In what will hopefully be good news to those of you that were complaining that the SG comic wasn't PC orientated enough - I now have a PC and not just a run -of-the-mill-do-boring stuff PC but, what I am reliably informed, is a fairly kick arse gaming PC.

Before you start throwing a load of technical questions I don't understand my way - I have this graphics card (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2989), an intel quad core thingy, 6GB of something, 3.2 GHz of something else and an absolute shed load of storage space.

Although I've primarily bought it to help me with all of my comic related projects - it does give me the benefit of being able to try out some games too. I had a quick go on my friends copy of Crysis, just to see how it ran and that seemed to work well, so I might pick up a copy of that eventually - but from there, I took the short, pleasurable trip onto Steam.

Even having heard the way Steam was set up beforehand, I still can not help by being overwhelming impressed by the service. I'll spare you all the details as you are probably more aware than me, but the fact that my friend who was showing me round (and had already helped me build the PC) was able to gift me a copy of Half Life 2 was a nice welcome.

So far, PC gamer cred intact, Crysis & Half Life 2 -all good. From then on things may go of course for some of you (especially PMPB) because the first game I bought for my new PC...was...PlantsVsZombies! I stand by that decision as I'm really liking the game - tactical and funny, my sort of game and more like the stuff I'm looking for from my PC gaming.

By way of further example the demo I have downloaded that I'm waiting to try is Crayon Physic Deluxe. Generally looking for short bits of fun but I would like to check out some more in depth strategy games - I really like Turn based strategy but hate Real time strategy - was thinking of checking out Civ4 as I liked CivRev.

Never PC gamed before so, would like some advice on some games I shouldn't miss, any really good games on steam and any other general advice. Probably not going to play that many FPS's on it (although I might pick up a copy of Stalker) and not looking to get into MMO's atm as I can't afford the time or the subs.

With all that in mind - What's not to miss for a new PC gamer?

Ok, a few tips:

1) DO NOT miss Crysis... but if you can, get Crysis on Disc and not by Steam. The disc version was still using a disc-check copy protection system and not the install limit based one EA was under fire for. Crysis Warhead has the latter either way, but at least there is a deactivate tool available.

Deactivation tool download page (http://activate.ea.com/deauthorize/gamesList.html)

2) With Steam or with Impulse (which you should get too), patients can EASILY save you alot of $$$ on games. Always watch the sales tab.

3) Other games you really need to play:

Sam & Max seasons 1 and 2
Dawn of War 1 and 2
FEAR 1, Extraction Point, and 2.
Deus Ex
Half-Life (preferably Source) and Half-Life 2... all of it
Portal
Diablo 2 (FOR GODS SAKE DONT DEAL WITH 1!!!)
Wolfenstien... all of them
Doom 3 and Doom 3: Ressurection of Evil
Left 4 Dead

Im sure others can recommend alot more, but these are the big guys I would insist on you playing that are relatively easy to get your hands on. Diablo 2, FEAR 1, and Extraction Point I think are the only ones on this list that are not available on Steam.

this graphics card (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2989) isn't a graphics card mate, its a motherboard. Try linking the correct thing :lol:

Anyways, welcome to PC gaming, and hopefully you've joined us on the lifetime membership plan.

Since you're here, we might as well get down to business. Being a PC gamer doesn't mean having a kickass PC if you're not gonna play on it anyway. Most PC gamers play their PC devotedly, but with the number of console exclusives increasing these days, most PC gamers do have a console or two.

Being new, I suggest you familiarise yourself with the more important digital distibution outlets, namely, Steam and Impulse. There are many ways PC gamers comunicate with each other. Thru Steam, but mainly thru this program known as Xfire, an IM for gamers.

For games, you'd want to be bit more adventurous. There are a host of games available for the PC. Steam and Impulse are good places to check out games, and since these stores are split into categories, see through each category and i'm sure you'll find some gems based off your own judgement. Do hang around the PC forums, you'll find snippets of information about new/old games.

