What's your pre-game ritual?

[TheDarkside]

I know I'm not the only one who goes through some routine preparations before delving into a new game like Victoria! Sorta like Nomar Garciaparra from the Red Sox and his glove-tugging at each at-bat.

Here's what I do, in chronological order:

1. Tell my friends not to worry if they don't see me for a while
2. Start installing the game
3. Fire up a pot of coffee
4. Make sure my bladder is empty and won't bother me anytime soon
5. read as much of the manual as I can while the game finishes installing
6. when installation is done, get my coffee and a notepad & pencil
7. Pull all my shades down and dim the lights
8. Put on my headphones which have extra large ear cuffs to block out any outside noise
9. Sit back, take a sip of coffee, and start the first game!
   [/list=1]
   
   I really don't read the manual before playing, but I bet alot of you do. I just can't fight the urge to get right in and play, and since I have experience with other Paradox games it shouldn't be as much of a problem as when I tried doing this the first time I played Europa Universalis I'll reference the manual while I play and read it while at work or sitting on the can- you know, times when I can't play but really can't get the game out of my head!

 

[Earl Uhtred]

I sprinkle chicken blood round the monitor and ceremonially sodomise a virgin with the manual.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Originally posted by snuggs
I sprinkle chicken blood round the monitor and ceremonially sodomise a virgin with the manual.

POTM!!!!!:rofl:

 

[unmerged(14562)]

Im gonna sacrifice my brother.

 

[unmerged(16099)]

1. I try to glance through the manual while driving home from the store and occassionaly look up so I do not get in an accident.


2. Once home I start to install game. While the game installs, I strip down to my underwear to get comfortable. Then I snort a quick line of cocaine and wash it down with some cheap boxed wine.


3. Stretch for a bit to avoid injury. Run in place for a minute or two.


4. Play game! If the game does not work, the above steps should help me to restrain my rage and troubleshoot the problem.


EnPeaSea

 

[Mettermrck]

Make sure that all chores are done, so you'll have the whole evening free.

 

[Wämö]

Originally posted by dark_andrew
Im gonna sacrifice my brother.

That's not a bad idea.... Muha... Muhaha... Muhahaha...

Actually, I have rituals too:

1. Cry...
2. Install...
3. Read some from the manual...
4. Play...
5. Cry...

 

[Paradox Interactive]

Open SourceSafe
Get latest version
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Open project
F7
...
F5


Patric

 

[Mettermrck]

Originally posted by Patric
Open SourceSafe
Get latest version
Open Visual studio
Open project
F7
...
F5


Patric

It's good to be the king.

 

[The Hanoverian]

I tend to take a day off, pack the wife off to work, drop the sprog off at the childminders, buy the eagerly awaited Paradox game as soon as the shops open, and enjoy an uninterrupted first 8 hours with Johan and Co's latest masterpiece.

TH

 

[pit]

Originally posted by Patric
Open SourceSafe
Get latest version
Open Visual studio
Open project
F7
...
F5


Patric

dont brag to us poor souls
just jaloeus
(stoef zo niet voor ons arme mensen
gewoon jaloers ) dutch translation my spelling controler is down And I Spell real bad

keep good work up

 

[Syt]

In Patric's spirit:

Check for latest patch
If Patch is there:
- Download
- Unzip
- Hope last savegame still works
Play

 

[Grosshaus]

The manual must be glanced during the bus ride home from the store. I must desperately try to glance through the most important parts while waiting for the game to install/load.

No coffee just prior to game experience, it might force you to empty your bladder. You must be prepared to spend several hours in one place after all.

 

[TheDarkside]

Originally posted by Patric
Open SourceSafe
Get latest version
Open Visual studio
Open project
F7
...
F5


Patric

Have you ever unchecked the Read Only attrib and made your own little unofficial modification to the code for a couple of games?

 

[unmerged(14035)]

2. Once home I start to install game. While the game installs, I strip down to my underwear to get comfortable.

Actually, I have played several long games in the nude (sitting on a towel, so not to defile my chair...). At one time I ate some hard Swedish bread called "knäckebröd", and I must recommend other players to NOT do this while in the nude, since bread crumbs end up in the most unfortunate places. I just thought you guys would want to know that.

Usually my preparations are the following:

1) Turn off phone

2) Have food (sandwiches or equivalent) within arms reach

3) Have water within arms reach

I am thinking about putting in a urinary catheter so I dont have to take bathroom breaks as often. Maybe not a good idea realy though...

 

[Earl Uhtred]

Originally posted by MadViking
Actually, I have played several long games in the nude (sitting on a towel, so not to defile my chair...). At one time I ate some hard Swedish bread called "knäckebröd", and I must recommend other players to NOT do this while in the nude, since bread crumbs end up in the most unfortunate places. I just thought you guys would want to know that.

LOL. That's nothing though. I'm nude right now. Must close those blinds.

 

[Elmokki]

Originally posted by MadViking
Actually, I have played several long games in the nude (sitting on a towel, so not to defile my chair...). At one time I ate some hard Swedish bread called "knäckebröd", and I must recommend other players to NOT do this while in the nude, since bread crumbs end up in the most unfortunate places. I just thought you guys would want to know that.

No, no, no, no "knäckebröd", (well, isn't that swedish for "näkkileipä"?) :rofl:

 

[Icecold]

Thinking of you playing in the nude or "combat" is not a comforting thought

Cheers, Ice

 

[Hakkapeliitta]

Originally posted by Wämö
.
5. Cry...

Actually a good idea to do after playing.

But frankly, usually I' ll just use synthetic `tears' to get rid of those annoyng bloodshot eyes you get after sitting 20 - 28 hours straigth in front of the computer. Too tired to cry after that.

The standard operational precedure is to drop by a pharmacy/drug store on the way home with the brand new Paradox product and make sure you have an ample suply of artificial tears & caffein.

Close the blinds, take deep breath (and few hundred mgs of caffein) and enter the 19th century.

Cheers, H.

 

[The historian]

i call everyone i know and say that i'll be in another country for a few days skip college take out the phone take a glimpse at the manual and start the game if i don't manage read more of the manual to get it and then enjoy for a day or too can't miss college to much hope it will be out on a tuesday so i can play through the weekennd too if it gets realesed on monday it'll be rather bad for me by the way does anyone know how much is a train ticket from Bucharest to Stockholm?