[Consim-l] Recommended recent Computer games for us grognard-types

[Michael R Duttera]

Guys,
The recent emails on computer games reminded me I wanted to get the
skinny on recent computer games that folks who like the kind of games we
do would find worthwhile to plunk down some bucks to get.
I currently plan on spending ca. 3K U.S.$'s sometime in Feb. or early
March getting a state of the Art computer, deciding to finally retire my
old 486. I'm mostly getting the new puter to be able to use the internet
in a state of the art mode. Most of my other serious computer use is
taken care of just fine with my old 486  software.  The latest games
can't run on the 486 but upgrading the system for the sake of games was
never a priority. But now that I'm committed to finally upgrade anyway, I
will also get some state of the art games so I'm looking for
reccommendations....

I'd like a game like ASL. (never did get to progress too far in that
series as either me or my opponent would move before we advanced more
than ca. 8 or so scenarios to just before or starting ones with vehicles)

I'd also be interested in Strategic games where my favs in boardgames are
A3R, VG Civil War, VG Peloponnesian War, EIA.

I'd like one good immersive D&D-esque like game. Back in the days when
486's were the current state of the art I never did find one single D&D
game that really fit the bill. A number of them had one or 2 neat things
about them but they all had problems of one sort or another, the main
thing being they became too repetitive after a while. I never did come
across one that had all the elements such a game needs all in one
package. Are there any current games that succeed? As a fan of Lotr as
well, are any games based on that any good for grognards?

I'd also like a good addictive Space Empires building game ala the old
Stars! game for Win3.1+, which was obviously inspired by the older
Stellar Conquest boardgame. Does Stars! run on Windows XP?

I'm not that interested in games that make up for crappy AI by making the
game real time where one has to rush and the challenge is in responding
faster than the computer opponent, whose "strategy" isn't sophistcated at
all, just quick. So I suppose I prefer a turn-based approach except
possibly for games where that might be more appropriate, like for a 1st
person tactical combat sim.

But any and all reccommendations will be gratefully considered,
Mike