I have been messing with computers since 1978 when I was 8 years old. I had a Comm Vic20. I typed my own code just to play simple tank combat game. My Dad bought me an Apple IIc a couple of years later and it came with a game called Wizardy. I loved it. I couldn't believe the detail and depth. In 1994, in a move, I found that old Apple IIc, and fired up the game, and couldn't believe I still remembered every single path in the maze. I just recently, in January of this year, purchased the Archives. I became a nerd reborn. My wife is so pissed right now, because Wizardry is all I thinks about. I have been playing day and night, whenever possible. I even created all of my all characters. They were reborn as well. I have been hitting 1,2,3,4 and 5, getting ready to play 6 and 7, so I could play the new Wizardy 8.That is what takes me to today. I just kicked S.O.R.N's ASS, and was so excited to move onto 6. The anticipation was killing me!! I install, double-click, and begin to create, which is so much part of the fun. 10 minutes later I was ready to urinate on my computer. So I decide, "The hell with Bane, I'll go straight to DS. Once I waited 10 minutes just to get to the create screen, I craeted my "2" characters, started my journey and vomited 7 minutes later. I immediatley fired up 5 and went and kicked La-La Moo Moo's ass.
My beef with this situation is this: I have a hard time explaning the entire RPG experinece to the people around me. I am not surrounded by the type. But Wizardry totlally formed me into the intellectual person I am today. I am so impressed with the deatil and depth of a program written in the 70's, that I figured graphics could only make it better. Wow!! was I wrong. It has done nothing but drag it into the stereotypical crap that has come out in this day and age. Sir-Tech does not have to "come of age" with its RPG's. Maelstrom was so intense compared to Proving Grounds, but designed in the same format. "KEEP IT!!!". I have never been so disapointed in my life!!
Look, graphics suck. If they were so great, we all wouldn't love and continue to play the old and simple text and line maze style of Wizardry. In this day and age, this old style of code is simple for programmers. Why haven't they continued to keep making new scenarios to keep our "party members" from getting more insignias? ^, KD, *, @.
This is nothing more than venting. I have played my ass off for a month and a half, hiding from my wife and kids, to snag a little bit of my youth back. It was great while it lasted, and I just really wanted it to continue.
I had a blast, it was fun while it lasted, but now I must say goodbye to you all.
Cuda, Raven, Aiko, Bear, Storm and Zepp.
We will always live in I, II, III, and V.