Games to play on a laptop computer?

Pumpy Tudors · 07-05-2007, 02:15 PM

I bought a refurbished laptop computer from Dell over the weekend, and it arrived at my house this afternoon. It's got an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of RAM, along with a decent video card (ATI X1400, if I remember correctly). I'm looking for suggestions about games to install on it. I'm talking about stuff like text sims, turn-based strategy, puzzle games, time wasters, etc. I know that none of those things will really take advantage of the processor/graphics in the system, but I intend to use the laptop for games that I can play while sitting in bed, so I don't really want to fool with a mouse or gamepad too much. I'm not terribly comfortable with touchpads (at least not yet), so games that don't require quick reflexes are best for my laptop.

I guarantee that Worldwide Soccer Manager is going on it, as it'll probably run better with the dual-core processor than it does on my desktop. Freestyle Street Basketball is also going on, because that's played entirely with the keyboard. For you folks who occasionally play games on laptops, what kinds of games do you play?

I'll take any suggestions. Shareware/freeware stuff is preferable, but I have no problems with going out and buying a retail game if it'll be fun.

Thanks!

Eaglesfan27 · 07-05-2007, 02:18 PM

Not sure if it is a genre that you like, but I find Space Empires IV and V to be two of my favorite laptop games for the reasons that you mention.

Pumpy Tudors · 07-05-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Not sure if it is a genre that you like, but I find Space Empires IV and V to be two of my favorite laptop games for the reasons that you mention.

I've been eyeing Space Empires V in the stores lately and wasn't sure about it. It looks like a lot of fun, and I think it'd be perfect for a laptop. Thanks for the tip!

Coffee Warlord · 07-05-2007, 02:40 PM

Galactic Civ II would be in that same mold.

Or Europa Universalis.

st.cronin · 07-05-2007, 02:48 PM

Werewolf

MikeVic · 07-05-2007, 02:50 PM

Hide the teacup.

Travis · 07-05-2007, 03:00 PM

EHM. A great game for playing on the side while watching TV or even console gaming at the same time. Only 2-3 times per season that you have to really delve into the inner workings of your team (barring major injury rashes), other than that, lots of subtle changes and waiting on sim processing.

Pumpy Tudors · 07-05-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Galactic Civ II would be in that same mold.

Or Europa Universalis.

I have GalCiv II and never did get around to installing it on my desktop. It'll go onto the laptop. Good call. As for EU, I played EU2 a few years ago, and I found it to be a little complex for my liking. I might pick up EU3 when it gets cheaper, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Werewolf

You try so hard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Hide the teacup.

This is my wife's favorite game. Perhaps I'm sharing too much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis

EHM. A great game for playing on the side while watching TV or even console gaming at the same time. Only 2-3 times per season that you have to really delve into the inner workings of your team (barring major injury rashes), other than that, lots of subtle changes and waiting on sim processing.

I never did buy the final EHM game. I played the demo, and I know it's in great shape now. I'll put the demo onto the laptop and see how fast the processing time is. It wasn't tolerable on the desktop, so I'm hoping it flies on the laptop.

JPhillips · 07-05-2007, 03:31 PM

Maximum Football.

Marc Vaughan · 07-05-2007, 06:41 PM

Battle for Wesnoth has been permanently installed on my laptops for the past couple of years - great turn based strategy game .... and its free (end pimping).

Celeval · 07-05-2007, 08:14 PM

Dwarf Fortress

Izulde · 07-05-2007, 08:28 PM

OOTP 6.5 and FBCB are the two games I play most often on a laptop.

Antmeister · 07-05-2007, 10:14 PM

Fate - Cool real-time roleplaying game. Cost: $19.99

Battle for Wesnoth - I second what Marc says, although I haven't played it for a while. Cost: Free.

RocketBowl Plus - A combination of golf and bowling. You can upgrade your bowling balls to have turbo boosts and arcing capability and well as play in tournaments. Luckily you can try out the demo to see if you like it. Cost: $18.47

TotalGaming.net - Nice collection of games with no DRM including Hacker Evolution and Space Rangers 2. Cost: varies, but reasonably priced. Space Rangers 1 & 2 are very good bargains.

daedalus · 07-06-2007, 05:52 AM

obligatory PS:T and a wireless mouse . . . no? my bad.

beyond the already mentioned great choices, popcap tends to have great time wasters. i've seen various versions of bejeweled in B&M shops for cheap.

space rangers 2 seems to be extremely highly thought of at OO which is good recommendation to me.

i still have to try freestyle so i can play with you folks.

Dr. Sak · 07-06-2007, 06:31 AM

Rise of Nations

Pumpy Tudors · 07-06-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daedalus

obligatory PS:T and a wireless mouse . . . no? my bad.

What is PS:T? I'm sure I know somewhere in my head, but I can't place it at the moment.

hoopsguy · 07-06-2007, 07:38 AM

PlaneScape: Torment. Great game, but not necessarily one I (or probably daedalus, in a serious moment) think of for the laptop.

Pumpy Tudors · 07-06-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Not sure if it is a genre that you like, but I find Space Empires IV and V to be two of my favorite laptop games for the reasons that you mention.

Quick question about Space Empires V. GameSpot's review says that SEV has a lot of bugs in it. Have those problems been ironed out with patches? I can play SEIV through GameTap, so that won't cost me any money, but I just want to be sure about SEV before I spend money on it.

