Poll: Opinions: Dwarf Fortress

[HalBuzzkill]

"Losing is Fun!"

Dwarf Fortress, an incredibly complex but in ways surprisingly accurate indie project with ASCII characters making up its art and very realistic damage detection. But still isn't without its bugs both good and bad, and at times completely unreal, ridiculous or infuriating - from drawbridges that can destroy objects on the quantum level, to characters capable of punting other characters over mountains, to dwarves with unbelievably short fuses that wind up setting your entire fortress off. In both game modes, in the end, failure is the only option - The best you can do is keep going for as long as you can. And oh how easily things can go down hill, and how spectacular, or even aweinspiring, some losses can become.

Hard to learn but, in my opinion, a satisfying experience to try out. I probably would have put this in User Reviews but I don't think it's long enough or enough like a review for that.

And so I come here, to you lot, to ask you all about it, if you've played/heard of it at all. Opinions, anyone?

 

[Mace Tulio]

I absolutely love the game. The learning curve is difficult, but definitely worthwhile.

 

[Judgement101]

It confuses the HELL out of me. I sit there going: "Soooooo.....do my dwarves do anything or......huh?" while staring at the menu screen thinking it is the game.

EDIT: Woah, why is "Not interested" combined with "Too Complex"?

 

[Jatyu]

The game is unbelivably complicated, has a terrible learning curve, requires you to constantly look at a guide, is incomplete (alpha software) and it is impossible to even understand what is going on.

Hence, I love it. Dwarf Fortress is one of the games which I can always come back to, and when I do, the updates have always added new and exciting stuff.

The game, is unbelievably fun, with one of the best communities out there. It's just hard to get into.

 

[TitanAtlas]

I havent played, but i remember watching it has a kid (other people playing it), and i always tought it was an interesting idea....

i could play it, but i cant makke difference of whats happening, and whats what... if there was a remake however, with something that would make sense into the game it would be fun, and attractive to more people...

 

[Tartarga]

I tried it once, had no idea what I was doing then it crashed on me. Haven't tried it again since then. It sounds incredible fun from what my brother told me about it, I just don't have the patience to sit there and learn how to use it.

 

[AlternatePFG]

It's fun. It's not my thing, but I can get why people like it.

 

[rddj623]

I've never played but have heard great and terrible things about it. Perhaps when I have a day to myself where I can actually devote time to learning it's intricacies I'll check it out.

 

[coldfrog]

The problem with Dwarf Fortress is that I learned about it at a time when too much other video gaming was going on for me, Minecraft, X-COM, Demon's Souls all being my prime time-takers. Especially with X-COM, I didn't feel the desire to learn a whole new complex universe, and whoo is it complex. I plan to come back to it when I get a chance as it looks exactly like something I'd love, but for now I'm holding back.

 

[Caligulust]

It's fun to hear about, but I'm not exactly tempted to play.
For instance:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.245167-Lets-Play-Dwarf-Fortress-We-Sell-Blood-and-Blood-Accessories?page=1

The graphics are also a turn off for me. But some of the things you hear about are just awesome.

 

[Chal]

It's one of my all time favorites. Eagerly awaiting the night creature overhaul. I'd also like to note that the "awesome" option is in the lead right now, while that lasts.

 

[Zaik]

Played it like crazy until about 31.16. Kind of got bored afterwards and took a break. I've got a 31.24 fort going, but i'm not entirely over the boredom hill and it's taking a bit of work to motivate myself to get back into it.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

And so I come here, to you lot, to ask you all about it, if you've played/heard of it at all. Opinions, anyone?

I believe some of us have heard of it.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.245167-Lets-Play-Dwarf-Fortress-We-Sell-Blood-and-Blood-Accessories

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Dwarf-Fortress-Fans

And there's always Boatmurdered and Bronzemurder.

http://www.nzfortress.co.nz/forum/showthread.php?t=20768

Needs more clowns.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Fucking Awesome

Dwarf Fortress is one of my favorite games, even if sometimes it doesn't return the love I show to it. But no matter how many times it breaks on me I'll just come back like an abused spouse. For a game that's still in bloody alpha it is one of the most unique and interesting thins I have ever played. I really hope Toady continues to develop far into the distant future. While I already love it to bits I know the game could be even greater.

Of course If I hadn't read Boat Murdered [http://lparchive.org/Dwarf-Fortress-Boatmurdered/] I never would have tried it. Coincidentally, here's a shameless user group plug. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Dwarf-Fortress-Fans]

 

[The Madman]

I've spent far, far, far too many hours playing that game. It's like my ideal mix of Dungeon Keeper, Sim City & Stronghold all in one gloriously low-res mix with an added in terrible UI to boot. In short, bloody brilliant game, I absolutely love it!

Despite being an entirely ASCII art alpha build of a freebie game with an incomprehensible interface and bugs everywhere, I'd easily put it as one of my favourite games ever simply for the sheer volume of crazy shit possible within that game.

 

[Drake_Dercon]

Dwarf fortress is possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen, but I was never able to get into it, myself.

Not even cool enough for nerd cred.

 

[gigastar]

I have neard many things about Dwarf Fortress, some easily qualify as mind numbingly awesome, others...

Spoiler: Well, theres a picture for it.

I havent actually played Dwarf Fortress, but ill look into it one day when i have nothing but an internet connection to entertain myself.