PC Gaming: After the Upgrade

[The Cheezy One]

I am upgrading my computer for Christmas, and I am interesting in hearing what games you think I should go for. My old PC was a pile of nuts and bolts with electricity running through, the decent graphics card being held back some limited RAM and awful processor (1.6Ghz single core. Yeah).
After the upgrade, everything should be running at peak performance, a 512mb graphics card, 3 GB RAM and 3.2ghz quad core processor
Before now I have mainly been a 360 gamer, but I might move into PC gaming as it is far cheaper in the long run (£25 games rather than £40)
So after I get these upgrades, what games should I get? Decent modern ones, or older ones with graphics ramped up? One major one I am going for is Cryostasis, a game that was immensley scary even when the frame rate was a pile of torn up paper.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: RTSs and FPSs mainly, but I am not apposed to a good OFFLINE RPG!

 

[Jester00]

just cause 2, black ops, bad company 2

 

[dududf]

Minecraft... Orange box (if you get this, buy Garrys mod)... Crysis. There are a bunch more, but those are what I think are nice to get

 

[shado_temple]

I'll agree with the orange box; team fortress 2 is a blast, and you can't go wrong with 4 games for $30.

 

[MisterShine]

I'll agree with the orange box; team fortress 2 is a blast, and you can't go wrong with 4 games for $30.

However, the holidays ARE coming up, and the Orange Box always goes on a ridiculous sale.. might want to wait.

Will update this post later with some more recommendations.

 

[Delusibeta]

Download Steam, bookmark Direct2Drive, GOG and Gamersgate, and wait for the post-Christmas onslaught. Be prepared.

 

[The Cheezy One]

Haha, loving the lists, and I think I'll go for most of it regardless, but I was looking more for games that will stretch my hardware to the limits (so anything published by THQ. I am not joking!) - cryostasis, crysis (no relation), far cry, etc!

 

[Jodah]

While not a specific game might I recommend you build a Steam library during the holiday sales (starts about a week before Christmas and goes to New Years) in preparation. You will likely be able to get many good games for very cheap.

 

[Chibz]

Minecraft. Only PC game worth buying.

 

[Wintermoot]

Crysis and test if it can run the game on maximum settings
TF2 great game
COD 7 looks awesome (black ops for those who dodnt number the games)
FO NV/TES IV/FO3 all of them are good and there is allot to explore in them

 

[Racecarlock]

RCT3 Platinum
Flight Simulator X
Orbiter 2010 (free)
No limits coasters 1.7
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! A reckless disregard for gravity (direct drive download $10.99)
The Powder Toy (free)

 

[deth2munkies]

Buy Crysis for the ePeen factor.

 

[Arachon]

I hate to shit in the sandbox, but this is a terrible time to be upgrading, what with NVIDIA's new 500 series of GPU's coming out, AMD's Radeon 6000 series, and last but definitely not least: Intel Sandy Bridge.

If I where you, I'd hold my horses for a bit.

 

[Continuity]

One major one I am going for is Cryostasis, a game that was immensley scary even when the frame rate was a pile of torn up paper.

Cryostasis is a great game but its not scary, it starts out a bit scary at the beginning sure but thats doen't extend far into the game. Its a great adventure though with nice effects and an interesting plot, I played it last winter... adds a little something to the game when there is snow outside

As for what games you should get, well that depends very much on what sort of games you like to play, if you just want something to try out the capabilities of your new comp then games like crysis and farcry 2 are pretty, though they are getting a bit long in the tooth maybe. To be frank though the vast underbelly of PC gaming isn't made up of these AAA hyper graphics titles, and many of the best games are cheap and fairly old, or at least cheap... £25 is a heck of a lot to pay for a pc game these days, i've bought in excess of 30 games in the last 12 months and I certainly haven't paid as much as that for any of them.
Check out the steam sales, especially look out for the January sales, they were awesome last year.

Crysis and test if it can run the game on maximum settings

not that hard, the game cryostasis he mentions is actually much more demanding than crysis.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

I would suggest getting your hands on the STALKER games. Start by finding a cheap copy of Shadow of Chernobyl, patch it up and install the Complete 2009 mod. Just don't be sad when it turns out that you now find every other FPS made to be boring, easy and kinda bland.

 

[SturmDolch]

Thanks for the lists! I also just got a new computer and want to test out some games. Can't wait till the holiday sale this year. I passed a few last year because my laptop wouldn't handle them.