Xfire is here (http://www.xfire.com/) and Impulse is here (http://www.impulsedriven.com/). I'm sure you already know about Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/).

And, this time, do read the PC oriented news on shacknews or kotaku etc. :lol:

btw the link for the gpu is actually a motherboard.

You should probabally pick up one of main pc shooters CS or TF2

btw the link for the gpu is actually a motherboard

You don't understand how little of nothing I understand - do I have a fatherboard or am I a single parent PC? :grin:

Oh and I should add that I had/have the Orange Box, FEAR and L4D on console already. Otherwise thanks for the advice Diortem & sink257 :thumbsup:

Diablo 2 (FOR GODS SAKE DONT DEAL WITH 1!!!)

Was interested but what's wrong with 1 and should I just wait for 3?

Deus Ex - curious about this heard a lot about it a few years ago. Any advice on the best place to grab a cheap copy?

Also, was Blood Bowl any good? - and are there any good Warhammer 40K games that are TBS rather than RTS?

If you like turn based strategy, which I love too, you need to pick up Galactic Civilizations II and the expansions. Easy too with Impulse...digital download. Very highly rated and one of the best turn based games in years imho.

Also, the beauty of PC gaming is that backwards compatibility is pretty much a non-issue. There are tons of great PC titles available to you now. Imperium Galactica 2, the MechWarrior series, Wing Commander and so many more.

Plus almost all the Xbox 360 exclusives are better on the PC...Mass Effect on PC for example boot mucks the Xbox 360 version.

Yes! How could I forget about that? GET Xfire... basically it will attach to AIM and MSN if you like, and interfaces over a ton of games to allow chat, voice, screenshots, and even video capture (which will go to your profile when you quit the game).

My name is in my sig.. (and even when Im playing console, I maually say what game I have playing and it's right behind me.)

You don't understand how little of nothing I understand - do I have a fatherboard or am I a single parent PC? :grin:

Dont worry about it happens to everyone who has never really opened up a pc and tried to figure out what everything is and how it works. Btw I opened up my first pc when I was 9 years old. It never worked again lol.

For games that I would recommend to be honest until I build my new pc the latest game I can run on my pc is counterstrike so I cant really recommend anything. Go for what you enjoy if someone recommends a game genre you dont like or prefer to play on the 360 or other console dont bother because your not going to enjoy it and when you play on the console your going to lose all your skill that is assuming you have any.

You don't understand how little of nothing I understand - do I have a fatherboard or am I a single parent PC? :grin:

:lol: If only...

Was interested but what's wrong with 1 and should I just wait for 3?

You can get both in a battlechest last time I looked at any old Best Buy, but 1... well... this is my review of it (http://forums.sarcasticgamer.com/blog.php?b=2482).

Deus Ex - curious about this heard a lot about it a few years ago. Any advice on the best place to grab a cheap copy?

It's on Steam for $10, actually... it's an old game (as in Unreal Tournament 1 engine old) but a GOOD game.

Also, was Blood Bowl any good? - and are there any good Warhammer 40K games that are TBS rather than RTS?

Sadly, almost all turn based games are REALLY old here... like SSI did them (and they are long gone). Bloodbowl, Im curious about myself... but I havent been able to look yet.

You don't understand how little of nothing I understand - do I have a fatherboard or am I a single parent PC? :grin:

Oh and I should add that I had/have the Orange Box, FEAR and L4D on console already. Otherwise thanks for the advice Diortem & sink257 :thumbsup:



Was interested but what's wrong with 1 and should I just wait for 3?

Deus Ex - curious about this heard a lot about it a few years ago. Any advice on the best place to grab a cheap copy?

Also, was Blood Bowl any good? - and are there any good Warhammer 40K games that are TBS rather than RTS?

Diablo II is quite simply the most amazing game ever. It's a fact, look it up on Wikipedia. But, stay away from the original, it hasn't aged well.

