Are You Put Off PC Gaming...

[Slash Dementia]

I have a Windows XP Pro computer and I can't really run anything good. I'm going to stick with consoles.

 

[Zacharine]

What puts me off the most, is the constant costly upgrades you have to purchase in order to keep up with today's games.
What keeps me from laying it off completely, in favor of consoles, is the lineup of older games, along with their several mods.

Not true, unless you want to play with maximized graphics at 1680x1050 resolutions at 28-30 FPS. Check my previous post in this thread for more details, but honestly you are just plain wrong.

 

[Nmil-ek]

... because of the incredibly high costs? Or the fact that there's a chance that a game wont be able to work on your system? Because I sure as hell am.

I'm honestly scared to buy any PC games because of the fact that it wont work on my PC. I have a year old Vista (not a great start) which is already starting to look slow on the Sims 2, let alone 3 or any other game.

I'd seriously like to know what you have done to your computer/what seriously insane requirements for graphics level/FPS you need to play with.

Because my computer was bought in 2003. It wasn't even top of the line. I've later upgraded to 1 GB of RAM and two years ago bought a nevel mid-priced AGP graphics card. The only game I haven't been able to play is Overlord II. Even Empire: Total War, Mass Effect and Crysis are playable.

Seriously, I'm only now planning to buy a new computer, after 6 years of using my old setup. And all I've used for upgrades is about 80e, 65e of which went to the graphics card.

Six years. 80e. Originally was a mid-level build for which I paid something like 600-650e as a whole package of speakers, display, mouse&keyboard etc.

Why can I do this? Because for me 1024x768 is enough resolution in most games.

Yeah I would like to know aswell are you running a toaster or something? Hell I use a work pc with a 2006 mid end graphics card Nvidia 8500GT 32 bit vista (outdated) and I have yet to have ANY issues with games.

 

[thiosk]

You can't always play the newest games at maximum settings with older rigs-- but thats what settings are for. I upgraded my PC this year, but had yet to find a game i couldn't play with good settings on a pentium 4 PC with 4 gb of ram.

That being said, some games feel made for the PC and others feel made for the console. The idiot-proof factor of console games are a huge boon. I like to tweak my PC, however, and upgrade it in fits and starts, so I have no problem with maintaining a computer that can last for 5 years and continue to run the newest software.

My suggestion to people when building PCs is to get the newest processor socket type (that is 1366 for the intel people, now, runs the core i7) a power supply unit with some serious teeth, then older videocards.

You can get an Nvidia 295 GTX for 400-500 dollars and play crysis on the highest settings, or you can get an Nvidia 9800 GTX+ for 100 dollars and play crysis on the highest settings. Continue upgrading the videocard a step or two behind the bleeding edge through the years. OR, if you got a SLI or crossfire capable motherboard that will enable you to add additional videocards and run them in tandem-- and thats why you get the power supply which can run those cards without choking to death.

By having the newest socket type, you can upgrade the processor at your leisure as well. Do not buy a core2duo or a quadcore pc today, as thats the end of the line for that socket. By going with a corei7 socket, you can continue to upgrade the system with new processors.

 

[DAMG]

Price aside, I'm not a fan of the keyboard/mouse combo. I also have a Mac now, so that's an issue. Since I'm in college, I don't have much room; I couldn't have a nice desktop setting. My laptop is a pretty cramped workspace and is decent for work, but games...eh. It's just more convenient to have a console plugged into my TV and push the ON button while I relax on my big, comfortable bed.


I remember wanting to get into the PC scene when I was in middle school. I was running Windows 98 (maybe ME), had like a 64mb integrated graphics card, so I upgraded some parts and tried to overclock my new 128mb graphics card. Kaputz! I'm pretty sure I fried my processor in the process. Never really tried to get into it after that.

