Favourite computer games of all time. [2]

it's the strategy games I like, which is why I could never get into most computer games, amazing as they are. A good board game where the arrangement of pieces on terrain could make or break you is right up my alley. There's actually some middle earth board games that do this quite well: one set features the battle of Dagorlad, another the battle of Minas Tirith. All played on a hex grid. The set's back at the family home, don't know if the company still exists and can't remember the name of it.

{{ I'm sure I played the first med one not sure about the second. I know I missed a big gap in the series in the middle. First sort of game of that style I ever played was called Theatre Europe and was turn based strategy nucelar war game. I played it on the ZX Spectrum it looked like this-



yet I could play for hours looking at screens like that, never did beat it (sorry Europe you got nuked every time!).

Halfy there are a few ME based strategy computer games, but you have to not mind them playing very, very lose with lore and events.}}

halfwise wrote:it's the strategy games I like, which is why I could never get into most computer games, amazing as they are.  A good board game where the arrangement of pieces on terrain could make or break you is right up my alley.  There's actually some middle earth board games that do this quite well: one set features the battle of Dagorlad, another the battle of Minas Tirith. All played on a hex grid.  The set's back at the family home, don't know if the company still exists and can't remember the name of it.  

You should really try war of the ring by areas games. It brings middle-earth to life in a lore accurate way. It is a in-depth grand strategy board game and just so happens to be my favorite.

My brother started a board game company and released his first game "six empires." It is a mix between axies and allies and risk with some new features thrown in. He is working on a WW2 one now.

{{ First Tolkien based games I played were text adventures- Meboure Houses classic The Hobbit, then they did fellowship and later two towers. Sadly they never finished the trilogy. The Fellowship game was impressive for its time as a text adventure, it came on a whopping two tapes! and came in a huge box that included a copy of Fellowhip in it. I always loved the book cover art for that edition too. Copied it in drawings many times in my youth. }}

Nice, i always like to see pre movie materials.

Just tried looking for it, not coming up with anything definitive. The problem is the word "area" which is everywhere. Do you have a link?

bilbobaggins wrote:

halfwise wrote:it's the strategy games I like, which is why I could never get into most computer games, amazing as they are.  A good board game where the arrangement of pieces on terrain could make or break you is right up my alley.  There's actually some middle earth board games that do this quite well: one set features the battle of Dagorlad, another the battle of Minas Tirith. All played on a hex grid.  The set's back at the family home, don't know if the company still exists and can't remember the name of it.  

You should really try war of the ring by areas games. It brings middle-earth to life in a lore accurate way. It is a in-depth grand strategy board game and just so happens to be my favorite.

My brother started a board game company and released his first game "six empires." It is a mix between axies and allies and risk with some new features thrown in. He is working on a WW2 one now.

halfwise wrote:Just tried looking for it, not coming up with anything definitive.  The problem is the word "area" which is everywhere.  Do you have a link?

bilbobaggins wrote:

halfwise wrote:it's the strategy games I like, which is why I could never get into most computer games, amazing as they are.  A good board game where the arrangement of pieces on terrain could make or break you is right up my alley.  There's actually some middle earth board games that do this quite well: one set features the battle of Dagorlad, another the battle of Minas Tirith. All played on a hex grid.  The set's back at the family home, don't know if the company still exists and can't remember the name of it.  

You should really try war of the ring by areas games. It brings middle-earth to life in a lore accurate way. It is a in-depth grand strategy board game and just so happens to be my favorite.

My brother started a board game company and released his first game "six empires." It is a mix between axies and allies and risk with some new features thrown in. He is working on a WW2 one now.

I would love to but I cant post links yet. I was going to do a thread when i am allowed to.

Ah, some legal or business concerns. I think this would definitely be worth it's own thread.

halfwise wrote:Ah, some legal or business concerns.  I think this would definitely be worth it's own thread.

Its this forum, it wont allow me to post links until i have been here for a week.

Oh...that's actually a good feature. We've been spammed by people who stop by to say hello, and the next post is trying to sell us a bill of goods.

halfwise wrote:Oh...that's actually a good feature.  We've been spammed by people who stop by to say hello, and the next post is trying to sell us a bill of goods.

yeah I get the purpose. I was just saying I will share a link with you when I am able.

{{ Yeah whenever the forum allows you should make a thread. Its Tolkien related and you dont seem to have come here just to sell somthing, so all good I'd say. Go for it.}}

The problem is a simple typo. It's Ares Games.

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/115746/war-ring-second-edition

I have one of their later productions, only found one person to play it with though, so mostly it gathers dust in a cupboard.

