For the past couple of days I've been vegging and PLAYING games instead of making them....

My main obsession is one of the best computer games ever done, Jagged Alliance 2, now available at EBWorld for $10:

http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/products/ product.asp?pf_id=152603&mscssid=SRVJV7EURT9X9PS1P17UNUCWP30 8BJT1&ref=1

Don't let the year old price fool you, this is a great game. (If you have an Electronics Boutique near you, you can get that price without paying shipping.)

This is a must for game developers as well as players. It is a remarkable combination of turn-based squad level tactics and high level strategic thinking.

You are trying to take a small country back after the ruler was kicked out. You have to build up a mercenary force (who you have to keep paid), travel through the country kicking out the bad guys, train up militias to keep the bad guys from coming back, find sources of income, fulfill missions, the whole ball of wax.

Combat is intense and personal, but not in a Quake manner. It's 2D turn-based, and it is ALL about tactics. You are crawling, ducking, running through forest, buildings, roads trying to take them out one guy at a time, day or night. If you run out of bullets, you better get creative. Maybe you can sneak up with a knife. Maybe you can use that TNT you found or bought. Maybe one of your guys can throw a rifle to the other. If someone gets hit, get the medic over to them fast. And hope the medic doesn't get taken out.

You build up your merc's skills as you go along and get quite a personal relationship with them. They also have personalities, and if you hire 2 who don't like each other you are going to have problems if they are on the same squad.

Well...worth getting!