The Poorly Described Game... um, game.

[Tawmis]

I'm not quite sure how you got Gold Rush out of those clues, but it's not that.
HINT 1: This simulation revolves around an important profession that requires years of education and skill.
HINT 2: This game is NOT a parser-based/point-and-click adventure nor is it an RPG or any combination of the two.

Oh!
Is it THEME HOSPITAL?

No, but you've hit upon the right profession.

Ah, I am guessing Life & Death then!

Correct! This game was nuts and my brother and I liked playing the game as lunatics instead of doctors.

I vaguely remember playing it back when it came out.

[Tawmis]

I remember a computer game where I used to be able to surf - and do cool tricks and get points for it.

[DeadPoolX]

I remember a computer game where I used to be able to surf - and do cool tricks and get points for it.

California Games?

[Tawmis]

I remember a computer game where I used to be able to surf - and do cool tricks and get points for it.

California Games?

Holy fark.
Yes. I was purposely picking just ONE game (my favorite of the batch).
Didn't think it'd be a one shot guess.

[DeadPoolX]

I remember a computer game where I used to be able to surf - and do cool tricks and get points for it.

California Games?

Holy fark.
Yes. I was purposely picking just ONE game (my favorite of the batch).
Didn't think it'd be a one shot guess.

I played a lot of those games, going back to the original Summer Games on the Apple II.

Let's see... I remember a computer game where I played a security officer on a lost starship and fought off cybernetic creatures.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm ... simulation, but not military. Not fantasy or sci-fi. Strict procedure to follow ... hmm.

Is it "Gold Rush!"?

I'm not quite sure how you got Gold Rush out of those clues, but it's not that.

Drat it!

Gold Rush is a simulation of -- well -- the Gold Rush. It's quite specific about what you should do, and it can be a matter of life and death (e.g. do the wrong thing and die. Do nothing and die. Do the right thing and die anyway!)

I had a couple of other ideas to guess, e.g. "Codename: Iceman" or one of the Simcity games. But obviously I was barking up the wrong tree

By the way - yes, Tawm, California Games was my guess too. But DPX beat me to it. *snaps fingers*

Let's see... I remember a computer game where I played a security officer on a lost starship and fought off cybernetic creatures.

Space Siege?

[DeadPoolX]

Gold Rush is a simulation of -- well -- the Gold Rush. It's quite specific about what you should do, and it can be a matter of life and death (e.g. do the wrong thing and die. Do nothing and die. Do the right thing and die anyway!)

I had a couple of other ideas to guess, e.g. "Codename: Iceman" or one of the Simcity games. But obviously I was barking up the wrong tree

Well, neither Gold Rush nor Codename: Iceman (or even the SimCity games, despite their names) are considered simulations.

For instance, Codename: Iceman is very much an adventure game and NOT a simulation of submarine usage or warfare. Its depiction of controlling a submarine and engaging in combat are extremely unrealistic, sometimes to the point of near-absurdity. But that's okay, because that game wasn't meant to be a simulation.

A few good examples of the simulation genre would be the Silent Hunter series, the Silent Service series, Das Boot, UBOAT, Wolfpack, or Cold Waters. Even some of those might be considered "sim-lite" at times, although some of that is due to requiring the player to manage all stations (except for Wolfpack, which is multiplayer), which would never happen on a real submarine.

Space Siege?

Nope, not Space Siege. However, the game in question is science fiction.

[Tawmis]

For instance, Codename: Iceman is very much an adventure game and NOT a simulation of submarine usage

Some might argue that it's not a damn submarine simulation wrapped up in an adventure game!

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Is it Marathon (or one of the Marathon series)?

[DeadPoolX]

For instance, Codename: Iceman is very much an adventure game and NOT a simulation of submarine usage

Some might argue that it's not a damn submarine simulation wrapped up in an adventure game!

Okay, let me rephrase that: it's NOT an accurate submarine simulation in any shape or form.

To put it another way, calling Codename: Iceman an "accurate submarine simulation" (and I know you didn't claim this) is about as correct as calling the EGA version of Police Quest 1's driving sequences an "accurate driving simulation."

Hmm. Is it Marathon (or one of the Marathon series)?

No, but you've hit on the right game genre.

[Rath Darkblade]

Ah, drat. It's a first-person shooter. I hate those ('cos I suck at them).

Is it one of the DOOM games?

[DeadPoolX]

Ah, drat. It's a first-person shooter. I hate those ('cos I suck at them).

Is it one of the DOOM games?

No, this most definitely isn't a DOOM game.

Remember, you're a security officer on a lost ship and in this game, you can choose to be male or female. The cool thing is they chose a name that's unisex so you're always named the same thing, regardless of the character's sex.

[Tawmis]

Remember, you're a security officer on a lost ship and in this game, you can choose to be male or female. The cool thing is they chose a name that's unisex so you're always named the same thing, regardless of the character's sex.

I think that just gave it away to narrow down anyway...

Is it one of the MASS EFFECT games?

[DeadPoolX]

Remember, you're a security officer on a lost ship and in this game, you can choose to be male or female. The cool thing is they chose a name that's unisex so you're always named the same thing, regardless of the character's sex.

I think that just gave it away to narrow down anyway...

Is it one of the MASS EFFECT games?

No, it's NOT one of the Mass Effect games.

The game I'm thinking of was released a good seven-to-eight years before the first Mass Effect.

Also, I said this game is a first-person shooter. Mass Effect is a third-person shooter, and in ME you don't play a security officer.

HINT 1: Your commanding officer is female on this "lost ship," regardless of which sex you choose for your own character.

HINT 2: The rank structure is patterned after the US Navy, although in this game you are NOT a member of the US Navy. You are instead a member of a different para-military organization whose first objective is not combat, but has to remain ready for conflict.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmrmr. All right, I looked up all the FPSs released both 7 and 8 years before the first Mass Effect. There are only 5 suspects that are even vaguely plausible, based on the clues so far.

Are you "The Operative: No One Lives Forever"? (I'd be very surprised if you were)