I made the new post.

https://www.forumshire.com/t1478-grand-strategy-board-game-war-of-the-ring-by-ares-games

{{ This is related to the discussion on the film thread really, the very impressive unreal engine 5, interactive tech demo, running on a home console the ps5 }}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{ This is related to the discussion on the film thread really, the very impressive unreal engine 5, interactive tech demo, running on a home console the ps5 }}

Thanks so much for sharing, i loved the movies and this game looks amazing.

{{ Sadly its not a proper game, just a tech demo to show off what unreal 5 will be capable of when it's fully released. You a gamer Bilbo?}}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{ Sadly its not a proper game, just a tech demo to show off what unreal 5 will be capable of when it's fully released.  You a gamer Bilbo?}}

noooooooooooooooooooooo

yes i am and i love matrix as well.

I loved the first matrix... the others I thought tried to do too much (also created some plot holes i cant overlook). Interested in number 4 but not holding out hope.

What kind of gaming are you in to? This originally was about people's favourite games of all time... what are yours?

Lancebloke wrote:I loved the first matrix... the others I thought tried to do too much (also created some plot holes i cant overlook). Interested in number 4 but not holding out hope.

What kind of gaming are you in to? This originally was about people's favourite games of all time... what are yours?

I agree with you in that the first was by far the best, and the third especially caused some I am also looking forward to the 4th but not sure what to expect. It better not end up like Indiana Jones 4.


I like strategy gaming best. I play PC but also some board games. My favorite board game of all time has to be War of the Ring by Ares games. Great stuff.


Total war is my all time pc favorite but i have moved away from them as of late. Knights of Honor 2 is looking very promising.

{{ I used to big strategy player going all the way back to arguably the first "modern" one, Dune II. Most recent one Ive played is probably Company of Heroes 2, which from what Ive played so far is shaping up to be interesting.
Im also pc, these days 90% of what I play game wise is VR. }}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{ I used to big strategy player going all the way back to arguably the first "modern" one, Dune II. Most recent one Ive played is probably Company of Heroes 2, which from what Ive played so far is shaping up to be interesting.
Im also pc, these days 90% of what I play game wise is VR. }}

I love the potential for VR but it just seems it not there yet, another 8-10 years perhaps it could dominate the market. If you ever get word of a tolkien based vr game, please post it.

{{ I will. Dont know of anything- closest would be to use a LotR's total conversion mod for Skyrim VR. VR will of course be much better in 8-10 years buts already an amazing experience. And with modders modding so many good games to work in VR- I play Alien Isolation, GTA5, Valheilm, Doom 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 among other technically flatscreen only games in full VR. Not to mention theres a pretty good range of made for VR stuff, Half Life Alyx, Beatsaber, even apps are made interesting like google earth vr. It just changes the experience- I cant imagine going back to skyrim and having to interact with stuff by pressing buttons rather than just reaching out and grabbing it, or not being able to cast two spells in different directions at different targets at same time. I also find it can elevate an average game into something more special- SW squadrons is an ok space flight sim, in VR though its so much more fun despite the gameplay technically being the same, but the difference being able to track enemy ships by just looking around and over your own shoulder makes all the difference. In fact only downside so far to Vr for me is its sort of ruined a lot of flatscreen games for me, you dont realize what a barrier to immersion a screen is until you're inside it rather than looking at it. Cash well spent for me given use I get out of it.}}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{ I will. Dont know of anything- closest would be to use a LotR's total conversion mod for Skyrim VR. VR will of course be much better in 8-10 years buts already an amazing experience. And with modders modding so many good games to work in VR- I play Alien Isolation, GTA5, Valheilm, Doom 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 among other technically flatscreen only games in full VR. Not to mention theres a pretty good range of made for VR stuff, Half Life Alyx, Beatsaber, even apps are made interesting like google earth vr. It just changes the experience- I cant imagine going back to skyrim and having to interact with stuff by pressing buttons rather than just reaching out and grabbing it, or not being able to cast two spells in different directions at different targets at same time. I also find it can elevate an average game into something more special- SW squadrons is an ok space flight sim, in VR though its so much more fun despite the gameplay technically being the same, but the difference being able to track enemy ships by just looking around and over your own shoulder makes all the difference. In fact only downside so far to Vr for me is its sort of ruined a lot of flatscreen games for me, you dont realize what a barrier to immersion a screen is until you're inside it rather than looking at it. Cash well spent for me given use I get out of it.}}

Well you do make it sound enticing. I told my wife i am getting a new gaming laptop soon and it could be my last since vr might take over. Time will tell. i will have to see what kind of games they come out with over the next few years.

I used to play a lot of real time strategy games but the genre seems to have slowed down since the late 2000s.

I remember Dune 2 as one of the first I played, with Command and Conquer. The best RTS games, for me, were C&C Red Alert 2, Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander.

Company of Heroes was quite good as was World in Conflict. Metal Fatigue got a lot of hours from me as did most Command and Conqurer games.