PC Gaming Doom & Gloom Thread

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Arglebargle

Originally posted by: apoppin
"Have you TRIED Vista?

.....


as i said i can prove it ... Vista is no slower nor less stable then XP

let's see your "links" to a 5-10% decrease in performance ... something relatively new, please.

but then again, i really don't care if you do or don't adopt Vista now
.... i felt exactly like you did 2 months ago."

I did go back and check up, and you are correct. With the advent of better drivers in the last month or two, the performance is roughly equal now. Still about a 50/50 split on people choosing Vista/XP. I am not going to, due to problems with some audio software and hardware. I will bite the bullet when some game with stellar play comes out and forces me to. Eye Candy is not enough.

i totally agree with you ... there is no *compelling* reason to upgrade to Vista - yet.

i eschewed even trying my Audigy2ZS and instead opted for the very excellent on-board audio of my MB ... but then Creative really isn't and RealTek is 100 times better then formerly - so i am losing nothing.

The real reason i upgraded to Vista was just to see for myself ... since i completely "made over" my rig i figured, 'WtH, it's only another $100' ... and it totally blew me away - very glad i did.

apoppin I'm still stuck at end of BG1 I refuse to cheat .

refuse to or can't ?
-keep rolling those 10-sided dice ... eventually you will get lucky

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Arglebargle

Originally posted by: apoppin
"Have you TRIED Vista?

.....


as i said i can prove it ... Vista is no slower nor less stable then XP

let's see your "links" to a 5-10% decrease in performance ... something relatively new, please.

but then again, i really don't care if you do or don't adopt Vista now
.... i felt exactly like you did 2 months ago."

I did go back and check up, and you are correct. With the advent of better drivers in the last month or two, the performance is roughly equal now. Still about a 50/50 split on people choosing Vista/XP. I am not going to, due to problems with some audio software and hardware. I will bite the bullet when some game with stellar play comes out and forces me to. Eye Candy is not enough.

i totally agree with you ... there is no *compelling* reason to upgrade to Vista.

i eschewed even trying my Audigy2ZS and instead opted for the very excellent on-board audio of my MB ... but then Creative really isn't and RealTek is 100 times better then formerly - so i am losing nothing.

The real reason i upgraded to Vista was just to see for myself ... since i completely "made over" my rig i figured, 'WtH, it's only another $100' ... and it totally blew me away - very glad i did.

apoppin I'm still stuck at end of BG1 I refuse to cheat .

refuse to or can't

The problem with Creative Labs is they were very slow to release any sort of decent drivers for Vista,even now their customers are still waiting for software support for Vista with their sound cards,Realtek on the otherhand were very fast to release drivers etc....a lot of Creative Labs owners have given up on them and gone elsewhere for their sounds,I can't really blame them.I 'll be going back to onboard sound on my next upgrade,I don't have any problems with my Audigy drivers but have lost some faith in Creative Labs when it comes to customer support which to say the least is very bad,they just don't listen or seem to care about their customers,read their forums you'll see what I mean.

apoppin I'm still stuck at end of BG1 I refuse to cheat .

refuse to or can't [/quote] Won't says it all .

 

[apoppin]

-keep rolling those 10-sided dice ... eventually you will get lucky


i found out years ago that Creative really isn't

 

[Smilin]

Memory's can be so short. It's not a Creative+Vista thing. It's a Creative+anything thing. Their drivers have been awful since back in the SB Live! days.

I've got an dusty audigy sitting in the closet and I'm using onboard. Back when I was running XP I got so fed up with creative I swore I would never buy another product. I havn't.

Lo and behold this decision has allowed me to skip past more creative crap that appeared when I upgraded to Vista.

 

[Shadowknight]

I haven't had a Creative Product since the Soundblaster 16, when I got a multimedia kit including speakers, soundcard, and a blazing fast 2x CD-ROM! Mostly after I used onboard sound because I'm poor. I bought a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz cause I managed to swing one for under $10 after rebates and mark downs and Circuit City. Of course they haven't put new drivers out for years. Given that I'm using two cheap Alta Vista speakers (again, poverty issues) I'll wait to look into getting a sweet audio card when I can afford some better computer speakers as well. Your sound quality depends on both, you know?

 

[shortylickens]

I've got an Audigy 1 and I can run everything (new and old) just fine.
Maybe its you guys.

 

[CP5670]

My experience with Creative cards has been that they work perfectly on the Windows version at the time of their release, but have all sorts of problems on future versions and in some cases SPs as well. I'm expecting to have to put my X-fi on ebay when I switch to Vista, although that will not happen for a long time. (at least the card is doing great right now and worth what I paid for it)

Has onboard sound gotten any better recently? I have the old ALC850 chip on my board and it sounds like crap compared to both the X-fi or the Audigy 2 Value I was using earlier.

 

[coloumb]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
So.. what should I try? What's an epic single-player game that will blow my mind? Or is there even anything?

