Game "literacy"

[gimbal]

Amnesia: The Dark Decent.

Oh nice one. What makes this game great to me is two things:

- you can't defend yourself. There is just nothing more terrifying than being defenseless
- looking at enemies and other scary stuff actually makes things worse for you!

That entire premise makes you use your environment to its fullest. In stead of rushing into a new area, the first thing you do is scout for places to hide. And the torch... It not only makes you more visible, but it runs out so quickly too... and you really need that thing to regain your sanity so you hoard it.

Its funny how a few basic limiting gameplay elements make you play the game in a very realistic manner - and enjoy it too.

[Roquen]

WRT: Dungeon Master - here's a very recent set of blog posts:  http://squappity.blogspot.fr/2012/06/returning-to-dungeon-master-pt-1.html.

But really my point of posting is this.  What do you really want to do OP?  As the blog above mentions, DM was awesome when it was released, but is it worth playing today?  I can't really answer that question.  Likewise for games like doom & quake I.  Worth the effort?  Depends on the goal.  For a historical progression of game genre's then all these games are worth playing IMHO, but if you really want an overview of genres and mechanic elements...then probably not.

[pitbuller]

Civilization 1

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[philfrei]

But really my point of posting is this.  What do you really want to do OP?

There are SO many games out there. I only have time to check out a few of them, but would like to both as a source of fun, and, as something that a game creator/programmer can learn from, be inspired by, be conversant with. Maybe the relevant term here is "reference points".

[gimbal]

Maybe the relevant term here is "reference points".

Good enough for me And Civilization (and also Colonization) exactly fits the bill.