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Top Ten Topic Ideas
I can't believe it hasn't been done yet but:
Top Ten Comic Books or Comic series (such as either single books/collections/storylines or franchises/series or even artists/writers)
Top Ten Comic Books or Comic series (such as either single books/collections/storylines or franchises/series or even artists/writers)
Now a topic about character design.
I like side characters that you can immediately identify and if/when you learn more about them you learn more about them.
I'm also a big fan of the "trickster" character. The kind of character that Jack Sparrow basically is. Of course they should rarely be main characters because main characters are determined by their... Regularness.
Well some of my favorite computer game characters.
Vladimir Lem from Max Payne 2. This Russian just had that lovely thing going, it also helps that Max Payne himself is an awesome character. Though I've only played the second game in the series. It might be that he sucks in the first one but I don't care.
Morte from Planescape Torment. Most characters in Torment are pretty funny. But especially Morte ("Talk about beating a dead horse") and Annah. There's something great about a wise-cracking floating skull. And once you get past his wise-cracking (and thus serving perfectly as the sardonic trickster character) you find out that there's more to him after all.
Adventure game characters. I mention them because to be honest the writing in adventure games have generally been some of the best in computer game history. Sure it isn't done anymore and sure there were loads of those older adventure games where the character hardly existed. But people like Guybrush Threepwood, Purple Tentacle or Larry Laffer are well done.
Smiling Jack from Vampire - Bloodlines. Apparently this is a character from a number of novels too but I love this character in Bloodlines. I don't think there's any better to pick to introduce the player to the concepts of the game. Not to mention his other appearances. There's plenty of other good writing in that game too. Therese and Jeanette is one of the obvious examples.
I've found more and more lately that characters that really stick in my mind are usually characters that are well voice-acted. Or if not well voice-acted then at least voice-acted in the way to be expected combined with fairly good writing. Appearance is obviously a big part in characters but really it's the writing that sells them in the end.
I'm also a big fan of the "trickster" character. The kind of character that Jack Sparrow basically is. Of course they should rarely be main characters because main characters are determined by their... Regularness.
Well some of my favorite computer game characters.
Vladimir Lem from Max Payne 2. This Russian just had that lovely thing going, it also helps that Max Payne himself is an awesome character. Though I've only played the second game in the series. It might be that he sucks in the first one but I don't care.
Morte from Planescape Torment. Most characters in Torment are pretty funny. But especially Morte ("Talk about beating a dead horse") and Annah. There's something great about a wise-cracking floating skull. And once you get past his wise-cracking (and thus serving perfectly as the sardonic trickster character) you find out that there's more to him after all.
Adventure game characters. I mention them because to be honest the writing in adventure games have generally been some of the best in computer game history. Sure it isn't done anymore and sure there were loads of those older adventure games where the character hardly existed. But people like Guybrush Threepwood, Purple Tentacle or Larry Laffer are well done.
Smiling Jack from Vampire - Bloodlines. Apparently this is a character from a number of novels too but I love this character in Bloodlines. I don't think there's any better to pick to introduce the player to the concepts of the game. Not to mention his other appearances. There's plenty of other good writing in that game too. Therese and Jeanette is one of the obvious examples.
I've found more and more lately that characters that really stick in my mind are usually characters that are well voice-acted. Or if not well voice-acted then at least voice-acted in the way to be expected combined with fairly good writing. Appearance is obviously a big part in characters but really it's the writing that sells them in the end.
Top Ten Topic: Disney Movies
I will only list from those found on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_theatrical_animated_features
I just can't keep track of every film that Buena Vista has distributed, most of them I don't see as "Disney movies" as much. (Obiovusly not the ones only distributed by Disney though)
1. Nightmare Before Christmas
One of my favorite ever movies, so obviously it's first on this list. Musical. Adventure. Good and Evil. Nothing wrong with this at all.
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Not exactly 100% Disney considering it's a Warner Brothers co-production. But they get equal billing and we get both Disney and Looney Tunes in one.
Donald vs Daffy is one of the most epic moments of cinema ever.
3. Mary Poppins
With at least five classic songs in a single musical movie I can say that this is greatness. And I hadn't even seen the whole thing until a couple of years ago. So it's not even childhood memories.
4. The Lion King
This however is childhood memories. Computer generated animation combined with classic animation and great music in true classic Disney of the new generation. It helps that it has a great score too.
