Adrian M Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Every once in a while, you like to pull out that favorite game from your collection, set it on the easiest mode, and just settle into a trance-like state where you let your instincts take over as you clear level after level of your game of choice. For me, it would have to be Jr. Pac-Man. I set the difficulty to the one ghost setting, and then proceed to clear level after level. No need to think or plan your routes, just let your gaming instincts take over while you lull yourself into a meditative state. It's all very relaxing. Interestingly enough, I find myself doing the same thing with the 2600 version of Asteroids too. I remember reading something in Next Gen magazine about these types of "clear the level" games appealing to a primal instinct of keeping things tidy that is inherent of the human species. Apparently we get satisfaction out of clearing gaming screens of floating debris and power pellets. Your thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjk7382 Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 I remember reading something in Next Gen magazine about these types of "clear the level" games appealing to a primal instinct of keeping things tidy that is inherent of the human species. Apparently we get satisfaction out of clearing gaming screens of floating debris and power pellets. Your thoughts? Actually it is psychological. I heard nolan bushnell talking about why they came out with the games they did. They all have certain things in common that make them fun. For instance when you are playing breakout and you finally get it to go above the blocks and it starts working by itself. It is a little break it the game that you earned. Also this is very true for thrust, in which I just beat, because when you work very hard to get out of a level and then you finally get to the end and just let your guy float up off the screen. I play most of my games on the hardest difficulty. Then you get better at the game and eventually either beat it or get high scores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Circus Atari. I can just sort of zone out and play forever. Well, I shouldn't say forever, I usually quit after 20 minutes or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassidy Nolen Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Just played Secret Quest for the first time (do I feel like a jerk, could have been enjoying that for years!), and I think that is it for me. Easy to play (at least as far as I have gotten) and I like the mental memory challenge. Much better to relax to than the button mashers. Cassidy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted December 1, 2003 Author Share Posted December 1, 2003 Just played Secret Quest for the first time (do I feel like a jerk, could have been enjoying that for years!), and I think that is it for me. Easy to play (at least as far as I have gotten) and I like the mental memory challenge. Much better to relax to than the button mashers. Cassidy What a coincidence! I was playing Secret Quest last night! Managed to get up to the third level. And you're right, it's a great mental memory challenge! Gotta keep track of those stairwells! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcurrie Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Just played Secret Quest for the first time (do I feel like a jerk, could have been enjoying that for years!), Well, there's another title to pull out of the drawer and give a shot..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cvga Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Every once in a while, you like to pull out that favorite game from your collection, set it on the easiest mode, and just settle into a trance-like state where you let your insticts take over as you clear level after level of your game of choice. Your thoughts? For me it's Video Pinball. Like most people, I can play forever but I find it relaxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted December 1, 2003 Author Share Posted December 1, 2003 Every once in a while, you like to pull out that favorite game from your collection, set it on the easiest mode, and just settle into a trance-like state where you let your insticts take over as you clear level after level of your game of choice. Your thoughts? For me it's Video Pinball. Like most people, I can play forever but I find it relaxing. Ah yes, Video Pinball. I've seen many an hour pass by playing that classic cart! Good times indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjk7382 Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Every once in a while, you like to pull out that favorite game from your collection, set it on the easiest mode, and just settle into a trance-like state where you let your insticts take over as you clear level after level of your game of choice. Your thoughts? For me it's Video Pinball. Like most people, I can play forever but I find it relaxing. Ah yes, Video Pinball. I've seen many an hour pass by playing that classic cart! Good times indeed. I think "Midnight Magic" is better than video pinball. It is a little harder, so you can't really "zone into" it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Laser Blast. That game is almost hypnotically repetitive. For a quicker one, I like Activision's Ice Hockey (game #3), just to see how badly I can beat the computer in three minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Room 34 Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Video Pinball and Yars' Revenge are my usual choices for this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liveinabin Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 Dragster is a good zone-out game for me. Just six seconds of play each time and repeated punches of that reset switch. I'm not really good enough at any other 2600 games to relax into them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xot Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 For me without a doubt it's Kaboom. Totally zen. I'm suprised no one else has mentioned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Room 34 Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 Kaboom! was what I thought of when I saw the thread title, but once I read the first message, I realized Kaboom!'s not really what this thread's about. Kaboom! certainly has an entrancing effect... but it's definitely NOT the kind of game you can just "zone out" on and play for hours and hours! (At least, I can't. I'm not "Zen" enough yet, I guess. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chairmonkey4406 Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 Kaboom definately. As well as Pong (Video Olympics). Also, though it's not really a game, I can zoom out playing video graffiti on my surround cart. Thats a really fun thing to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCmodeler Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 For me, it would have to be Jr. Pac-Man. I set the difficulty to the one ghost setting, and then proceed to clear level after level. Nope. Boring. I need a purpose... not just zoning out. That said, I guess the most "zen-like" game I have is RS Volleyball. The quiet sound of the ocean surf is very relaxing as I smash the computer. Modern: Rez (for me) Rez Vibrator (for my girl) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted December 2, 2003 Author Share Posted December 2, 2003 For me, it would have to be Jr. Pac-Man. I set the difficulty to the one ghost setting, and then proceed to clear level after level. Nope. Boring. I need a purpose... not just zoning out. That said, I guess the most "zen-like" game I have is RS Volleyball. The quiet sound of the ocean surf is very relaxing as I smash the computer. Modern: Rez (for me) Rez Vibrator (for my girl) However, Rez is not a 2600 game. Does not qualify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Player Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 Double Dunk for me. (See my custom status.) Sky Jinks is another. Actually it was my first Zone Game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 Asteroids for me. I just kinda go into a trance and play it till I roll the score a half dozen times (or somebody comes to tell me to comd do somtehing, whichever comes first) Man, i love that game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCmodeler Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 I guess the most "zen-like" game I have is RS Volleyball. The quiet sound of the ocean surf is very relaxing as I smash the computer.Modern: Rez (for me) Rez Vibrator (for my girl) However, Rez is not a 2600 game. Does not qualify. No shit Sherlock. That's why I said "Modern:" before listing Rez. READ. And I listed RS Volleyball which *is* a 2600 game. READ before you criticize other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted December 2, 2003 Author Share Posted December 2, 2003 I guess the most "zen-like" game I have is RS Volleyball. The quiet sound of the ocean surf is very relaxing as I smash the computer.Modern: Rez (for me) Rez Vibrator (for my girl) However, Rez is not a 2600 game. Does not qualify. No shit Sherlock. That's why I said "Modern:" before listing Rez. READ. And I listed RS Volleyball which *is* a 2600 game. READ before you criticize other people. Sure. Anyways, getting back on topic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killersquirel Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 One of the games for me is Stampede. The sound of the horse and the point tallying sound as well as the great gameplay put me in the zone. I also can get in the zone with millipede. -mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted December 2, 2003 Author Share Posted December 2, 2003 One of the games for me is Stampede. The sound of the horse and the point tallying sound as well as the great gameplay put me in the zone. I also can get in the zone with millipede. -mike Good pick. Millipede is a logical choice for skilled players to zone out to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sack-c0s Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 for me it has to be river raid on the 2600... T2K on the jag takes entire hours from my life though without me even noticing they're gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviticus Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 One more vote for Video Pinball - Game 3... Also Megamania. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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