the controller for normal people. This is something you clearly are not (by your own admission). So if you already have problems, then why waste it playing games on a controller designed for hands without medical issues.

    Also, use the benefits of age. If you don't want to mash buttons, play more adventure games, where reaction time isn't critical. And when you play action games, choose games where you can play in a way that suits you.

    As an example - consider BF2 for the PC. Even if you were nearly crippled, you could still play commander online, without any difficulty at all... Just with a voice interface alone. No keyboard or mouse. Of course, you'd probably want a Push To Talk button set up for your headset, although you could just use VOX. And if you want to get into the action, play sniper... Just sit, wait and take your time on each shot.

    Additionally, for flight sims, you can use full size controllers... Joysticks. No rapid movement needed there. If you can still drive a car, you can use a wheel interface. Again, nothing complex there. (And Wheel interfaces are available on most consoles.)

    But as I mentioned, console games tend (though not always) be designed around the console controller and controller limitations to provide an element of difficulty. PC games are designed around a keyboard that no two people seem to have the same one of, mouses that vary from house to house and the odd USB connected device that someone bought on special. The only thing left for PC game designers to challenge is your mind.

    Avoid games that require precise timing and button mashing. They cause issues for those older players amongst us that don't have arthritis too!.

    Finally, don't take the attitude of playing games quickly while you still can. That's pessimistic and you're setting your own limitation. Work to enjoy games for as long as you live and while you still enjoy them. For most of us, that's as long as we live.

    Anyway an opinion. I'm not that far of where you say your are. I am starting to feel something in my fingers that I suspect is the onset of age. But unless I end up so crippled I can't live a normal life anymore, I don't ever think I'll stop playing games, and often I remind myself they are one of the few things I can still enjoy even if I do.

    GrpA.

  • by kiwioddBall ( 646813 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:02PM (#16988308)
    Would be my choice. I've been playing video games for years, but when I played that game (nearly 10 years ago now?) It moved things to a whole new level. When I first got out onto open spaces of Hyrule field and heard the cool music and saw the sun setting it was pretty good as far as video games go. Little touches like the music when the sun rises etc. I haven't had a go on Twilight Princess yet (Wii comes out here in about a week).

    That said there are plenty of other games other than video games. You can't beat a game of cards with friends.

    If you haven't travelled, get your buzz from seeing other cultures before little things get too difficult.
  • I've played tons of games, and if I had to play one of them one last time, it would have to be Rome:Total War. Nothing can compare to the feeling of power you get from commanding 5000 Roman troops going up against the barbarian horde. All of the "Total War" games are amazing, but this one is my favorite.

    For the future, let me take the chance to plug my favorite turn-based MMORPG, Kingdom of Loathing (kingdomofloathing.com). This game may seem very "silly" at first glance, but the game has two wonderful leve
  • I suppose it says something about me that my recommended games are mostly platformers on the Playstation2:

    1. Ico
    2. Ratchet & Clank (if you can, play the trilogy)
    3. Jak & Daxter (if you only play the first game, you're doing okay ... play the others as you see fit, but Jak 2 has a bunch of frustrating bits)
    4. Killzone
    5. Spyro the Dragon (on the original Playstation ... the other 2 games in the original trilogy were okay but not great.)

    Okay, I said I'd post 5, but here's another few for you. Consider it a

  • I've always been a big fan of strategy style games anyway. No, not the RTS type which I abhor, but games like Space Empires V, Galactic Civilizations, Master of Orion, or hell, Chess. Honestly, I'd invest in Space Empires V and Chessmaster, though I know that my likes don't parallel that of most gamers.
  • Fallout 1 and/or 2 (Score:4, Informative)

    by Superpants ( 930409 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:18PM (#16988402)
    That'd be my choice anyway.
  • Descent!!! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Supp0rtLinux ( 594509 ) <Supp0rtLinux@yahoo.com> on Saturday November 25, 2006 @09:47PM (#16988584)
    Forget the consoles, go old school on a new PC and play Descent. It absolutely rocked. You can still find new-in-box copies on Ebay http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=ht tp%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&sati tle=video+game+descent&category0=&submitSearch=Sea rch [ebay.com] And FWIW, it rocks on newer hardware and CPUs. A 44 year old that plays video games? In 20 years, you'll be the best granddad of them all...
  • by RealGrouchy ( 943109 ) on Saturday November 25, 2006 @10:47PM (#16988964)
    Play a really bad game. Either one with bad gameplay, or which crashes every five minutes, or which makes you lose a life without any reason, etc.

