Well, I think the eating and sleeping in Planetfall were well done, but
in general I can't stand it. Basically, I think it should be done if it
fits into the plot or establishes atmosphere.
That last is very important. In Planetfall you were stranded on an
alien planet and making the most of your resources was a big part of
that. Having to eat or sleep every X turns meant you had to conserve
food and be prepared for it, which was a major part of the game - but in
this case, there was an unlimited source of food. That's one thing you
should be sure of - make sure the player will never run out of food, as
long as he plans right. This doesn't mean "I have X turns to solve each
puzzle". It means you have to take into account spending so much time
searching for food every little while. If there's a long sequence of
moves you have to make without interruption, you have to prepare first.
But the player should never run out of food; finding a food source
should be a puzzle in its own right, but there should always be one when
you need it.
Joe
* SLMR 2.1a * I'm in shape ... round's a shape isn't it?