Recommend me some PC Games

[thenumberthirteen]

For a long time I have been using a low end laptop as my computer to do web-surfing and work. I have been a console gamer. My 21st birthday is a week tomorrow (the 3rd Feb), and my family said they would all chip in money so I can buy a new computer "for University work". The work I do for university could be done mainly on a notebook PC, with the University computers having all the extra software I need; but they don't know that.

I have my eye on a kick ass Gaming PC that I should be able to afford, and it is quite powerful to boot. The trouble is I haven't bought a PC game since Dawn of War, and so am not sure what is good. Can all you PC Gamers recommend some good PC games for me?

Some helpful information:

1. I have a PS3 so no games that are already on PS3.
2. I have the Orange Box on PS3, and am going to buy TF2 for the PC as it is far better.
3. I'm open minded about genres.
4. Preferably no games with subscription fees.
5. I'm OK with older games, they don't have to be brand new.
6. Games that have a good modding community are a bonus.
7. I prefer games with some action in so Sims, etc don't really float my boat.
8. I like sci-fi and fantasy settings, but I'm not fussy
9. No games that really need extra peripherals such as Flight sticks as most of my money will be spent on the PC itself
10. The cheaper, the better.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[hermes]

Dragon Age is on PS3, but its a PC game at heart.

Mass Effect 2 is out, its great, and it won't be coming to the PS3 for a while (if ever).

RTS are far better on PC, so, you should get Read Alert 3 or the lattest Dawn of War.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

I know that you already own the Orange Box, but Half Life 2, cinematic mod 10 is like playing a HL2 version released this year.

 

[Indecizion]

HALF LIFE 2 um L4D 1&2 Warcraft 3

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Max Payne 2, don't ask questions, just get it, even if you already have it. I also highly recommend the Total War series, especially Rome.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[x0ny]

counter strike source, left 4 dead 1 or 2

 

[Eliam_Dar]

if you like bizarre settings and plots, try Zeno Clash

 

[fix-the-spade]

Battlefield 2: Deluxe edition

The 1.5patch for BF2 is out now, which makes the expansion packs free and part of the game as standard. Which is awesome.

Valve: Complete Pack

Get this from Steam, I think it's about £50 at the moment. So the cost of one new release Xbox game, as for what's in it.

http://store.steampowered.com/sub/2546/

See for youself. Don't buy anything from Steam until you have the complete pack, it's probably the best value 'game' available out there...

 

[ALIMed_MuHa]

One word and one number: Battlefield 2 (deluxe edition if possible).
This game is just a legend in PC gaming, it costs around 10-20 euros (if you want price in dollars use google), it has good modding community and it runs on a very old computer. You really dont need any extra shit on your computer but if you like flying and dive bombing, you should get a joystick.
E: yeah and ofcourse allmost forgot Half life and CS:S

 

[j0z]

Get Oblivion, Fallout 3, The Orange Box, if you like strategy, get Sins of a Solar Empire and Civilization 2.
Also: Modern Warfare 2, Crysis is okay, Mass Effect, Borderlands.
Oblivion and Fallout 3 have a huge, great modding community, with some truly amazing and professional mods out there.

 

[GraveyardTricks]

Command and Conquer: Red Alert (1, 2 or 3. They're all good.) and Left 4 Dead.

 

[Space Cowgirl]

I recommend Psychonauts. The difficulty curve is really wonky, but it's a rather delightful challenge.

 

[Trivun]

8. I like sci-fi and fantasy settings, but I'm not fussy
9. No games that really need extra peripherals such as Flight sticks as most of my money will be spent on the PC itself
10. The cheaper, the better.

Thanks in advance for your help.

If you like sci-fi and fantasy settings, the try The Longest Journey, and it's sequel, Dreamfall. They're adventure games, point-and-click in the style of Broken Sword and the Monkey Island series. And they're both set in a mix of fantasy and sci-fi settings (two worlds, one cyberpunk and one fantasy). And it's cheap, too. I managed to pick up in my local Game store the Dreamfall limited edition (containing both games, the Dreamfall OST, and a collector's art book) for just £15. Pretty good going for such a great pair of games

 

[Amardor]

Knights of the Old Republic. A must play for RPG fans. Originally Xbox only but later PC port, Number 2 is also PC port.

 

[Croaker42]

One word and one number: Battlefield 2 (deluxe edition if possible).
This game is just a legend in PC gaming, it costs around 10-20 euros (if you want price in dollars use google), it has good modding community and it runs on a very old computer. You really dont need any extra shit on your computer but if you like flying and dive bombing, you should get a joystick.

This is correct. I have enjoyed countless hours in BF2. Also if your into the SciFi/future war genera check out BF2142. You get futuristic weapons, hover tanks and battle walkers.

I would also like to add a few games that keep coming back and killing massive amounts of time for me.
Galactic Civilizations II (10$) will keep you going for at least a week at a time and Starcraft is classic (you can get the battle chest for 20$)

My only other suggestion is to DL steam and skim over the 10-20$ catalog of games. I myself bought Evil Genieous a few weeks ago and Its still fun for me.

 

[Jamienra]

Black and White 1. Its old but amazing, its in my top ten games of all time.

 

[GamingAwesome1]

Left 4 Dead series.

All those delicious custom maps the PC gets make me jealous.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Sins of a Solar Empire if your're into massive RTS space battles

Otherwise Dawn of War: Dark Crusade or its sequel.

 

[Plurralbles]

Good modding community? Say no more!

Sins of a Solar EMpire
Rome/ MEdieval 2 total war

All of them you can get for <$30 each.