Gaming on the Cheap

[Crimsoneer]

Can I suggest adding Rogue and it's many variants to this?

 

[Scrythe]

I'll never understand why they put Loom on sale for Steam when every game made under the Scumm engine can be downloaded for free pretty much anywhere...

 

[The Escapist Staff]

Dwarf Fortress

I've always found Dwarf Fortress' concept interesting, but I couldn't really get into it. Graphics that are slightly more recognisable than ASCII would help (I have a hard time interpreting text as anything other than text), but is there any way to avoid reading a 300 page dissertation before you can actually play the game? I don't mind if I have to read it only to master the game, but I'm wary of spending hours of preliminary work on a game I'm not even sure I enjoy the gameplay of!

http://mayday.w.staszic.waw.pl/df.php Use this for the graphics.

Just read the brief instructions on the dwarf fortress website and start playing. You're first fortresses are all going to fail miserably due to you not stock piling enough food or not brewing enough alcohol or not digging a well, or whatever but you can always abandon them and go reclaim your fortress later with warriors or just start a new fortress.
Remember losing is fun

(Except in the adventure mode after you've been throwing rocks for half an hour to build your strength only to be killed by wolves 2 minutes later.)

Edit: It looks like they got rid of short instructions and it's now all on the wiki.

There's also a <a href='http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=captnduck#play/uploads

' target='_blank'>video tutorial series out, helpfully titled so you can watch the ones you need.

 

[Extravaganza]

Kotor, or starcraft

 

[khaimera]

What about older sports games? I just bought a hard copy of College Hoops 2K6 for 3 dollars (American).

 

[R4di4ti0n.]

I suggest heading over to Direct2Drive.com.

They have a hell of a selection of games right now for 5 bucks a pop. I got Civilization 4 and will be picking up Riddick (the new one), STALKER, and Thief too.

Bioshock is also on there as well as Saints Row 2 and a bunch others.

 

[inflamessoilwork]

How about knights of the old republic for $9.99 on steam?