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Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is a remarkably rich, open-ended physics-based space program simulator. The types of spacecraft and missions you can design and simulate, particularly with a very active modding community is practically endless. Do you want to fly the Enterprise? Which one? Perhaps see if you can survive out of Andy Weir's The Martian?
PCGamer has an article on a person who has logged more than 4000 hours on KSP. The user, known as ShadowZone in the Steam community, spends many hours designing and implementing complex spacecraft as well as calculating flight plans. It is an interesting read for anyone who has given this game a try, and if you're not careful you may learn something before it's done.
When I first spied the 39-year-old father of two discussing his playtime on Twitter, I wanted him to answer one simple question: What do you even do in Kerbal Space Program for that length of time? Well if you're Daniel, you spend it building staggeringly complex machines to then launch on missions so daring it'd make Arthur C. Clarke sweat—all while rediscovering that childish sense of wonder that makes space so captivating to begin with.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Freeman on Monday September 17 2018, @08:08PM (7 children)
Dungeon Defenders (2,300 hours), 7 Days to Die (2,115 hours), Terraria (1,642 hours), Space Engineers (522 hours), Mount and Blade: Warband (372 hours). I've played these off and on over the past few years. They are all very good games. RPGs are fun, but typically feature a defined story, which is good, but you inevitably end up having finished the game in short order. A lot of times the game play in the RPG isn't what's driving the sales, it's the story. I like a good story, but I don't like re-reading the same story every day.
Then there's the countless hours I played X-COM: UFO Defense (Still Play), Master of Magic (Still Play), Civilizations (II and IV), Zoo Tycoon, Rollercoaster Tycoon (1 & 2)(Just recently found a mod/engine rebuild that adds online multiplayer. Want to play with my brother.), Fallout (1-2, Tactics, 3(All achievements multiple systems), New Vegas (All achievements multiple systems)), Diablo (1 &2), Baldur's Gate (II, Icewind Dale, and Random PS3 game), Ultima Online (Shard not the official servers)(Will Never Again Devote Life to an MMO.), etc. (Most of those, before I got out of College.)
I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, go to parties, or do some things that people call "fun". I do however play games. I also played many a night of card games and board games with the family growing up. Kind of hard to do that with work schedules and some family not being in the area.
Where could he get? Well, pretty safe bet he's having fun. Not much to "get to".
Then there's this guy you wants to walk to the farthest end of Minecraft. (Now that seems crazy, but who am I to judge.)
http://farlandsorbust.com/ [farlandsorbust.com]
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/a-journey-to-the-end-of-the-world-of-minecraft [newyorker.com]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by stretch611 on Tuesday September 18 2018, @01:48AM
Wow, I thought I was bad... Obviously I am not the only heavy gamer.
RimWorld - 1398 hours
Factorio - 1234.5 hours (I thought it was an interesting number, and I will probably not play again until 0.17 is released)
Prison Architect - 953 hours
Civ V - 753 hours (I am less than impressed with Civ VI with only 39 hours)
Oxygen Not Included - 519 hours (will be more by this time tomorrow.)
Transport Fever - 471 hours.
I too spent too much time on an MMO, Neverwinter (and the only title I used through WINE in the past 10 years.) After leaving that just less than two years ago, I would also be reluctant to deal with a MMO again. I played without steam, but I am sure that I spent more time there than the top 2 or 3 combined. (I had a minimum of one max level toon with high level gear for each class... 2 wizards, 3 warlocks, and 2 paladins...)
I also played Diablo 1/2, earlier Civilizations, Master of Magic (always a fav), Warcraft 1/2/3, and StarCraft. Never played Ultima online (or shroud of the avatar either), but I did finish Ultimas 1-5, got bored with 6. (ultima 3 was one of my first early addictions in High School; followed by Ultima IV when it was released.) I also have the enhanced (remake) editions of Icewind Dale and Nevewinter Nights. (I did have the originals as well as Baldurs Gate and Torment when they were originally released.)
I spent a lot of time in Roller Coaster Tycoon 1 & 2 (when they were new) and I have recently played them with OpenRCT2 engine [openrct2.org]. It allows you to play the original games on modern hardware and modern OS's including linux.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 3, Interesting) by deimios on Tuesday September 18 2018, @03:12AM (1 child)
Master of Magic? A fellow man of culture I see. A good day to you Sir!
(Score: 3, Touché) by Hyperturtle on Tuesday September 18 2018, @03:22PM
If that is the truth, your work must stop!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by riT-k0MA on Tuesday September 18 2018, @06:03AM (1 child)
If you've enjoyed XCOM, I think you'd be interested in Xenonauts 2 [goldhawkinteractive.com]. It's still in development, but the developer's presenting his designs to the forum and listening. He's already changed two major features of the game based on forum feedback.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday September 18 2018, @03:51PM
I was under the impression that work had ceased on it. Glad to know it's not abandoned. Though, I think I prefer UFO Extraterrestrials vs Xenonauts. I've also played the new X-COM games including the adventure style one (Think it's called X-COM: The Bureau). They are all rather good. The adventure style one is a little cumbersome with the controls and team management, but was fun. I got distracted from it and haven't gotten back in as I'd have to relearn all the controls. I beat the new X-COM, but don't think I've finished the new X-COM 2, yet.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Hyper on Tuesday September 18 2018, @02:24PM (1 child)
I had spent over 9000 hours mudding. Very addictive hobby.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday September 18 2018, @03:54PM
Yeah, we also won't talk about the countless hours I spent on the MUD I played. Got hooked on one in College.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"