5. The Fox and the Hound
Another childhood movie dealing with some pretty awesome and heavy themes. Especially when I was 7 or 8. I didn't even remember this movie until some time ago until I say "oh it's this. I remember this. I cried so much"
6. The Emperor's New Groove
Wit and cool. Completely unlikable hero but so quick in the mouth that he couldn't be completely unlikable. Not to mention that the animation worked pretty damn well with that.
7. Little Mermaid
Under the Sea. I love the crab.
8. Beauty and the Beast
I love the candle thingie. I need to rewatch this.
Be Our Guest.
9. Snow White
All the pop-culture references nowadays. Hi-ho I say.
10. Cinderella
THis was the one with the mice right? I liked those.
Honourable Mention:
The Three Caballeros
Now I'm not entirely sure I've seen this. But I remember loving the three Caballeros in the spinoff stories that has been created since. (Don Rosa also did a great The Reunion of the Caballeros comic some time ago. Of coures anything Don Rosa makes is wonderful.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_theatrical_animated_features
I just can't keep track of every film that Buena Vista has distributed, most of them I don't see as "Disney movies" as much. (Obiovusly not the ones only distributed by Disney though)
1. Nightmare Before Christmas
One of my favorite ever movies, so obviously it's first on this list. Musical. Adventure. Good and Evil. Nothing wrong with this at all.
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Not exactly 100% Disney considering it's a Warner Brothers co-production. But they get equal billing and we get both Disney and Looney Tunes in one.
Donald vs Daffy is one of the most epic moments of cinema ever.
3. Mary Poppins
With at least five classic songs in a single musical movie I can say that this is greatness. And I hadn't even seen the whole thing until a couple of years ago. So it's not even childhood memories.
4. The Lion King
This however is childhood memories. Computer generated animation combined with classic animation and great music in true classic Disney of the new generation. It helps that it has a great score too.
5. The Fox and the Hound
Another childhood movie dealing with some pretty awesome and heavy themes. Especially when I was 7 or 8. I didn't even remember this movie until some time ago until I say "oh it's this. I remember this. I cried so much"
6. The Emperor's New Groove
Wit and cool. Completely unlikable hero but so quick in the mouth that he couldn't be completely unlikable. Not to mention that the animation worked pretty damn well with that.
7. Little Mermaid
Under the Sea. I love the crab.
8. Beauty and the Beast
I love the candle thingie. I need to rewatch this.
Be Our Guest.
9. Snow White
All the pop-culture references nowadays. Hi-ho I say.
10. Cinderella
THis was the one with the mice right? I liked those.
Honourable Mention:
The Three Caballeros
Now I'm not entirely sure I've seen this. But I remember loving the three Caballeros in the spinoff stories that has been created since. (Don Rosa also did a great The Reunion of the Caballeros comic some time ago. Of coures anything Don Rosa makes is wonderful.)
The Freeware Game Reccomondation Page
From the same guys that now make Dwarf Fortress.
Liberal Crime Squad
It doesn't get more fun than this :D
Liberal Crime Squad
It doesn't get more fun than this :D
[GAMEDEV REDUX] Share your brainstorming
author=kentona link=topic=650.msg8690#msg8690 date=1202397463
Shinan: You should post the Cyberpunk game here. I haven't seen it yet. Fantasy Sports Management Adventure sounds interesting and original. I'd like to see how that'd play out. Politicking sounds ... a little out there.
http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23033/shinan2weeksounded.zip (800kb)
Is the version with sound effects and some background music. In the readme there should be instructions on how to have your own music playing in the background (There's also instructions on how to make it full-screen if you like that kind of stuff). Though that probably isn't necessary, seeing as it is such a short game after all.
[GAMEDEV REDUX] Share your brainstorming
I have three projects on the backburner right now. I hope that I'll get to at least one of them during this year.
Cyberpunk cyberspace game
A follow up to the game I made for the five-minute game contest on Gaming World. Set in the same world, having similar graphics and perhaps even a character or two in common it would be an adventure game following a newbie hacker as he comes across dangerous information leading to him being hunted by numerous factions.
It wouldn't be too much out of the ordinary, except perhaps for the simplistic graphics. The fact that it wouldn't rely on too huge special game mechanics makes it easier to make (making it the most probable game to get made) and makes it possible for me to focus all kinds of stuff.
I have a bunch of character concepts and faction concepts made out. The problem I have is that I have to have "better" graphics for the real world and I haven't quite figured out those yet. Another option is just to set the game completely in the virtual world. The storyline as it looks now would have the player jack out eventually though so I'll see how that goes.
