Just got through playing Rise of Nations, a skirmish between me (as the Chinese) and the computer (an utterly hapless even on high difficulty Egyptian outfit.)
It got me thinking---the only reason I still play Rise of Nations is because I'm trying to top the benchmarks I set for myself---fastest tech run to Info Age, highest score, quickest trip through the Conquer the World Campaign. I've beaten Railroad Tycoon 2 into the ground but still love it, I'm the big fish in a small pond at Total War, and I once had a game save in Capitalism II where my character was a trillionaire and had enough cash in his personal bank account to fund this bailout the US is talking about out of his own pocket and still be the richest man alive.
I've built Tropico islands with over a thousand inhabitants, been to Alpha Centauri in Civ 2 more times than I can count (and transcended, cornered the energy market, and outright conquered Alpha Centauri itself in its eponymous game even more times), beaten Final Fantasy VI into the ground, and smoked countless other games in the 26 years since I first picked up the hobby as a restless five-year-old.
So join me in this delicious sack dance in gaming's end zone. Count the dead, stand over the fallen, climb a mountain of skulls, plant your flag, and say "I've beaten this game and I have beaten it to DEATH!"
It got me thinking---the only reason I still play Rise of Nations is because I'm trying to top the benchmarks I set for myself---fastest tech run to Info Age, highest score, quickest trip through the Conquer the World Campaign. I've beaten Railroad Tycoon 2 into the ground but still love it, I'm the big fish in a small pond at Total War, and I once had a game save in Capitalism II where my character was a trillionaire and had enough cash in his personal bank account to fund this bailout the US is talking about out of his own pocket and still be the richest man alive.
I've built Tropico islands with over a thousand inhabitants, been to Alpha Centauri in Civ 2 more times than I can count (and transcended, cornered the energy market, and outright conquered Alpha Centauri itself in its eponymous game even more times), beaten Final Fantasy VI into the ground, and smoked countless other games in the 26 years since I first picked up the hobby as a restless five-year-old.
So join me in this delicious sack dance in gaming's end zone. Count the dead, stand over the fallen, climb a mountain of skulls, plant your flag, and say "I've beaten this game and I have beaten it to DEATH!"