Real Life away from the computer is what you need.

Quality games take a lot longer to make these days. There are a few games on the horizon [next few months]....

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Skacer
I'm not going to recommend FPS games to someone who couldn't get into HL2:EP1, FEAR or STALKER. I could understand not liking one of those games, but all 3 demonstrate a wide variety within the FPS genre. I can't help someone who is that malcontent with the genre they supposedly enjoy.

FEAR just plain sucks
HL2 is extremely overrated and is mediocre at best. I thought Stalker was good though.
Most of the games out recently haven't been very good or just haven't interested me.

I liked Overlord at 1st, but after awhile it just seems extremely repetitive. Company of Heroes was good for a once through on SP, after that I got bored with it, same with C&C 3.
Civ4 was ok for a little bit but turn based isn't my thing and I got bored with it.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

That is true. I still find myself having a good time playing Halo 2 with a bunch of freinds. I would never touch single player mode in that game though.

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
Yea I havent seen a good game in the past 2 years. Dunno if I lost interest or what.

Haven't seen a seemingly PC game in a while.

Oblivion was lame.
Fear was mediocre.
I enjoyed NWN2, but just because I'm a bit of an RPG nut. The game was great or really innovative.
Overlord seems too shallow, plus the PC controls feel a bit off.
I don't want to invest the time/money in an MMO at the moment, but if I did it would probably be EQII or LOTRO.
I haven't tried Medieval II, but maybe I should since I thoroughly enjoyed Rome: TW. Still, the game isn't innovative or a must have.

I'm hoping the new games in Orange Box will be fun at least. Also, I'm praying for the quality. of Starcraft II.

I find myself playing consoles a lot more than my PC these days, and I don't even play consoles much right now due it being the end of the summer drought. The fall and winter saturation is just ahead, though!

 

[imaheadcase]

Very few games come along worth playing..I kid you not this is my gameing for the last FIVE years.

DAOC/F.E.A.R/Half life 2/BF2/ company of heroes is also pretty fun. Those are the only games that held my interest, the others I died of boredom.

Now I can tell you one thing, Half Life2 ep1/2 and esp team fortress 2 are going to occupy lots of my free time. I held off on Ep1 and 2 so i can play them back to back, and team fortress 2 thats a given must have on everyones list.

The problem with games coming out is that they try to hard with the games, they lost the fun factor and just want to "be revolutionary with cutting edge graphics" when all the customer wants is fun.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: Kromis

Originally posted by: Molondo
go buy a console.

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Encouraging stagnation of innovation and complete BS the consoles offer ftl.


Get a genre change, or play BF2, that'll hook you.

Company of Heroes
Medieval 2 Total War
Oblivion & mods & expacks
etc

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: AllGamer

Originally posted by: apoppin

and of course RTS and RGP are non-violent peace-inspiring games
-perhaps the sarcasm is strong with this one

is not really sarcasm or anything like that. and forget about the political view, it was just a mildly related issue.

but differences between RTS / RPG / Turn based vs. FPS

is that those other ones are in a 3rd person view, normally, and they are fantasy related

but in FPS, most of the "Themes" used are of "one-self", you are the "hero", you are the first person, you are the one doing all the disaster.

is like back in the days when ground ups tells the Kids don't watch cartoon, it has too much violence, or whatever.

Yet... the TVs shows / movies they watch have the same amount of violence, if not more.

But there is a simple and Clear distinction between real life actor vs cartoonish violence, once is real, one is fake.

Just like RPG/RTS vs FPS, one you have no direct attachment to the destruction mayhem, but in FPS you are the one doing the mayhem.

Unless you have a different point of view

yes i do

In RPG you are the "wizard" the one who PLANS the destruction - you are role-playing ... if fact it teaches you how to plan more efficiently to annihilate those you are in your way. For example, the DB SQ in Oblivion really dealt with some heavy moral issues including becoming a traitor and slaughtering your former friends in the name of 'duty'. In S.I. you torture people.

in RTS you wipe out whole cities and races and regularly order destruction a terrorist must dream of - causing untold misery and suffering to whole populations

otoh, in a traditional FPS you are cast as the "good guy" .. out to save the planet by blowing away the most evil scum in the universe.

if you are one of the those unfortunate few who can't tell the difference between fantasy and 'real-life' violence, then you have far more problems already then video games could ever cause. Will this push the one in ten-million 'nut' over the edge to possibly "act out" his violence?
... possibly ... but not a reason to ban violent video games as 99.99999% of players can evidently tell the difference

-unlike with movie and TV violence which is far far worse.

 

[AllGamer]

i only like to play RTS, RPG, and Turn based games, everything else i find it horribly boring, specially all those FPS, i can't understand how people can find fun, on just running around like a maniac and shooting at anyone on sight?

They should Ban those games, look at the violence on the streets, it's on the news everyday.

People are playing way too much FPS, and it's affecting their brain.

