On a scale of 1-10, 1 being checkers, 10 being... essentially playing a game in binary, here goes my list:
6: MOO3 - Especially the first version, 1.25 was better, but very hard to pick up and play, and the production/tubes/PP system was just... odd.
9: Dangerous Waters - 724 page(!) manual. Enough said.
7: Harpoon 2: Naval games + limited graphics + college student = infinite frustration/delight cycle.
6: Stars!: Bonus points for a 300+ page manual.
6: Space Empires series - tons of options, tons of replay, tons of restarts.
9: EVE Online - there are actaully people who make a living creating spreadsheets and macros - for money - to determine the best/most efficient way to outfit ships and installations, as well as level your character. Perhaps the second most daunting game ever.
7: WITP (8: WITP:AE). When a series of games has a quarter of a million posts, many of them with AARs, strategies, or questions, you know you've got a crazy deep game.
All worthy candidates, but the (recent!) winner(?) of the Most Daunting Game Every Made is....
10: Aurora: First thought upon installing and loading up a basic universe: Whoa. WITP, you ain't got nothin' on this.
Second thought upon starting a new universe: Wow. After playing this, *I* could be Honor Harrington. And the Space Tyrant. At the same time.
Thoughts?
Steve
Signature under construction. Pardon my whiteness in the meantime.
