A Love and Hate Relationship

[Padre Pio]

After a 3 year hiatus, I'm back into the medieval world.

I don't know why but I seem to have a love/hate relationship with this game. I would suddenly have this urge to play the game, and the spell usually lasts for a month or two. During that time, I will only play CK exclusively, other games be damned. And when I'm at work, my spare moments would be occupied with daydreaming about my realm, roleplaying in my mind the dynasty I have associated myself with.

Today is one of those times.

However, once the steam runs out, I'd feel disgusted by it, and would immediately uninstall the game from my PC. And then I'd be in another hiatus, the game gathering dust in a shelf.

I don't really know why I have this love/hate relationship with the game. But if I may be so bold to surmise, I think the reason is because, for me, the game concept is outstanding. It has a certain pull on our heartstrings, so to speak. (And it gives a breather to the lurking megalomaniac inside of us. lol) The problem, however, lies with the execution of that concept, methinks, i.e. the AI is frustratingly flawed. Not to mention that it seems to me to be an unfinished game (2.1 beta patch, any one?).

I'd like to compare CK to a wifey's hurriedly cooked dinner. It eases you out of your hunger but the process of masticating the food is not that pleasurable.

Hopefully, CK2 will be a godly meal.

 

[robc04]

I was thinking of posting a thread about my feelings on CK. Your thread motivated me to at least add my 2 cents here. I am new to CK, so perhaps my opinions are not based on enough play time. I think I agree with your summary of your feelings of CK. The concept is good, but the execution is flawed. CK is one of those games that I repeatedly see positive comments about from long-time players. Since CK2 is under develpment, I decided to buy CK + expansion when Impulse had them on sale for $6. Not a big gamble. CK reminds me why I didn't like EU 1 or 2 very much. The concept was good, but the UI and execution were flawed enough to really decrease the enjoyment for me. I felt the same way about Vicky 1. The concept was there, but it took so much work to play the game and get the information you need.

By EU 3, Paradox got pretty good about including important information in tool tips. This made it much easier to learn the game and make decisions. In CK some of that information is not there. I suspected that the Hall of Justice (correct name?) might help with the Thieves Guild problem, but the tooltip didn't mention it. Luckily there are knowledgable and helpful forum members here who have answered my questions - thank you . When the relevent information just isn't readily available in the game, it just makes it too hard to learn. I start to question the purpose of every building and mechanic because I can't trust that all the information is given to me.

My gut feeling is that CK appeals to those who get drawn into their virtual world. You create your own stories in your head about your dynasty members and really get into the role playing aspect of it. Maybe like those who love The Sims. I played The Sims 1 and 3 and just can't stand them. For me strategy games are all about evaluating the information, making decisions, and trying to win. I think that is why games like The Sims and CK just don't do it for me. I wish I could get into it as it would give me more gaming options, but I guess I am what I am. I think this thread is going to prompt me to create another one to satisfy my own curiosity.

I think I have a love / hate relationship with Paradox - no offense, I'm sure you are good people . They make games that sound very appealing to me, but I never get sucked in as much as I hope for. This somewhat changed with EU 3. I enjoyed that game, but didn't think it was great. I have HOI 2 and 3. I played a little HOI 2 and it almost has me sucked in. I haven't yet cracked open HOI 3 as it seems so daunting a task to learn it.

 

[el_zilcho321]

I get the same feeling, though I never really hate it.D V has got me on an extended period of playing, I startedplaying Germany from 1066 - end then when I bought DV I started playing England for 100 years, Russia for 250 years and various other minors for small periods. I've been going for 2 months and counting.

 

[Winchester]

I have similar a love/hate relationship with most games I play. But there are a number for which I feel I have a certain affinity and with which I will keep in touch, even though I rarely actually play them. EU3 is one of these - I will buy the expansions as they are released, yet I have probably played less than 100 years with HTTT. I have sent more time playing Empire Total War, yet you won't find me eagarly checking for expansions of that game.

I am new to CK and I absolutely love the concept, but its 'arbitrariness' is so frustrating - why does the AI do what it does; what effect will this that or the other have, and the other niggles that I am sure almost every player has. Then there is the UI - need I say anything here?
Yes, EU3 is at first similarly incomprehensible, but there are some fantastic manuals for EU3, it has decent tooltips and certainly in the later patches the AI seems more intelligent, and it is possible for a moderately keen player to work out what is going on.

I would never recommend CK to anyone to anyone who hasn't played a Paradox map-based game, as it is such a poor introduction and may well put people off trying any of the others. However, in the short time I have played CK it has gripped me. No all night sessions like the early days of EU3 and a handful of other games - there are too many irritations - yet it is a game I want to succeed. I eagarly await CK2!