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Can't Stop Playing 'Em

A games addict 'fesses up

By Mike Kaltschnee

O.K., I admit it. My name is Mike Kaltschnee and I like to play computer games. I don't own a Nintendo, a Sega, or a Sony, but I use my computer to play games. And I know I'm not alone either, which is why I decided to go public with my problem. My favorite game right now is Dark Forces, a Star Wars experience that immerses you into the world of light-sabers and laser guns. I loved the original Star Wars games, Dark Forces has taken the series to a whole new level. I have only two complaints--DF doesn't run on Windows NT, and it doesn't support my Voodoo card--both of which I'll explain next. My company has moved to Windows NT as our platform of choice, mainly due to its stability and our practice of working with very large amounts of data. At first we couldn't play many games because they used DirectX, which is Microsoft's way of letting games run the way they do on a Sony PlayStation. DirectX is a simple download from the MS site and comes with many games. We finally figured out how to install DirectPlay 3, which supports most games under NT (but not Dark Forces). Most of our work now is done in TrueSpace, a program that lets you draw incredible things in 3D. It's similar to the tools that did the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. Our entire WebSpice Animations product was done using this tool. We bought Voodoo cards, add-ons to your normal 2D videocard, to enhance the images we were creating. A Voodoo card runs about $130 to $200 and includes a special cable that runs from your normal video card to the Voodoo. You then plug your monitor into the Voodoo port and install a simple driver. The change is phenomenal. About once a week after work, we play a game called Unreal, which is truly an "unreal" experience in which you are immersed into an environment that is the closest I've seen to reality. The VooDoo card makes the textures on the walls look realistic, and even the monsters look real. We have a high-speed network at our office, so we can play the game against one another. Most new games have a special multiplayer mode, so we can each connect and play against a much smarter opponent than the computer--your friend (well, I guess it depends on who your friend is). You run through the mazes, looking for other people to fight against. There is absolutely nothing like it. I just got a review copy (I love this job!) of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. This game was released simultaneously with the book of the same name. I've only had about an hour to spend with it, but already I'm less impressed with the game graphics or interface than with the concept. You command a whole team of anti-terrorist soldiers using the latest weapons and have to plan how you're going to save the terrorists. I plan on spending time during the Christmas break doing just that. I have some favorite games that don't support the VooDoo card but which are great for other reasons. If you don't own a copy of "Don't Know Jack," buy one. A great game for parties, its premise is Trivial Pursuit with a wacky twist. The first version (there are now about seven) is really a steal, selling for $15 at most stores. Finally, you need to look at Quake 2, WarCraft, StarCraft, and Duke Nukem 3D. These are games I still love to play, although I spend more time with the newer ones. You know what I'll be doing over the break. Have fun, and I'll see you next month.