As others have said, get Crysis, if only just to show off to your console owning friends. Maybe The Sims 3?

http://i26.tinypic.com/2dakdnn.jpg

The PC Strikes back! Documenting a PC Noob mistake! :grin:

You should pick up tf2, Fun game.
i know your got it on console but i can assure you it's a totally different experience on pc. If your not sure wait till the free weekend.

YES you should get TF2 on PC the game on PC is completely different so that a good pick up also Plant VS zombies is a good pick up I don't think any less of you for getting it um also if you didn't get L4D on the 360 you should pick that up

I'll just add on to that reccomended games list

Max Payne 1 AND 2
Killing Floor
Football Manager 20XX

Welcome to the wonderous world of PC gaming! I've never believed that a person needs a killer-rig to enjoy PC gaming. There are just so many good games out there and many that doesn't require hefty system requirements.

Steam is definitely a good place to start to build up your games, there are just so many good games in their catalogues. You should take a look at their indie games selection, many good ones there like Audiosurf, Trine, Osmos, Time Gentlemen, Please!, Defense Grid: The Awakening, Trials 2, World of Goo and many more.

A few games that you can get in Steam that I recommend are Warhammer 40K Dawn of War 2, Freedom Force Pack, Trine, Zeno Clash, World of Goo and Audiosurf.

Welcome to the family Mightymutt....

There's a learning curve for earning your PC "chops" so don't worry about any lack of knowledge...we ALL started there too.

VERY good suggestions so far, and I agree with EVERY SINGLE recommendation from Diortem as far as games go.

I would also agree with Warhammer 40K, and would also throw in Homeworld and Homeworld 2.

One thing I will recommend to you...keep an eye out for "mods" to games you get. These are add-on packs that people have made that will modify your game to add functionality or modify the game world to give you another experience.

here's a site for these:

http://www.moddb.com/mods

For example, for Half Life 2 there are TONS of usermade mods that are add-on games that are free to play and give you BRAND new experiences...some are single player some are multi player. (There's a mod for Homeworld that allows you to have Star Wars vs Star Trek massive ship battles.)

Keeps your eyes open for demos and look for us on xfire...ALSO...when you play multiplayer, ALWAYS look for dedicated servers run by organized groups who actively administer the servers 24/7. There are actually organized groups who specialize in certain games..they are called "clans". You will be AMAZED by the different in play experience on these servers....people actually work as a team and they kick/ban ALL jackasses who ruin the experience.

I really should just write up a long list.... shouldnt I? (Actually, that could be a worthwhile project of another kind....)

You know, there SHOULD be a list of "required" gaming for PC.

I think PC Gamer did something a while back that was kind of an "education timeline" based on the games you play..

Kind of like:

PC Kindergarten (required gaming to establish a base) :
Diablo 2
Deus Ex
Max Payne
Half Life

PC Prep school:
Continue with Half Life 2 and episodes thereafter
Homeworld/ Homeworld 2
Starcraft
Warhammer 40K

PC High School:
Fear/Fear 2
Crysis
etc

PC Undergrad:
more games

PC GradSchool:
more games

PC PHD:
more games

Actually, I think this forum topic inspired a little writing... not sure yet, but Im looking into it.

oh you BETTER write an article about this Mr. Professional writer. :P

I'd be ok if you give me a shout-out too :)

Actually, I think this forum topic inspired a little writing... not sure yet, but Im looking into it.
'The guide to becoming a PC gamer' maybe, complete from building/buying a new PC, to steam and what games to buy.

Doom 3 and Doom 3: Ressurection of Evil


ive tried playing this game so many times its not even funny im always like yah i can take this and the stuff starts jumping out at me and im like save that for another day

I'd recommend the RTS genre, as console RTSes don't work nearly as well. Company of Heroes is easily my favorite, along with the original Dawn of War and its various expansions. You did say you already have the Orange Box on console, but TF2 on the PC is vastly superior to its console counterparts. As in it's become a completely different game, due to the various unlocks, precision of the mouse and keyboard, and of course, user-created content.
Fallout 3 and Oblivion are also completely different games on the PC, due to the addition of mods. They have huge modding communities, with things varying from additional quests, new companions, new hideouts, or Space Marines in the Capital Wasteland.

