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getting back into pc gaming.. suggestions?
moccasym
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
i'm getting back into pc gaming armed with a gtx 260 and an e8400, so i should be able to handle most of the games out there. the only question is.. which one?
the last computer game ive played a lot of world of warcraft, but i'm not looking to start a new mmorpg. some other games i played and liked back in the day:
master of orion 1,2
starcraft
diablo 1,2
quake 3
it seems like most of the games today are fps .. has anything really changed since the days of quake 2? what are your recommendations?
edit: i should add games i don't like playing:
games like tomb raider (the third person thing just messes with me and i suck @ them)
puzzle crap or games with puzzles in them to solve
the last computer game ive played a lot of world of warcraft, but i'm not looking to start a new mmorpg. some other games i played and liked back in the day:
master of orion 1,2
starcraft
diablo 1,2
quake 3
it seems like most of the games today are fps .. has anything really changed since the days of quake 2? what are your recommendations?
edit: i should add games i don't like playing:
games like tomb raider (the third person thing just messes with me and i suck @ them)
puzzle crap or games with puzzles in them to solve
moccasym on
0
Posts
Then you might want to try out Civilization 4.
You might like to spend one last moment with your social life before taking the plunge though.
Orange Box. Just stay away from Portal if you don't like puzzles, or awesomeness.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
On a more modern front, the Ornage Box is a good suggestion.
If you can find it, Alpha Centauri is also excellent.
If you liked Starcraft, check out Warcraft III. Even if you don't dig the whole B-Net thing, the single player campaigns are pretty well made.
i've actually played warcraft 3 and it was good. what about games like gears of war, crysis, call of duty? are these games all just clones of each other just at a different time/location with different weapons?
and do these games play more like quake 3 or are they SLOW like halo?
Or
Peggle Nights baby.
Peggle
fucking
Nights
No.
Gears of War is a 3rd person shooter with a fairly unique system where taking cover is essential.
Crysis is a first person shooter with wide open sandbox environments.
Call of duty 4 is so linear that I felt my brain go numb, but the multiplayer is incredible.
And they're all pretty frantic games.
After that I'd play Ep1 and Ep2, then get into TF2 and Portal.
So basically, buy the Orange Box.
Other stuff, from different genres:
Company of Heroes
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Audiosurf
SWAT 4
The Witcher: EE
HL2 is "linear." Gears of War is "linear." Every game that doesn't sell itself as "Like GTA but" is probably "linear."
When did "this game is linear" become an insult?
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
i thought it was just some knocked-up version of half-life 2
okay i think imma hafta jump on this.
Come join us in the TF2 thread when you're ready [strike]to get your ass handed to you[/strike] for some friendly competitive gaming.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Strategy Style:
Spore (not strategy, but fun none the less)
Sid Meier's: Civilization Series (all of them + expansions)
Sins of a Solar Empire
FPS Style:
Orange Box (BEST BUY EVER)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Crysis + Crysis Warhead
Hack'n'Slash Style (ie Diablo):
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (MUST if you enjoyed diablo)
It's inevitably going to happen, so we might as well get it out of the way now.
Battlefield 2142: Team based FPS set in the near future (not so much pskew pskew lasers future as it is set in reality future) with customizable classes and unlocks are you rank up. It's very addictive. If you get it, get the Deluxe edition. It's the same price as the regular one and includes the Northern Strike expansion pack.
Red Orchestra: Ridiculously detailed and realistic WWII FPS revolving around the Eastern Front. It can have a steep learning curve, but the rush you get some charging an enemy position and lighting them up with an SMG is unparalleled.
GTA: San Andreas: It holds up pretty well to this day, despite being pretty old.
If you haven't noticed, I like First Person Shooters.
This is a first for you, huh? :P
Maybe, instead, you could elaborate on some of your recommendations.
Seriously. While being a good comprehensive list, it's a moot point without knowing what's good and what's not.
The best thing about buying the orange box is that it comes with Half-Life 2, and you can then download all sorts of free mods to play with friends online. Some of them get crazy.
Civ 4 is also an excellent choice, best turn based strategy I've played.
The list above is good, there are a few I might remove, but for the most part they're all realy solid.
www.steampowered.com
It's really hard to describe. I'd call it a "gaming hub" - it allows you purchase, download, and manage your game collection (you can re-download games any time, any where) and it has amazing community features, specifically for clans, or other fun groups. It's got buddy list features and chat, and everything. You can even chat in-game with no lag. It has an extensive list of games that's constantly growing (Crysis and Crysis Warhead! Oh, and the Witcher...) and it's one of THE best Download Services available for gamers.