Fantasy sports management adventure game
Mixing a simple sport management game with a fantasy adventure. Doomed to failure but still something I'd really like to play with. My main inspiration is the board game Blood Bowl and a game that would involve the player being a manager that sets out in a town/city/country to recruit players to play for his team. And win.
Having a pool of recruitable players with fairly simple stats and skills and letting the players choose which to recruit and other stuff. Managing the economy and perhaps throwing in some kind of storyline that involves rival teams and assassins and other stuff.
For simplicity's sake I would probably not go the completely "open" route but instead perhaps go a "Harvest Moony" with a number of seasons to play combined with events that happen throughout the seasons. Instead of having unlimited seasons, random events, players aging and retiring etc.
The game would combine an adventure-esque interface where you play as your character walking around, talking around. Betting, getting sponsors, saving monsters in order to have them play for you and similar things. And the other interface would be very menu-based where you would alter salaries, check the open market for replacement players and plan out strategies for upcoming games.
The games themselves would probably play out as a kind of card game. Where the game has a number of turns and a number of special play cards that can be used during it. I'm not entirely sure how it would all work out but one inspiration in that was a football card game I found on The Underdogs ages ago. Some variation of that and adding the different player's abilites could make for a semi-random-but-still-dependent-on-skill gameplay for the actual games. Since the player is only manager it's the players on the field that determine victory not the player himself.
Politicking
My most recent idea is probably the most complicated and if I ever made it, it would be after the sports management adventure game. Seeing as many mechanics from a sports management game would enter into a political management game. The inspiration came slightly from the TV-series Rome and would follow a politician's journey to Emperor/King by any means possible.
Of course there can also be failure. The idea would be to start out as a low-life player with possibilities. Perhaps family is strong and heritage says that good things should come. An idea was to have the beginning following a father's footsteps as he plays the early politic game in a tutorial way, learning the ropes. Then in a storyline manner some opposing faction would almost wipe out the family. Forcing the heir to gather up his few allies and try to regain the strength they once had.
The mechanics would involve a lot of hiring of mercenaries and even armies. As well as bribing judges, officials and generals. Assassinations and marriages would obviously enter into it and some kind of reputation system where there was a standing with every other faction. That could obviously change as other factions make their moves.
Random elements would probably be combined with very scripted ones and the game would go on until the player character dies. Either of old age or by blade either on the battlefield or stabbed by someone, either near and dear or an assassin.
These are my major ideas. The sports management game has gone through a lot of versions but I've never actually come to start making it. The politic game is an early idea and the cyberpunk game is a fairly regular game concept, very much built on the idea of having simple top-down graphics, slightly inspired by a combination of GTA and the movie Dogville.
Cyberpunk cyberspace game
A follow up to the game I made for the five-minute game contest on Gaming World. Set in the same world, having similar graphics and perhaps even a character or two in common it would be an adventure game following a newbie hacker as he comes across dangerous information leading to him being hunted by numerous factions.
It wouldn't be too much out of the ordinary, except perhaps for the simplistic graphics. The fact that it wouldn't rely on too huge special game mechanics makes it easier to make (making it the most probable game to get made) and makes it possible for me to focus all kinds of stuff.
I have a bunch of character concepts and faction concepts made out. The problem I have is that I have to have "better" graphics for the real world and I haven't quite figured out those yet. Another option is just to set the game completely in the virtual world. The storyline as it looks now would have the player jack out eventually though so I'll see how that goes.
Fantasy sports management adventure game
Mixing a simple sport management game with a fantasy adventure. Doomed to failure but still something I'd really like to play with. My main inspiration is the board game Blood Bowl and a game that would involve the player being a manager that sets out in a town/city/country to recruit players to play for his team. And win.
Having a pool of recruitable players with fairly simple stats and skills and letting the players choose which to recruit and other stuff. Managing the economy and perhaps throwing in some kind of storyline that involves rival teams and assassins and other stuff.
For simplicity's sake I would probably not go the completely "open" route but instead perhaps go a "Harvest Moony" with a number of seasons to play combined with events that happen throughout the seasons. Instead of having unlimited seasons, random events, players aging and retiring etc.
The game would combine an adventure-esque interface where you play as your character walking around, talking around. Betting, getting sponsors, saving monsters in order to have them play for you and similar things. And the other interface would be very menu-based where you would alter salaries, check the open market for replacement players and plan out strategies for upcoming games.
