Tonight, for the first time, I set up a server for Battlefield 2, loaded a map, and headed for a chopper.
Up to that point, I’ve done all that a million jillion times. You have to practice a lot.
But tonight was… unusual.
I got in my AH-1Z attack helicopter: 
I throttled her up, and my gunner got in.
Cruel Wife was my gunner, playing Battlefield 2. I was on my computer, she was on hers, and we were honest-to-goodness flying.
Before long she was taking out targets of opportunity with the 20mm Gatling Gun and TV-Guided Hellfire Anti-Armor AGM’s.
If I weren’t married, and you weren’t married, I would ask CW to marry me. – LC Aggie Sith
Note to Aggie… If I wasn’t married to her, and you weren’t married to her, I’d marry her.
It was so gosh darned cool. Yeah, I know she probably won’t really get into the game. Hokay, but for 15 minutes or so, coming up over a hilltop to rain fire down upon others was just pure bliss.
Note: I’ve had to practice LOTS to become a decent pilot (The Dude is an excellent gunner, IMHO). No, the controls are not not not realistic. But then again, neither is battle, so let’s just get over that and move on. That said, flying a helicopter is not easy – easy to start, easier to die, difficult to master, and flying in battle while looking good doing it (so your gunner doesn’t hate your guts) – all without dying… that’s not easy. Really. And no, I never fly in 3rd person mode, ever. I think it’s a pansy-weasel way to fly. (No offense to Weasels)
Lemur King's Folly 
No foolin’. LK is a damn good chopper pilot. I can attest to that. Flying right over the heads of friendlies, between buildings, under bridges, all while keeping it steady enough so that I can lay down a stream of hell fire on the bad guys.
Hooyah. You one BMF.
The last few LAN parties have been some of the funnest ever.
Reaching out and touching others was never so much fun.
You pick the targets, tell me where the bad guys are, and I’ll put you there long enough to put them to bed.
The Admiral and I used to play Never Winter Nights the same way. Deb on her puter, and I on mine. Though she was never into the flight sim games or combat sims (real or imaginary). It’s great when you have your better half as part of your group heading out toward one adventure or another. To that end we are waiting for the folks at Blizzard to announce the release date for Diablo III and for Crysis to announce the release date for NeverWinter (3) which should be done up along the lines of Guild Wars. We shall see.
See, I know the politically correct (or just “correct”) thing to say is “Well, there are better things to do than be on the computer that allow face-to-face time” (besides that). And a lot of folks buy into the notion that somehow playing with someone on the computer is somehow “lesser quality” but I am coming to believe in that less and less as time goes on.
So if we’re sitting in the same room, glued to our own computers but still playing *together* – well, that’s a no-brainer as better than no time at all and actually better in some ways than watching TV because we’re communicating and problem solving.
We’re also playing co-op on Portal 2. As usual, the Half-Life/Valve people have done an IMPECCABLE job on the game. Player characters are relentlessly slammed with cynical, snide, and caustic remarks and it is funny as hell.
Now I’m thinking we should pick up neverwinter nights 2 and try that again.
Guy – do I understand it right that NWN can be played in co-op mode? What about NWN2?
It has been a very very long time since we played, but yes, I do believe you can set up NWN (as long as you both have the same versions of the game(s) and all the same updates) so your spouse can be one of your team of adventurers. I may have this confused with Diablo2 that one I KNOW you can have others on your team in the actual game.
If I am wrong about NWN, then I know you can join any one of the networked games via Battle Net, and both be on the same team there. The same restrictions apply. You must have the same version of the game, all updates, and in the case of Battle Net, all files needed for the particular mod you want to play on. Deb liked playing a lot of the “Forgotten Realm” mods, along with a couple of the “social games” which had lots of quests you could go on. We met a few folks on there who were fun to go wandering around with. Don’t know how many (mods) are still active. I know there are a number of them out there for NWN2 as well.
The new game currently in development, “Neverwinter”, is going to be a MMORG along the lines of Guild Wars from what I understand. That is also a pretty good game, which can be played together. (Or alone) The advantage to that one (Or the soon to be released Guild Wars 2) is it is very detailed, good graphics, and game play (aside from the initial purchase of the game) is free. Unlike say World of Warcraft, which cost in the neighborhood of 15 bucks a month subscription. The last I heard Neverwinter will be free to play, but this may be subject to change. As much as we have enjoyed that series, it may prove to be the exception to the rule, in that I would be very tempted to fork up a couple dollars a month to play it, provided it was faithful to the original series concept.
Plus I like freaking out the kids (and those in their 20s-30s are still “kids”, comparatively speaking) on line after we have played awhile, when they find out I am in my mid 50’s. Have received more then once, comments along the lines of, “What are you old farts doing playing this game!” hehehe.
Hmmmm Portal (the original) was a hoot! Haven’t had the opportunity to try Portal 2. And I didn’t know it was able to be played with more then one person.
NWN2 Was an interesting game. Loved the graphics. But Deb was not happy with the way the camera worked (though the next release in the series improved that). She is a hardcore fan of NWN and it’s extensions, along with all the various versions and flavors you can get ahold of on their network (Battle Net?).
We also used to network the old Diablo 2. Played with friends living a couple hundred miles south of us. From what I understand Diablo 3 will be networked via Battle Net. Blizzard may release the game before I qualify for social security!
As for the general statements out there in the “real world”, that interaction on a personal level via a computer (be it chat rooms or some other “social networking”) is somehow less viable then straight stick face to face initial meetings. I have to disagree. Deb and I initially met on line in an IRC chat room dedicated to emulating the atmosphere of Spider Robinsons “Callahans series” of stories. WIth in the space of the following 2 years we wrote letters, talked via land line, and I drove out to see her at least a couple of times. (It was about a 1000 mile trip one way) Eventually, I moved to Illinois, which was also where my parents lived (and I was raised). We were married almost 13 years ago (come this June). I think the odds of success or failure are about the same whether you meet at a bar/social function/church group/work or online. It is after all just another potential avenue of social interaction.
Oh and my favorite NWN version was Hordes of the Undertide. The draw are hot (at least the one you can get to join your team) and Deekin is a hoot!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!