1990's Sim Games. SO GOOD!

In which Hank talks about the lessons he learned growing up playing simulation games (and does a very good job of not complaining about how mindless gaming has become.)

Sim Games taught me a huge amount about my world and also about who I am. From SImCity I learned that as much as a third of a city is taken up by its roads. From SimEarth I learned what that crustaceans existed before fish. From SimTower I learned that things are never as simple as they seem. From Civilizaiton I learned that peace is orders of magnitude more difficult and less glamorous than war. From Tycoon games I learned the value of opportunity and also how to be careful not to squander the value you have.

It seems a little silly, but there it is. You can get a lot of these games for free (all you need is DOS BOX and a good google search if you'd like to try them out.

http://www.abandonia.com/

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Simulation Games
• SimCity
• SimCity 2000
• SimEarth
• Sim
• Maxis
• SimAnt
• SimFarm
• SimTower
• Rollercoaster Tycoon
• Dinopark Tycoon
• Civilization
• Sid Meier
• abandonware
• Wil Wright
• video games
• DOS
• 1990s
• Yoot Tower
• SimCopter
• SimHealth

[joysarenottravesties]

So...when the clip from Roller Coaster Tycoon popped up and then again when he was talking about being evil, did anyone else have slightly guilty memories of drowning people? No? Just me? Ok.

[Lydianime]

Things I learned by playing Civilization IV and Civilization IV Gold Edition:

1. Coastline is your friend

2. Build a military even if you are peaceful since there will always be someone that will hate you and declare war

3. Never allow a civilization to be your vassal state if all the other civilizations hate them.

4. Isabella of Spain, no matter what you do, will always be annoyed with you and you should just accept that

[ericpullen524]

Hank you would have had a blast last weekend in Louisville, KY. I am part of a group that runs the Louisville Arcade Expo. This is an annual 3 day festival of retro gaming. Nothing newer than 1999. Pinballs, Arcades, Consoles, and Computer gaming. For all of use that remember what real video gaming was all about and introducing it to another generation.

[eleventhousandfour]

My parents would see me playing simulation games as a kid and always ask "How do you win?" and when I told them that there really was no winning they thought it was the stupidest thing ever.

[TDOX68]

SIM LIFE AND SIM ANT!!! made me want to become an Evolutionary Biologist!!

[xxxcoolbeanzxxx]

ROLLER COASTER TYCOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[celticprincess93]

I was born in th early Ninties, and I remember playing games like Oregon Trail, Amazon Trail, O'dell Down Under, Sim Park, Pajama Sam, and Freddie Fish...good times :)

[TaeWik]

@BirdGirlSami Second that. I even have the re-release for ps3 :P

[BirdGirlSami]

I think you're forgetting Theme Hospital, made by Bullfrog. Best.

[thecanadianDJ]

I remember in school we had a simulation trucker game (cross country canada maybe - I can't remember the name) but basically you were a truck driver and you had to drive to cities and pick up/drop off commodities. and it was all text based (with pictures to show what was happening). like you could just type "go N" and you would go north. also you had to stop at diners to eat and get gas, i don't know why it was so awesome but it was.

[thecanadianDJ]

@joysarenottravesties also building roller coasters that just end and send people flying

[DeathByMyNote]

@mysmilie OMFG, I love that game <3