The games themselves would probably play out as a kind of card game. Where the game has a number of turns and a number of special play cards that can be used during it. I'm not entirely sure how it would all work out but one inspiration in that was a football card game I found on The Underdogs ages ago. Some variation of that and adding the different player's abilites could make for a semi-random-but-still-dependent-on-skill gameplay for the actual games. Since the player is only manager it's the players on the field that determine victory not the player himself.
Politicking
My most recent idea is probably the most complicated and if I ever made it, it would be after the sports management adventure game. Seeing as many mechanics from a sports management game would enter into a political management game. The inspiration came slightly from the TV-series Rome and would follow a politician's journey to Emperor/King by any means possible.
Of course there can also be failure. The idea would be to start out as a low-life player with possibilities. Perhaps family is strong and heritage says that good things should come. An idea was to have the beginning following a father's footsteps as he plays the early politic game in a tutorial way, learning the ropes. Then in a storyline manner some opposing faction would almost wipe out the family. Forcing the heir to gather up his few allies and try to regain the strength they once had.
The mechanics would involve a lot of hiring of mercenaries and even armies. As well as bribing judges, officials and generals. Assassinations and marriages would obviously enter into it and some kind of reputation system where there was a standing with every other faction. That could obviously change as other factions make their moves.
Random elements would probably be combined with very scripted ones and the game would go on until the player character dies. Either of old age or by blade either on the battlefield or stabbed by someone, either near and dear or an assassin.
These are my major ideas. The sports management game has gone through a lot of versions but I've never actually come to start making it. The politic game is an early idea and the cyberpunk game is a fairly regular game concept, very much built on the idea of having simple top-down graphics, slightly inspired by a combination of GTA and the movie Dogville.
Top Ten Topic: Robots, Droids, Cyborgs Oh my!
I've had a hard time with this because I'm pretty certain that I have a favorite robot that is lovingly strange and obscure that have just slipped my mind. But let's see what robots I can come up with.
1. Marvin the Paranoid Android
With a single in the charts in the 80s this robot is the king of robots.
2. (if AIs counted then GLaDOS would be here. But since cyborgs count it's obviously)
2. Darth Vader
The only reason he isn't in first place is because he isn't robotic enough. To me he'll always be more man than machine and not the other way around. On a list of top robots Darth Vader is not the first thing that comes to mind.
3. Bender
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
4. C3P0
I was thinking about putting R2-D2 first but then I remembered that the funnier one of the two is actually C3P0, his mannerisms and worries is always out of this world where R2-D2 brings the sensibility to their relationship. Of course R2-D2 is really part of this package so he won't get an individual entry.
5. Blade Runner Replicants (especially Rutger Hauer's character)
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those... moments will be lost in time... like... tears..in the rain".
6. Bishop
Probably the more interesting of the androids in the Alien series. Not that I don't like the others of course.
7. Mega Man
He has an arm cannon. And is blue. And fairly easy to control in his platform jumping. What more can you ask for?
8. Pinocchio
The toy that came to life. How can one not love this little mechanical creature?
9. Morte
Speaking of Pinocchio I guess reanimated people (using magic) could be counted as robots too. (Golems... and undead!) Morte is just an awesome character in Planescape Torment though. Can't deny that.
10. Mother
The sentient washing machine from Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town is what comes to mind right now. I don't know why but it's such a strange character and so hard to understand but still fascinating.
There are a couple of robots that could possibly be up if I knew more about them. Namely the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica (I've only seen a couple of episodes) and the Daleks from Dr. Who (I've only seen a couple of episodes).
1. Marvin the Paranoid Android
With a single in the charts in the 80s this robot is the king of robots.
2. (if AIs counted then GLaDOS would be here. But since cyborgs count it's obviously)
2. Darth Vader
The only reason he isn't in first place is because he isn't robotic enough. To me he'll always be more man than machine and not the other way around. On a list of top robots Darth Vader is not the first thing that comes to mind.
3. Bender
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
4. C3P0
I was thinking about putting R2-D2 first but then I remembered that the funnier one of the two is actually C3P0, his mannerisms and worries is always out of this world where R2-D2 brings the sensibility to their relationship. Of course R2-D2 is really part of this package so he won't get an individual entry.
5. Blade Runner Replicants (especially Rutger Hauer's character)
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those... moments will be lost in time... like... tears..in the rain".