Like the recent Vtech shooting, and all of the daily night club and/or gang shootings....

Please stay on topic. If you want to discuss your POV on the potential societal impact of shooters, we have a Politics and News forum for that.-DAPUNISHER

 

[Edge1]

This thread is depressing as hell. You people are damn hard to please.

I love PC gaming, am 40, and have a wife and kids. Its hard to find the time, but damn I sure appreciate it when I get it. Play all genres, but RTS is quickly becoming a favorite.

After you've played the original "Pong" on its original release, everything else is gravy. Oh yeah that was a console game! How appropo.

 

[manimal]

If you like Medievil 2, try out some of those mods, really good replay ability specially that big one with the different houses in italy, Sicilian Vespers.

 

[Molondo]

go buy a console.

 

[apoppin]

all i have to say is that is am SO glad i don't have your problem

while i spent a month tweaking my system and doing extensive benchmarking, i didn't play ANY games

-and i have a 'baker's dozen' of unplayed/unfinished games that i am REALLY enjoying on my new system
-Sure, OverLord is "repetitive" - what game isn't? ... OVERALL, it is exceptional [i guess by looking at the map, i am well over 1/2 way]

STALKER is *extraordinary* but FPSers have to realize it is really a RPG ... those hidden 10-sided dice are clicking the the background as you 'level-up' automatically

Perhaps you are too jaded with PC gaming ... *quit* playing for awhile
-worked for me

 

[TestedAcorn]

Well this game isn't like the holy grail of games but Hitman: Blood Money is a fun game. It's not very new, but it still looks nice and it runs perfectly fine on a mid ranged pc (not saying that's what you have cuz i have no clue as to what you have) well you should pick it up.

 

[AllGamer]

Originally posted by: apoppin

and of course RTS and RGP are non-violent peace-inspiring games
-perhaps the sarcasm is strong with this one

is not really sarcasm or anything like that. and forget about the political view, it was just a mildly related issue.

but differences between RTS / RPG / Turn based vs. FPS

is that those other ones are in a 3rd person view, normally, and they are fantasy related

but in FPS, most of the "Themes" used are of "one-self", you are the "hero", you are the first person, you are the one doing all the disaster.

is like back in the days when ground ups tells the Kids don't watch cartoon, it has too much violence, or whatever.

Yet... the TVs shows / movies they watch have the same amount of violence, if not more.

But there is a simple and Clear distinction between real life actor vs cartoonish violence, once is real, one is fake.

Just like RPG/RTS vs FPS, one you have no direct attachment to the destruction mayhem, but in FPS you are the one doing the mayhem.

Unless you have a different point of view

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: reallyfull
I've just picked up Overlord for the PC and I'm having a blast. It's been a long time since a game has kept my interest this long. There is a demo out for the PC which you can give a try. The full game has more depth to it than you get to experience in the demo though.

agreed

but if you are FPSer forget it ... like STALKER, it is really a 'RPG'
[think Fable LC with a "party"]

it might be you ... take a break from PG gaming or replay a classic

if you loved DeuSex, then you might really like VtMB ... it is the "vampire DE" ... just make SURE you have the fan-made patch

MaxPayne2 is "more" of Max Payne if you missed it

Unreal2 was OK ... but not if compared to the original

did you play Q4 and PREY?
Riddick:EfBB is a true "classic" FPS ... PainKiller is also an awesome FPS.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: AllGamer

Originally posted by: apoppin

and of course RTS and RGP are non-violent peace-inspiring games
-perhaps the sarcasm is strong with this one

is not really sarcasm or anything like that. and forget about the political view, it was just a mildly related issue.

but differences between RTS / RPG / Turn based vs. FPS

is that those other ones are in a 3rd person view, normally, and they are fantasy related

but in FPS, most of the "Themes" used are of "one-self", you are the "hero", you are the first person, you are the one doing all the disaster.

is like back in the days when ground ups tells the Kids don't watch cartoon, it has too much violence, or whatever.

Yet... the TVs shows / movies they watch have the same amount of violence, if not more.

But there is a simple and Clear distinction between real life actor vs cartoonish violence, once is real, one is fake.

Just like RPG/RTS vs FPS, one you have no direct attachment to the destruction mayhem, but in FPS you are the one doing the mayhem.

Unless you have a different point of view

so basically in an RTS or RPG you are ordering other people to kill, maim, and destroy but in a FPS you are person doing the kiling?

but, in an FPS you are controlling a character, not yourself...so how is it any different?

also, where does Oblivion fall in your little scenario?

 

[TehMac]

BF2 owns, I might get R6 Vegas, now that a new patch has come out from a friend...it does look very good.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: toadeater

Originally posted by: Molondo
go buy a console.

Consoles are the sole reason games have sucked so much lately.
PC gamers want PC games, not games for 15 yr-old juvenile delinquents who think Halo was revolutionary.

I think that might be my new sig.