If you enjoy having a great online experience with a game that s constantly being updated, you can't go wrong with Team Fortress 2. TF2 is pretty cheap ($20 I think), and You will get more than that much of your money out of it. If you played it on consoles don't base your experience off of that. Valve abandoned that game when the players did.

In what will hopefully be good news to those of you that were complaining that the SG comic wasn't PC orientated enough - I now have a PC and not just a run -of-the-mill-do-boring stuff PC but, what I am reliably informed, is a fairly kick arse gaming PC.

Before you start throwing a load of technical questions I don't understand my way - I have this graphics card (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2989), an intel quad core thingy, 6GB of something, 3.2 GHz of something else and an absolute shed load of storage space.

Although I've primarily bought it to help me with all of my comic related projects - it does give me the benefit of being able to try out some games too. I had a quick go on my friends copy of Crysis, just to see how it ran and that seemed to work well, so I might pick up a copy of that eventually - but from there, I took the short, pleasurable trip onto Steam.

Even having heard the way Steam was set up beforehand, I still can not help by being overwhelming impressed by the service. I'll spare you all the details as you are probably more aware than me, but the fact that my friend who was showing me round (and had already helped me build the PC) was able to gift me a copy of Half Life 2 was a nice welcome.

So far, PC gamer cred intact, Crysis & Half Life 2 -all good. From then on things may go of course for some of you (especially PMPB) because the first game I bought for my new PC...was...PlantsVsZombies! I stand by that decision as I'm really liking the game - tactical and funny, my sort of game and more like the stuff I'm looking for from my PC gaming.

By way of further example the demo I have downloaded that I'm waiting to try is Crayon Physic Deluxe. Generally looking for short bits of fun but I would like to check out some more in depth strategy games - I really like Turn based strategy but hate Real time strategy - was thinking of checking out Civ4 as I liked CivRev.

Never PC gamed before so, would like some advice on some games I shouldn't miss, any really good games on steam and any other general advice. Probably not going to play that many FPS's on it (although I might pick up a copy of Stalker) and not looking to get into MMO's atm as I can't afford the time or the subs.

With all that in mind - What's not to miss for a new PC gamer?

I love your description of your specs!

I suggest grabbing the Orange Box (40 dollar price tag for 5 great games, even though you already have HL2, you'll want the episodes and Portal, and TF2 is a GREAT game).

You may want to give WoW a try, it's a very solid MMO.

Civilization IV is a must if you want strategy, but buy the Gold Edition on Steam. It's 30 bucks for all the CivIV engine games.

Plants Vs. Zombies is a great game, and pretty cheap as well.

Titan Quest Gold Edition is another 20 dollar purchase off Steam, and it's an AWESOME Diablo 2 styled game with beautiful graphics and a solid system. It's also mod-able.

Mount and Blade is worth check out, and is on sale from time to time. It's got a TON of mods around for it (including a really cool Star Wars mod), and is fun to play.

I'll add more as they come to me.

Just picked up the original Sacred yesterday ($5 on steam this weekend)... anyone else giving this game a shot? Anything else they have on sale right now?

There's a street fighter 4 sale, but I blew my cash on a hard drive and headset. (Samsung Spinpoint F1 and a Raptor LH1, if you're interested.)

There's a street fighter 4 sale, but I blew my cash on a hard drive and headset. (Samsung Spinpoint F1 and a Raptor LH1, if you're interested.)

I bought the F3 samsung spinpoint. Works well and its fast and quiet

You should get the Valve Complete Pack.
Delta Force:Black Hawk Down is a good shooter.
:D

There's a street fighter 4 sale, but I blew my cash on a hard drive and headset. (Samsung Spinpoint F1 and a Raptor LH1, if you're interested.)

Is the headset any good ?

Is the headset any good ?
Hasn't arrived yet, but the review is here (http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/headsets/raptor-lh1/).
http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/images/Raptor-LH1/Small/packaging-front.jpg