6. Bishop
Probably the more interesting of the androids in the Alien series. Not that I don't like the others of course.
7. Mega Man
He has an arm cannon. And is blue. And fairly easy to control in his platform jumping. What more can you ask for?
8. Pinocchio
The toy that came to life. How can one not love this little mechanical creature?
9. Morte
Speaking of Pinocchio I guess reanimated people (using magic) could be counted as robots too. (Golems... and undead!) Morte is just an awesome character in Planescape Torment though. Can't deny that.
10. Mother
The sentient washing machine from Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town is what comes to mind right now. I don't know why but it's such a strange character and so hard to understand but still fascinating.
There are a couple of robots that could possibly be up if I knew more about them. Namely the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica (I've only seen a couple of episodes) and the Daleks from Dr. Who (I've only seen a couple of episodes).
Hard Parts of Game Making?
Finishing.
The part when you're game is playable and even completable but still has some strange bugs here and there and some features that need tweaking to make the game... A bit more playable.
You've sat there for ages and "yeah, the game is done" but then you find all the bugs, spelling errors and other minor things that just need fixing and it takes so much longer than you anticipated. You have a completed game on your hands but you can't release it properly until all that stuff is done.
Man. It is the hardest part. Of course getting there isn't easy either, but the fact is that giving up when you're so close to the finishing line is probably the worst thing ever.
The part when you're game is playable and even completable but still has some strange bugs here and there and some features that need tweaking to make the game... A bit more playable.
You've sat there for ages and "yeah, the game is done" but then you find all the bugs, spelling errors and other minor things that just need fixing and it takes so much longer than you anticipated. You have a completed game on your hands but you can't release it properly until all that stuff is done.
Man. It is the hardest part. Of course getting there isn't easy either, but the fact is that giving up when you're so close to the finishing line is probably the worst thing ever.
Top Ten Topic: Sports
10. Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is most exciting to watch to see who makes it to the finish and who doesn't (in slalom anyway). But like in cross-country skiing it's also fun to just watch the seconds roll by. I haven't done a lot of this myself but the little I have done is also great fun.
9. Tennis
Tennis is a fairly recent acquaintance of mine. At least watching. I learned the rules ages ago and played some with one of my friend (The Test Tube Cup it was called) who was playing tennis at the time. Only recently have I discovered it as a spectator sport. It's alright to watch but not all that exciting. What is more exciting is games like Mario Tennis :D
8. Handball
Handball is very much a local sport and has local appreciation. It has the added value of being one of few sports to be commentated in Swedish back in long-time-ago. The only thing I have a hard time with is probably the rules. I'm not entirely sure about them.
7. Bandy
Bandy is like Football on ice! Or that's at least how I see it. It's a bit hard to follow but I find it strangely appealing.
6. Floorball
Floorball is a sport that I'm mostly interested in playing. I've never really enjoyed watching it too much. The field seems a bit too small for watching and you only see a bunch of players. I'm sure that if it got a bit more exposure and was more on TV I'd like watching it a lot more but right now it's more of a sport I like to play a lot.
5. Ski Jumping
Alright Ski Jumping is something I'd never try myself but since it's all about national interest every competition is a must-watch when it comes to that. There's also Nordic Combined that combines the cross-country with the ski jumping. You can probably find that somewhere between 4&5.
4. Cross-country skiing
A sport I actually hate. To do. Some childhood memories has left me scarred and not wanting to step on cross-country skis a whole lot. But the fact is that whenever I've actually done it lately (in the army I did it for example) it was actually great fun. But I'm also a big fan of watching it on TV. Which is probably a bit strange because I'm also a big fan of the non-racing skiing where the performance is only timed. It should be the most boring thing ever but I just like watching the seconds fly by and being excited whether or not the other keeps up. The whole racing skiing seems a bit boring compared to that because you always know who is in the lead...
You can put in the biathlon in here too (biathlon, what a strange word they have in English).
3. Track & Field
Actually this could probably occupy places 3-10 since there's so many disciplines in it. All the runnings, all the throwings and all the jumpings. As a Finn the Javelin Throw is a clear favorite. But I'm also a fan of the -thlons (Deca for men and... uhm... hepta? for women). These events are great fun to watch although I'm pretty shite at them myself.
2. Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is probably the sport I enjoy watching the most. It's fast paced and something is happening all the time. There's often quite a few spectacular feats in any game as well. The biggest downside I see is the (to me) recent development of stopping play every five minutes for commercial breaks. I want to see a non-top game with period breaks not having to sit through a three-minute break every time the whistle is blown because some network somewhere decides they want to air commercials. It's even crept into the world championship (though there it is only every ten minutes).