A service you can use to buy games via digital distribution. Huge library, lots of sales. It's really the future of video game distribution.
Here's one more nod for the Orange Box, pretty much the best box of gaming goodness this side of Gaming Goodnessville. Half-Life 2 and its two episodes are brilliant, each better than the last, Team Fortress 2 is ridiculous fun, and Portal will convert even a puzzle-hater like you.
ORANGE BOX YOURSELF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(content_delivery)
Steam is a service developed by Valve, famous for Half-Life 1, 2 and the Orange Box that has already been mentioned.
It is a service that combines a friend list and game manager with digital downloads of games (That you pay for, then download off the Steam servers - no middleman or retailler between you and the developer in most cases). Steam also has functions for auto-downloading patches and updates, for games like Team Fortress 2 content is provided after release by the developer in new updates such as maps and game modes. Steam also provides a server browser, as supported games show up in server lists making it quick and easy to locate a server for your game.
Many developers outside Valve now use steam to provide their games to users as well, making its store an excellent hub if you are interested in downloading games straight to your PC as opposed to the traditional CD and box market.
Steam runs in your task menu and connects to the internet. It is free, so if you want to play about with it you can download it and view the functions for yourself. It isn't perfect, but it is exceptionally well thought out as a concept and generally works well in my experience.
I think the best thing to do would be to register and have a look at some of the free content and demoes available so you get used to the interface. If you decide to purchase the Orange Box, steam will be automatically installed from the retail version or you will need to download steam before purchasing the game online.
As for your game recommendation - If you like Starcraft, I really recommend one of these two.
Company of Heroes -
http://original.companyofheroesgame.com/
This is without doubt an incredible step forward for games of the RTS (Starcraft) Genre. Some of the features added in this game are amazing - you can position your troops behind cover, with an indicator to show how effective the cover will be. Then, your troops will realistically engage the enemy - popping up over cover to take shots, flanking around to new cover if they are exposed. Strategy is everything in a gunfight - A unit behind cover with a heavy weapon can take on many different units of the same calibre in open field.
Use mortars and lay down cover fire or blind fire. Set your Machine gun posts, and point them in the direction you want to cover an angle. Anti tank artillery guns can be moved and positioned for armor defense. Set a sniper trap in any building in town, and watch the enemy try to root you out. Set up minefields along a road, and watch enemy trucks explode and roll off the road. Then, when the truck has stopped, place your troops behind the wreckage for cover. That brilliant landmine ambush you just created? Watch as the enemy troops AI use the tank wreckage for cover, destroying all the open field advantage you had.
Company of Heroes is an excellent strategy game, and some of the single player missions are superbly handled. Mission 3 is epic and I can't spoil it for you.
Trailer
Dawn of War
http://www.dawnofwargame.com
Another game, again by Relic in the RTS mould. Although Dawn of War doesn't have the same level of advancements (Squad cover and unit AI) it makes up for it with explosions and carnage. Based on the Warhammer 40,000 IP, this is one of the few games that really captures the speed and danger of a futuristic Warhammer battlefield. Tactics are still needed to balance out your armies weaknesses, but there is enough units for anyone to find a army they love. I can't really explain much more, watch and enjoy this - If you enjoy this opening movie, I think you are going to love the game.
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
Generally you will want to shop around for prices still. For instance the Orange Box is still $40 on Steam I believe, better to buy it from Amazon unless you just can't bear to wait on shipping time.
edit: Also, keep in mind that whether you buy the Orange Box or any other Valve games in store or through Steam, you'll be using Steam to play it no matter what. At least that's how I understand it.
Basically Steam is just a service. You can buy games from there, or best buy - which ever has the better price. The great thing is, for certain games, you can actually register them with Steam (if they offer it for that game) and it becomes apart of your Steam account - meaning you can download it now at any time from any where! Just about all Valve games offer this.
I mean, seriously...what's more fun than flying a spaceship on a psychedelic interstellar highway whilst collecting multicolored blocks to the beat of your favorite songs?
WIN!
Avoid the gray bricks, get the colored ones, get bonuses for not running into anything, get bonuses for the colors you can pile up together. oh yea, and the track, speed, rhythm, and placement of the blocks is paced off the music.
Right. Faster songs flow downhill and you have a lot of blocks to grab. Slower songs climb uphill and have less blocks.
The video I posted has a mix of both in the same song.
Each track is different based on the song you choose, and you can choose anything in your library...from a CD, MP3, etc.
Then, your score is uploaded and you can compare how you did with the rest of the world on that song.
We have a friendly little Audiosurf competition going here.