[flohofwoe]

I don't know the classic version all too well (because I never got into it despite multiple attempts), but the Steam release is generally much more approachable (so far I have put over 50 hrs into it and love it).

It has a simple tutorial, the interface is fully mouse driven, there's sound effects and music, and the tile graphics really do a great job to visualise what's going on in the game.

[agentwiggles]

Sounds I need to stay well away from this game for now haha, I bounced off Factorio several times over the last few years and got wildly addicted to it a couple months ago. I imagine a similar fate could be in store with DF if I let myself peek in.

I've got a decent run on a side project right now, and I've noticed that (no surprise) when I get into a new game, all of a sudden all of my "healthy" hobbies like guitar, weightlifting, and coding go out the window.

Definitely planning to take a run at Dwarf Fortress eventually though.

[wpietri]

I feel that for sure. Both the risk-of-wild-addiction part and the kills-my-other-efforts part. There are whole classes of games I don't dare play because they feel like being productive/creative but have shorter/better reward feedback loops than the things I'd rather be doing.

[theragra]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I'm now writing short post each day, and think it is better spent time then playing Factorio for two hours, like my friend does.