    That way, you won't regret it at all when you quit.

    - RG>
  • Yes, really.

    That way you can be dealing more directly with the arthritis, which may allow you to game for much longer.

    Eat everything as fresh as possible. Start with more calcium (dodge meat, the calcium & acid ratios suck). Sulfur-containing foods are helpful (asparagus, eggs, garlic, & onions) as they help calcium assimilation as well as repair in general, as is fresh pineapple for the bromelain in it. Stick to green, leafy vegetables, oatmeal, whole grains (especially for the Vitmain K). Add potatoes, lots of veggie juice, bananas, food with histidine (wheat, rye, rice), & some vitamins (B-12 & C, at least).

    Avoid milk, fatty foods, salt, caffeine, anything really hot, tobacco, sugar & of course avoid meat as much as possible, since they all do nasty things to arthritic suffering. It helps to view arthritis as a class of diseases instead of just one way of suffering; what you’re trying to do here is axe the whole class.

    If you can do that, a lot more than the games will benefit, but they’ll be amongst the first.
  • Solution (Score:3, Interesting)

    by umbrellasd ( 876984 ) on Sunday November 26, 2006 @12:09AM (#16989426)
    Begin practicing telekinesis now, before it's too late.

    On a more serious note, the Wii controller is very nice for a variety of games because it takes the focus off the hands, but I'm actually wondering if using a controller might actually have some therapeutic value for you. The drawback of most controllers is that the range of motion is, by design, made as small as possible, but with arthritis, what you actually want is fuller range of motion to articulate the joints as fully as possible.

    Personally, I think moving to a Wii will be nice for you--and hey, what about games like Dance, Dance, Revolution, which is really great for fitness and does not require your hands at all? Also, I'd say get yourself into some kind of physical activity that uses your hands through a full range of motion. Keeping your hands active is the best way to fight off the effects of arthritis although, yes, it is painful. The alternative is a rapid decent into limited range of motion and a large amount of pain.

    In combination with those measures, we're probably not that far from further control innovations like retinal tracking for targetting (Wii is already tracking your controller; it won't be long before we're watching head movement or even hand waving with a wristband). Wii is really paving the way for the entrance of these advancements in controllers, so the future is brighter than you may think! I think you will be able to happily play games for your entire life, if you take some preventative care steps now and ride the wave of technology innovations that are on the way.

  • by dangitman ( 862676 ) on Sunday November 26, 2006 @01:11AM (#16989726)
    Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
  • Drop consoles, go PC (Score:3, Informative)

    by SirJorgelOfBorgel ( 897488 ) * on Sunday November 26, 2006 @08:28AM (#16991030)
    Well, it's not exactly arthritis, but I've had RSI (repetitive strain injury) from computing for years. It's very light though, I can still pretty much do anything and everything I want, I just have to stop sooner than my friends. One thing I have noticed though, is that when playing consoles, within minutes everything hurts. This is while I can play games on the PC just about indefinitly without aching at all. That should spell out the difference. Yes, I do use special ergonomical mouses and keyboard though, but those are like $100 together and in all probability, your health care plan will actually pay for it (mine did). Is this all relevant to you? I don't know, it could be. Good luck.
  • Deus Ex (Score:3, Insightful)

    by oogoliegoogolie ( 635356 ) on Sunday November 26, 2006 @05:22PM (#16994818)
    I just quickly glanced at the summary so these may have already been mentioned by the author....

    1) Deus Ex. The original (NOT Deus Ex 2) For PC, probably the best game I ever played and although it's six years old I still play it once a year. It's been superseded in graphics, but not in depth of the story.
    2) Oblivion, Xbox 360. Since I got this two months ago I haven't played anything else. It allows you to pause during fights so you can pick spells, change weapon,etc., so you dont have to be Quick draw McGraw on the controls.
    3) Half Life 2.
    4) Tron 2.0. Probably the most colorful game you will ever play. And it's fun too!

The means-and-ends moralists, or non-doers, always end up on their ends without any means. -- Saul Alinsky

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