My recommendations/Steam Library:

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Counterstrike: Source (for those quick 10 minute gaming sessions)
Fallout: New Vegas
Saint's Row 2 (DOWNLOAD THE GENTLEMEN OF THE ROW MOD BEFORE PLAYING or else it is nigh unplayable)
Starcraft II
Mafia II
Mafia
Mass Effect

Audiosurf
Alien Swarm (free)
Europa Universalis III
Mount and Blade: Warband

Games I am looking to buy on the holiday sale:
Splinter Cell games
Hitman games
Crysis
Mass Effect 2
Just Cause 2 (the first one was great on consoles)

 

[The Cheezy One]

One major one I am going for is Cryostasis, a game that was immensley scary even when the frame rate was a pile of torn up paper.

Cryostasis is a great game but its not scary, it starts out a bit scary at the beginning sure but thats doen't extend far into the game. Its a great adventure though with nice effects and an interesting plot, I played it last winter... adds a little something to the game when there is snow outside

As for what games you should get, well that depends very much on what sort of games you like to play, if you just want something to try out the capabilities of your new comp then games like crysis and farcry 2 are pretty, though they are getting a bit long in the tooth maybe. To be frank though the vast underbelly of PC gaming isn't made up of these AAA hyper graphics titles, and many of the best games are cheap and fairly old, or at least cheap... £25 is a heck of a lot to pay for a pc game these days, i've bought in excess of 30 games in the last 12 months and I certainly haven't paid as much as that for any of them.

Well, I only managed to play enough of Cryostasis that it was incredibly scary before the powerpoint side gameplay, when I stopped.

£25 is alot? I haven't really been out for PC games, so this was more or less a guess. And cryo is more demanding than Crysis? My PC will probably manage Crysis then, and I'll go for that!

I would suggest getting your hands on the STALKER games. Start by finding a cheap copy of Shadow of Chernobyl, patch it up and install the Complete 2009 mod. Just don't be sad when it turns out that you now find every other FPS made to be boring, easy and kinda bland.

SoC rules! I loved it, even with my crap PC that basically froze whenever it rained! CS wasn't as good, but my new motherboard comes with a copy of Call of Pripyat!
I did love the story for SoC, when

Spoiler

The evil presence essential sends him to kill himself, so he never will!

 

[Private Custard]

Flight Simulator X

Harder to run properly than Crysis......no joke!!

Bog standard settings, fine. Wind it up with added sceneries, textures and aircraft, and I've seen even godlike rigs poop themselves!

 

[The Cheezy One]

any genres you wont play?
thats helps the suggestions...

Sorry, must have missed your comment in the first run through! [small]I'm sowwy[/small]

Flight sims I have always found work better on consoles, because there is more control with an anologue stick, despite the lack of buttons overall
Racing games I am not really into, and WRPGs bore me a lot more than JRPGs, with the inevitable wolf-stomping at the start and lack of appropriate armour
Mainly I am into FPSs of the interesting variety - bioshock, STALKER, Metro2033 - mainly made by eastern developers I have found!
RTSs stratch a certain itch, but Red Alert 3 betrayed me by being basically a porn game.
If I can think of anything else, I'll add it

 

[The Madman]

It's not going to be giving your fancy new computer a workout, but I really highly recommend the new King's Bounty games. I've been playing them recently and am honestly more enthralled with them than I have been with any other series in years. King's Bounty: The Legend, King's Bounty: Armoured Princess & King's Bounty: Crosswords. Reminds me very much of Heroes of Might & Magic, Age of Wonders, Disciples, and that glorious era in PC gaming!

Speaking of which, if you're new to PC gaming in general, check out GOG.com and just try some stuff out. Again, wont tax your new computer any, but there's countless amazing hours of pure fun to be had with some of the games there.

But if ya want fancy, shiny and new, can't do any better than the dual-strike of Mass Effect 2 and Starcraft 2. Both look absolutely amazing even on my computer, Mass Effect 2 in particular is absolutely gorgeous at times while the cinematics in Starcraft 2, even the in-engine ones, are incredible to watch.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 also plays and looks fantastic, with a large online community so you're never at a loss for players to play with.

Dawn of War 2 is also an exceptional looking RTS. Not everyone's cup o tea, but personally I love it and there's no denying it's a great looking game. The 'sync kills', over the top dramatic deaths and kills triggered every once and awhile, are also a blast to watch!

What's with every game being a sequel? 2 2 2 2? Of course there's also always Crysis, that games guaranteed to give every come a workout when the visuals are cranked up, and there are mods which make the game look even more unbelievably good, though of course at the cost of outright torturing most computers. Personally I really like the Mechwarrior: Living Legends mod for Crysis, which obviously also looks fantastic as well!

The STALKER games also look damned good with the 'Complete' mod series installed to boost even the first game up to modern standards. I'm of the opinion that the environmental effects in Stalker with that mod installed are the best of any game out there, standing out in the dark during a heavy storm is ridiculously ambient!

Regardless, have fun!