We all have favorite games, and why most of these are our favorites is often subjective. Let's see if we can try to list something like quantifiable criteria for our favorite games, if possible to induce something like "Excellent Game Essence Elements (EGEE)", which might be useful in trying to make sure that these elements go into Elemental.

I will try to start. Please help!

Some of the EGEE I attempted to glean include:

- visual and/or audio presentation; good UI; Endgame Excitement (TBS only -- indicates that a TBS is not just "mopping up" in the endgame, or where players dont just quit early out of boredome because the winner is clear, surprises are still quite common); Good AI; Love of Detail; Narrative Captivation; Balance (Strategy only); No No-Brainers (there is no one single thing each player must do, hence the amount of true strategic choices open to players is greatly enhances); Brilliant Game Rules/Mechanics; Easy MicroManagement

The following are some favorites, in no single particular order. If I didnt' list an EGEE in a particular game, I feel it was too low to worth mentioning.

- NAME: Star Chamber; GENRE: TBS; REASONS: lots of love for detail; easy to learn and hard to master; always something to learn, no "perfect" strategy; can finish a game in 30 minutes; EGEE: Balance 8 of 10; Endgame still Exciting 9 of 10; No No-Brainers 6 of 10; Love of Detail 5 of 10; Brilliant Game Mechanics 9 of 10; Easy MicroManagement 7 of 10

- NAME: Planescape: Torment; GENRE: RPG; REASONS: love of storytelling for its own sake; excellent figures; wonderful atmosphere EGEE: Presentation (back in the day it was good) 7 of 10; Love of Detail: 8 of 10; Narrative Captivation: 10 of 10

- NAME: Deus Ex (1); GENRE: FPS Hybrid RPG; REASONS: Wonderful atmosphere, great music, great figures and love of detail (I loved how the drug dealer cyborg in the subway says "bitch!" to the main character; good voice acting; interesting plot and choices; EGEE: Presentation (for back in the day, particularly the music): 9 of 10; Love of Detail: 10 of 10; Narrative Captivation: 9 of 10; Brilliant Game Rules/Mechanics: 5 of 10

- NAME: Baldur's Gate; GENRE: RPG; REASONS: nicely done atmosphere, good story, decent adventure with a well-done adaptation of AD&D rules; EGEE: Love of Detail: 8 of 10; Narrative Captivation: 8 of 10

- NAME: Fallout; GENRE: RPG; REASONS: Humon can go a long way; great atmosphere; good tactical combat; EGEE: good UI 7 of 10; Presentation 7 of 10; Narrative Captivation: 7 of 10; Brilliant Game Rules / Mechanics: 7 of 10; Love of Detail: 7 of 10

- NAME: Dominions 3; GENRE: TBS; REASONS: Incredibly Deep and complex strategy with nearly limitless variety of units and "stuff" to do, its complexity and poor presentation a turn-off to many; EGEE: Brilliant Game Rules / Mechanics: 9 of 10; Balance: 6 of 10;

Games that I enjoyed but did not find outstanding to accredit them with an EGEE score in two or more categories, but I know others find them their favorites, include GalCivII, Civilization III, Civilization IV (all of these I found had poor end-games, suboptimal MicroManagement, and too many no-brainers), Thief II, NWN (much too dungeon-crawly, not enough love), HoMM III, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Morrowind and Oblivion, Jagged Alliance, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (excellent music with Amon Tobin no less)

Note that I did not include a single game in my list with a noteworthy Good AI score above 0 of 10. Into my final favorites, also no RTS nor MMOs, oddly enough, although I did like many...

Hope you find this interesting and I look forward to your contributions! Thank you.