Games of Merle Zimmermann
So you have a two-player (internet or LAN) game, and you need an opponent.
I am willing to play against you, if you write me a note telling me when
you are available (times and days). I will check my schedule and get back
to you. My email address is "valeron @ pocketmail . com". (No spaces in
actual version)
Free Resources
- GameSpy has good lists for the 3D
shooting games that came out (including and) after Quake.
- MSN's The Zone has a good IPX simulation
program, but the service only works if you are running an IBM-Compatible PC loaded
with Window95/98 and Internet Explorer 4 or newer. You also need a fast modem, and
the DOS version of whatever game you want to play. Note that, because 'net packets
take a long time to travel around the world, most games will act in very strange ways..
(The "Ice-Rink" syndrome)
- Sega's HEAT.NET is very slow, but works with
Netscape and other browsers.
- I remember of a database of Warcraft players and their telephone numbers, but
I don't recall the URL.. stay tuned.
- When in doubt, put notes on the bulletin boards at your local community college
in the Computer Science buildings. There are always geeks who have ye ancient games
hanging around there.
My Computer
- AMD K6-2: 350 MHz
- 92 Megabytes RAM
- 1.5 GB Hard Disk
- 32x CD ROM
- 56K ITU V.90 Modem - 14.4 only on wet days.
- 150-200 ms ping.
- a cheap Digital Video Camera
Games I Own
I have some notes after each game to give you some background information about my
current situation with it.
If the game you want to play is not on this list, then I probably can't help you.
If it is ...
3d Games of Death and Destruction
- "Ultimate" Doom - I own two different copies of this game.
- Doom II
- (I have the Doom II Master-Levels set.)
- Heretic, full 5 episode version - completed episodes 1 and 2 on easy mode
- Hexen - Lost my save files when I reformatted computer March 1st, 2000.
- Deathknights of the Dark Citadel (Hexen expansion set.)
- Hexen II - Usually play Paladin, stuck looking for Glass Bead.
- Half-Life - completed on easy mode 3/13/2000
- Quake - finished first episode, lost save file somewhere on backup discs.
- Sin - in Freeport Sewer System, pt I of II (II completed already) March 2000
- Ian Livingstone's Deathtrap Dungeon - Finished first few worlds on PSX version,
bought computer version, didn't ever get around to installing.
- Descent II - played for at least half an hour total.
- Unreal - got to the "collapsing lava floor" room. I expect to be playing this
now that I beat half-life
- (s/w version Duke 3D)
- Hyper Blade
- (wolfenstein 3d; no multiplayer support)
Warcraft Games
Note that I don't have Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition.
- Warcraft I - finished first eight levels, got stuck on ninth.
- Warcraft II - played a little, but didn't like the cartoony graphics.
- Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
- Starcraft (yes, finally) - Did first three "humans" missions. Woo woo !
- Command and Conquer - I have both of the CDs.. - Finished five NOD missions, now
stuck on 6th (infiltrate and retrieve Detonator).
- Note: I do not have the GOLD netplay version.. hint hint
- Command and Conquer: Red Alert - Played first three missions on both sides.
- Rival Realms - played for 7 minutes, 40 seconds; uninstalled game in disgust.
Strategy
- Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares - played for six hours, couldn't figure out how
game is supposed to work. uninstalled and filed away in drawer.
- CivNet (Sid Meier's Civilization, Internet Version) - a good comrade of mine talked
about this game all the time back in '94.
- Warhammer Collecters Edition:
- Blood Omen
- Rat God
- Final Liberation
- 4th game in the set...?
Played games for an hour each, didn't like physics, filed away in drawer.
Fantasy Theme
- Dungeon Keeper - have two copies of game,
Prima's clue book; haven't read book (much).
- Diablo - Single Player: Level 8 Character, Dungeon Level 4 (5?).
have not played for a while, have CD in stack on desk where I could install
it in two minutes. Don't have Multi Player character set up.
- Shattered Light - inserted install CD. looked at Setup Program. put CD in drawer.
- Hasbro's Centipede - Played through first world, uninstalled from boredom.
Car or Tank
- SubSpace - utterly crushed by SubSpace gurus, uninstalled in disgust.
- Assault Rigs - played first twenty or thirty levels on PSX, bought computer version.
- BZFlag - Free at
http://bzflag.linuxgames.com/
there are versions for MAC, WIN, LINUX, and many other systems, so check it out (esp. if you
have a T3 at your office on a Sun Workstation... Wow !!)
- CyberByke - have filed away in basement with other cheesy games.
- Whiplash - Played three hours, beat entire game on easy, filed away in drawer.
- MS Flight Simulator 5.10 - "Played" for fifteen minutes, program crashed, uninstalled
FS 5.10 and reinstalled FS 4.0, still having fun with 4.0 ...
- Interstate '76 - installed, played for 1/2 hr, oil tanker exploded, killing character.
uninstalled and filed away in drawer
- Screamer - Played 2 hrs, won all races, got bored, uninstalled, filed in with "Hoyle's
Card Games."
- Vangers: One for the Road - Played 30 seconds, was weirded out, couldn't take any more,
uninstalled, filed CD in drawer.
Other Things
First, a word of warning. I am not very good at some of these games, so
playing me probably won't be like challenging Kasparov to a game of chess.
Also note that, as I have a 1.5Giga Byte hard disk, there is no way that
I could have more than three or four of these installed at one time. Therefore,
send me a message at least a couple of hours before you intend to
play against me, as I may not be able to track down the install CDs in short notice.
Note: I only check my email once every few days, so be forewarned.
Second, my computer's telephone line is in Area Code (301) in the USA. This means
that it will be a local call ONLY if you live in one of the following areas:
- Washington, D.C.
- some areas of Virginia (near Washington, D.C.)
- some areas of Maryland..
- Kensington
- Rockville
- Silver Spring
- Wheaton
- Aspen Hill
If you want to test to see if you are local, I would advise trying to place a
call from a payphone without putting in the 35c; it will tell you if it is long
distance.
Unlisted Games: I own all but 30 of the Nintendo Entertainment System games,
so if you have the NES emulator I can probably play whatever
two-player game you want against you. Note that I still
don't have any of the Double Dragon games.
Shareware Games: If the game that you want to play is Shareware,
and the download
is less that about ten megabytes, I would not mind playing it
against you even if I don't have it already.
Shareware Games, Continued: If the game is more than ten megabytes,
and you can get it on a CD ROM and send it to me,
I would not mind installing it if I don't have it already.
CD-Key Games: Note that Diablo, Warcraft II,
and Starcraft only let people play against the same CD key. If you want to
play against me, I might be tricked into giving you my Key.
When I used to play chess, my USCF rating was slightly above
1000.