Tyrith · 07-06-2007, 04:43 PM

That comp will run Civilization 4 easily, so that'd be my number 1 pick for turn based strat. X-COM on GameTap is a big one for me too, but I don't know if it will scroll well with a touchpad.

Eaglesfan27 · 07-06-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Quick question about Space Empires V. GameSpot's review says that SEV has a lot of bugs in it. Have those problems been ironed out with patches? I can play SEIV through GameTap, so that won't cost me any money, but I just want to be sure about SEV before I spend money on it.

Yes, there have been at least 7 or 8 patches since that review was released. Hundreds of bugs have been quashed and some nice features have been added.

Edited to add: The AI still seems a bit weak at times, but not enough to deter me from having fun when I play it.

FBPro · 07-06-2007, 10:24 PM

I play:
OOTP
Puresim
FOF
DMB

All on my lappy, every now and then TPG2.

daedalus · 07-08-2007, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

PlaneScape: Torment. Great game, but not necessarily one I (or probably daedalus, in a serious moment) think of for the laptop.

Yeah, on both count.

Although, y'know, it's doable and surely worth it!!!

I mean . . . Fall-From-Grace?

cartman · 07-08-2007, 01:52 AM

I can't believe these haven't been mentioned:

Hearts
Minesweeper
Solitaire
Pinball

MJ4H · 07-08-2007, 09:39 AM

ICY TOWER

ntndeacon · 07-08-2007, 05:49 PM

or how about web based games like simsports

07-05-2007, 02:18 PM	#2
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Not sure if it is a genre that you like, but I find Space Empires IV and V to be two of my favorite laptop games for the reasons that you mention. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

07-05-2007, 02:48 PM	#5
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	Werewolf __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out

07-05-2007, 03:00 PM	#7
Travis Pro Rookie Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada eh	EHM. A great game for playing on the side while watching TV or even console gaming at the same time. Only 2-3 times per season that you have to really delve into the inner workings of your team (barring major injury rashes), other than that, lots of subtle changes and waiting on sim processing. __________________ "I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." - Rogers Hornsby

07-05-2007, 03:31 PM	#9
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	Maximum Football. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

07-05-2007, 08:28 PM	#12
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	OOTP 6.5 and FBCB are the two games I play most often on a laptop. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

07-05-2007, 02:40 PM	#4
Coffee Warlord Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Colorado Springs	Galactic Civ II would be in that same mold. Or Europa Universalis.

07-05-2007, 02:50 PM	#6
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	Hide the teacup.

07-05-2007, 06:41 PM	#10
Marc Vaughan SI Games Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Melbourne, FL	Battle for Wesnoth has been permanently installed on my laptops for the past couple of years - great turn based strategy game .... and its free (end pimping).

07-05-2007, 08:14 PM	#11
Celeval Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cary, NC, USA	Dwarf Fortress

07-05-2007, 10:14 PM	#13
Antmeister Pro Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: At the corner of Beat Street and Electric Avenue	Fate - Cool real-time roleplaying game. Cost: $19.99 Battle for Wesnoth - I second what Marc says, although I haven't played it for a while. Cost: Free. RocketBowl Plus - A combination of golf and bowling. You can upgrade your bowling balls to have turbo boosts and arcing capability and well as play in tournaments. Luckily you can try out the demo to see if you like it. Cost: $18.47 TotalGaming.net - Nice collection of games with no DRM including Hacker Evolution and Space Rangers 2. Cost: varies, but reasonably priced. Space Rangers 1 & 2 are very good bargains. __________________ "I'm ready to bury the hatchet, but don't fuck with me" - Schmidty "Box me once, shame on Skydog. Box me twice. Shame on me. Box me 3 times, just fucking ban my ass...." - stevew

07-06-2007, 05:52 AM	#14
daedalus Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	obligatory PS:T and a wireless mouse . . . no? my bad. beyond the already mentioned great choices, popcap tends to have great time wasters. i've seen various versions of bejeweled in B&M shops for cheap. space rangers 2 seems to be extremely highly thought of at OO which is good recommendation to me. i still have to try freestyle so i can play with you folks.

07-06-2007, 06:31 AM	#15
Dr. Sak Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Stuck in Yinzerville, PA	Rise of Nations

07-06-2007, 07:38 AM	#17
hoopsguy General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chicago	PlaneScape: Torment. Great game, but not necessarily one I (or probably daedalus, in a serious moment) think of for the laptop.

07-06-2007, 04:43 PM	#19
Tyrith College Starter Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX	That comp will run Civilization 4 easily, so that'd be my number 1 pick for turn based strat. X-COM on GameTap is a big one for me too, but I don't know if it will scroll well with a touchpad.

07-06-2007, 10:24 PM	#21
FBPro College Starter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SE	I play: OOTP Puresim FOF DMB All on my lappy, every now and then TPG2. __________________ GM RayCo Raiders-est. 2004-2012 Charter member of the IHOF-RayCo GM GM Tennessee Titans PFL 2011-2014 GM Tennessee Titans FOWL 2020-2025

07-08-2007, 01:52 AM	#23
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	I can't believe these haven't been mentioned: Hearts Minesweeper Solitaire Pinball __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint

07-08-2007, 09:39 AM	#24
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	ICY TOWER

07-08-2007, 05:49 PM	#25
ntndeacon Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alabama	or how about web based games like simsports

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