 

[Joshimodo]

The main reason I don't play my PC games as much as the consoles is two-fold. One, is the controls. Yes, keyboard/mouse combos are FAR better than controllers, but I can hardly lean back in my sofa and play with a mouse and keyboard.

The other is the online systems-PCs have so many different methods of communication, and I would have to have a dozen of them open just to talk to a group of friends.

 

[habslove]

Diablo 2 is a great choice along with the old warcraft games if you're into that sort of thing. Age of Empires 2 and Rise of Nations are good too. I don't know what kinds of games you like but these are some of my favorites.

 

[Strawb]

At the moment, I'm not put off, but my current computer is a top-end one. My old one, however, could not run the newest games with great graphics, but I still tried to play them. I've enjoyed PC gaming all my life, and pretty much never had the luxury of a proper gaming computer. Still, I've kept at it, and I suspect I will keep doing it for a lot of years to come. The costs don't scare me.

 

[Soxafloppin]

My computer is pretty poor, thats about it really.

 

[CompanionCube]

I like PC gaming because of my experience of Halo 3 Online. *shudders* Makes me appreciate TF2 so much more.

 

[Flour]

Also, as a slight side note, can someone reccomend some good games that will run on lower-end PCs - I really want to play games on my PC, I just don't have the money!

Your currently low-end PC used to be a high-end PC so treat it like one.
Get the high-end games from years ago, 2000-2004 had the best games.

Also, there's always emulation. If you're able to run Doom3 on medium-high you can run every every emulator up to the PSX/N64.

On-Topic: If I even buy a PC, I get one with last year's parts. It will allow me to play the games from that previous year and I'm usually able to play new games on high for the next two or three years then medium for another year.
Yes, it's extremely expensive, this year it will cost me nearly 1000 euros because I need to completely replace my computer and my monitor is damaged. This will also be the last year I will buy a new PC.(why bother, next generation's consoles will probably all have web browsers and the games will be the same)

 

[chronobreak]

I use my computer primarily for business and the web, it wasn't designed to play games. The best thing I can play is COD4 on terribly low settings. Hey, everyone needs a break to shoot some bad guys.

Also, I've found over the course of many years the ratio to pain in the ass installs is much higher for computers than games. I've never had a game show me "System default I/O RAM chckdsk 4000" or some dumb error message. Besides, I like consoles, I'm old school.

 

[Goldbling]

If you know what ypour system's like then you don't need to take chances with games working. And incredibly high costs? Not really. I've had this PC for about 2 years and it was under £500. Games are cheaper than console ones too.

So don't be put off.

Try Diablo II.

Only by like 10$ when they first come out, but then again that is a lot for some people.

 

[Ultimathul]

I Mostly Play my games on my Ps3 Because i like the controller better, but then again i have always been a console player.

 

[blaze96]

I'm getting put off by the game crashing bugs and random back to desktop crashes.

 

[The_Prophet]

Nevermind, was feeling stupid.

... because of the incredibly high costs? Or the fact that there's a chance that a game wont be able to work on your system? Because I sure as hell am.

*facepalm*
It doesn't have a high price if you know what are you doing and if you consulted someone before that. No, No, and No.
Read the game's requirements and you'll know if it'll work or not.
Simple, right?

 

[Tartarga]

my computer sucks and is unable to run games from 2004 without crashing

 

[Ace of Spades]

I was put off of PC gaming because of all the errors. More than half of the games I bought don't work anymore. R.I.P. BioShock.

 

[Wadders]

I never usually buy games when they are first released, preferring to wait for a price drop. £40 for a game is just stupid, so prices of games are not putting me off particularly.

Hardware does occasionally need upgrading though, which can make me doubt the merits of PC gaming. Right now I'm trying to decide between this [http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-187-SP&tool=3] and this [http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-096-BG].

Anyone have any suggestions as to which would be the better purchase?

 

[Goldbling]

Even though I do game on my computer a little I am put off a little by the fact that the keyboard and mouse combo are mastered by some but is very hard for me.