Another downside of Ice Hockey is that you need a bit too much equipment to play. The equipment isn't a big deal but I find that the recent year's lack of ice combined with the fact that we don't have any "artificial" or indoor skating places nearby.
1. Football
Football can be boring to watch at times since it's slightly slow moving. But it's one of those great sports that you can watch while you do something else. Then during the last couple of minutes (usually 80 to overtime) things get really exciting so you'll just have to drop everything else. During the rest of the game most of the enjoyment is watching how (usually) one team tries to bash his head against the other team's defense and the other team trying to hold out.
And complaining about offside and referees is always fun.
Football also has the added advantage of not only being very fun to play but also very easy to just "pick up and play". All you need is a ball and you can play.
Alpine skiing is most exciting to watch to see who makes it to the finish and who doesn't (in slalom anyway). But like in cross-country skiing it's also fun to just watch the seconds roll by. I haven't done a lot of this myself but the little I have done is also great fun.
9. Tennis
Tennis is a fairly recent acquaintance of mine. At least watching. I learned the rules ages ago and played some with one of my friend (The Test Tube Cup it was called) who was playing tennis at the time. Only recently have I discovered it as a spectator sport. It's alright to watch but not all that exciting. What is more exciting is games like Mario Tennis :D
8. Handball
Handball is very much a local sport and has local appreciation. It has the added value of being one of few sports to be commentated in Swedish back in long-time-ago. The only thing I have a hard time with is probably the rules. I'm not entirely sure about them.
7. Bandy
Bandy is like Football on ice! Or that's at least how I see it. It's a bit hard to follow but I find it strangely appealing.
6. Floorball
Floorball is a sport that I'm mostly interested in playing. I've never really enjoyed watching it too much. The field seems a bit too small for watching and you only see a bunch of players. I'm sure that if it got a bit more exposure and was more on TV I'd like watching it a lot more but right now it's more of a sport I like to play a lot.
5. Ski Jumping
Alright Ski Jumping is something I'd never try myself but since it's all about national interest every competition is a must-watch when it comes to that. There's also Nordic Combined that combines the cross-country with the ski jumping. You can probably find that somewhere between 4&5.
4. Cross-country skiing
A sport I actually hate. To do. Some childhood memories has left me scarred and not wanting to step on cross-country skis a whole lot. But the fact is that whenever I've actually done it lately (in the army I did it for example) it was actually great fun. But I'm also a big fan of watching it on TV. Which is probably a bit strange because I'm also a big fan of the non-racing skiing where the performance is only timed. It should be the most boring thing ever but I just like watching the seconds fly by and being excited whether or not the other keeps up. The whole racing skiing seems a bit boring compared to that because you always know who is in the lead...
You can put in the biathlon in here too (biathlon, what a strange word they have in English).
3. Track & Field
Actually this could probably occupy places 3-10 since there's so many disciplines in it. All the runnings, all the throwings and all the jumpings. As a Finn the Javelin Throw is a clear favorite. But I'm also a fan of the -thlons (Deca for men and... uhm... hepta? for women). These events are great fun to watch although I'm pretty shite at them myself.
2. Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is probably the sport I enjoy watching the most. It's fast paced and something is happening all the time. There's often quite a few spectacular feats in any game as well. The biggest downside I see is the (to me) recent development of stopping play every five minutes for commercial breaks. I want to see a non-top game with period breaks not having to sit through a three-minute break every time the whistle is blown because some network somewhere decides they want to air commercials. It's even crept into the world championship (though there it is only every ten minutes).
Another downside of Ice Hockey is that you need a bit too much equipment to play. The equipment isn't a big deal but I find that the recent year's lack of ice combined with the fact that we don't have any "artificial" or indoor skating places nearby.
1. Football
Football can be boring to watch at times since it's slightly slow moving. But it's one of those great sports that you can watch while you do something else. Then during the last couple of minutes (usually 80 to overtime) things get really exciting so you'll just have to drop everything else. During the rest of the game most of the enjoyment is watching how (usually) one team tries to bash his head against the other team's defense and the other team trying to hold out.
And complaining about offside and referees is always fun.
Football also has the added advantage of not only being very fun to play but also very easy to just "pick up and play". All you need is a ball and you can play.
Games - Tester
Games - Other
