Best Mindless Computer Game
 

Okay, here's the setup: for a long time I was a Freecell addict. I even got depressed when I didn't have a computer that had Freecell. Now I do, but lately I'm playing Solitaire more. Why? Because it takes more skill to win at Solitaire. Anyone with enough experience can figure out the sequence of waiting vs. playing a specific card that will yield a win on Freecell at least half the time. The "wait vs. play" skill on Solitaire is a lot more complicated, requiring more subtle decision-making.

So here we are. The great Freecell vs. Solitaire poll. I've included an Other category for Minesweeper, Hearts, and so on.

Uh, yeah, I reconsidered this thread, so I closed out the window while the poll edit screen was coming up. Apparently it still got through, so here it is. Instead of a formal poll, here's the fake one:

A. Freecell.
B. Solitaire (the infinite recycling one, not that piece of crud called Klondike)
C. Misc. (Minesweeper, Hearts, etc.)

Vista has Spider Solitaire and Mahjong.

Vista wins!

Totally forgot about Spider Solitaire. I guess 'cause I don't have it on my laptop. I think my dad has it, but you guys don't care about that...

How is Vista, anyway?

Okay, new system.

A. Solitaire.
B. Freecell.
C. Spider Solitaire.
D. Misc.

Mahjong on a computer? Didn't know about that...

D. Misc (Space Cadet Pinball!)

I know how to make your freecell scores look awesome though...

Not sure if I've ever played "Space Cadet" Pinball, but I'm not quite sure if that quite counts as "mindless." Well, I suppose so. I mean, if the game basically develops a skillset that involves instant intuition and decision-making, without running through a complex algorithm everytime...

Thinking about it, I would add two more games to the Miscellaneous category. Mario and Tetris. I have both of them on a Zip disk. When I say "Mario," I mean ORIGINAL Mario Brothers VGA. We're talking the mists of ancient time, one pipe screen, POW blocks, that sort of thing. Hopelessly archaic. Still provides amusement. As for Tetris, that's one of my hidden talents. Granted, the computer version (at least the one I have) is archaic, but the original Gameboy version kicks butt.

Oh, and a side question. Does anyone actually enjoy Klondike? Seriously, only one time through the stack, and that's it?

Jedi Academy.

Seriously mindless entertainment.

I don't think Jedi Academy quite qualifies as "mindless."

OpenTTD is fairly mindless, and what I usually waste time with when I'm waiting for something to download/whatever. Bascially, it's playing with trains, but on your computer. Of course, you need the original Transport Tycoon first, but that can be had from HOTU no problem.

Oh, another sim fan. I'm hooked on Sim Tower at the moment myself. Not quite "mindless," but fun.

Is it sad that I've never finished a game of Solitaire? I mean, I'm not thick. I just can never seem to finish them!

Which version of Solitaire? Straight Klondike, infinite recycle, draw three at a time, what?

I managed to get done the draw one at a time infinite circle.....but not the others
the "only one time through" is pretty damn hard
has any of you managed to beat it?

Nope, don't think so - but I've been happily distracted trying.

To reply to the original question: I vote Misc for Minesweeper - the only really good reason to torture a computer with WinDoze, in my opinion.

I don't think I've ever beaten straight Klondike either.

As for infinite recycle, all it takes is the acceptance that you'll never get a very big score (it increases whenever you send a card home, and decreases every time you restart a draw cycle), and the patience to not play a card the instant you can, but wait for the right moment, especially where playing the kings are concerned.

Okay, as it currently stands:
A.
B.
C. I
D. II

Sorry, PHJ, as the arbiter of this game, I'm hereby rejecting all simulation games as not being mindless at all. I'm defining "mindless" here as a game that an arbitrarily large number of monkeys could beat given enough time away from their typewriters and at their laptops.

Given the monkey definition, Pinball definitely qualifies. Whack the flippers enough and you're bound to get somewhere.

I sometimes just play for the pretty blinking lights. Oooh, Shiny!

PS: anyone wanna know the cheat to freecell?

How about Asteroids? Or Lemmings?

But if not, I vote Pinball. I can rack up some real high scores when I'm procrastinating. Minesweeper actually does require a bit of thought, or I'd say that.

Yeah, but it's possible for the infinite number of monkeys on the beachfront at South End (kudos for reference-spotters!) to beat Freecell and Minesweeper. Lemmings...well, um...not sure if that's mindless. And which one's Asteroids again?

Okay, I'll just be moving along...pay no attention...

Could whoever votes add my little poll counter at the end of their post so we can all catch up?

Nate, what is YOUR actual vote?

so far:
A - 0
B - 0
C - 1
D - 3

Oh, that's a tricky one. Like I've said, nine times out of ten I'm playing Solitaire these days. However, does that mean it's my favorite? Uh, ask me later. Right now, I guess I'd have to say Freecell. A great way to waste time, no doubt.

A - 0
B - 1
C - 1
D - 3