Any PC Gamers in ER-land?

[wabmester]

As some of you know, I upgraded my computer last year for the first time in years.   My old machines worked fine, but there was one thing they couldn't run: Doom 3.    I didn't have much interest in running Doom 3, but I was angst-ridden knowning that there was something I couldn't run.    So, I upgraded.

Then I played Half Life 2.   I was floored.   The real-time 3D graphics, physics, and story were very good.    When I was a young pup, I used to program high-end 3D graphics hardware, and I'm just amazed at what commodity hardware can do now.

OK, so HL2 was fun for a couple days.    And then recently, Battlefield 2 came out.    I am hooked.   Killer 3D graphics, great physics, helicopters and airplanes, a wide variety of terrain, and online play to boot.

This stupid game has made me a huge fan of helicopters.    I even fixed my old R/C helicopter and started flying it around again.   I'm ready for acrobatics.    And I'm thinking I need to get a real heli-pilot's license now.

Anybody else sucked into this stuff?   Maybe we can start an old-fart's game server.   

 

[maddythebeagle]

This stupid game has made me a huge fan of helicopters. I even fixed my old R/C helicopter and started flying it around again. I'm ready for acrobatics. And I'm thinking I need to get a real heli-pilot's license now.

hmmm. would you say helicopters of the black variety that someone like the plunge protection team might be seen in?

 

[Michael]

I enjoy a good computer game at times (mostly strategy types like Starcraft, but action ones like HALO are interesting too). Since I have dial up, I never ventured into on line play. Perhaps some day I will join the 21st century.

 

[laurence]

Ugh, you just asked an addict if he ever dabbled in smack!

What card are you running? I run an old Geforce FX5700 with 256mb DDR, pretty good but I do crave some of the new CRAZY cards they got out there. Halo is still a favorite of mine when I want to blow things up, but I've kind of cut myself off in the last year due to some unforseen downside of my behavior (threats of divorce etc.). I won't allow myself to even look at everquest or WOW (world of warcraft)!

....maybe just one or two "hits" of Battlefield 2 won't hurt...

 

[brewer12345]

I haven't done any of that stuff since my daughter was born. Of course, I do get the cravings on a regular basis...

 

[wabmester]

I've got nvidia 6800's in both my lappy and desktop, and they both run everything fine (I think the 6800 is still top-of-the-line for the lappy market, at least).

I was surprised I got sucked into BF2.   But it's a great shooter with endless variety, a ton of strategy, and great physics/simulators.    The best of all worlds.

 

[justin]

Wab,

I think we had a psychic connection this morning. I was going to post this exact same topic, but thought, "Nah, too nerdy".

I like the strategy type games (Starcraft/Warcraft, Command & Conquer, Civilization 3). Not too hardware intensive. I am currently playing this game called Stronghold Crusader. Pretty sweet. Sort of like a combo of Warcraft, Civilization 3, and Sim City. The game places a big emphasis on running your kingdom's economy, but you also build little knights and archers, crossbowmen, and catapults to destroy your enemy (who has all of that, too!). It can be rather challenging at times. I've been working on Stronghold Crusader for almost 3 years now (school/work/baby/wife/other games interfered with me finishing this game).

One secret nerdy reason I want to ER is to play more computer games, since I only get in about 1 hour per week right now.

 

[HFWR]

Really dig Asteroid................

Switched from gaming to porn (what the web is REALLY good for) :

 

[wabmester]

I used to feel guilty about playing games because they were a complete waste of time.    But BF2 actually gives me a glimmer of hope that games are finally realizing their potential to become virtual laboratories.   I am motivated to spend time flight training before I join an online server to frag somebody.   Now, if they just added a bit more realism, I might not only learn how to fly, but also repair and design new aircraft, for example.

Edit: for those who haven't tried the new generation of games, I'll try to give you a sense. When Doom first came out (10+ years ago), it was arguably the first 3D game that had you physically craning your neck trying to peek around corners. In BF2, I am swinging madly in my swivel chair, getting a little nauseous (no airsickness yet), getting pumped full of adrenaline during battle, and forming ad-hoc alliances as part of the strategy. I also get to be either an american (black, of course), a chinese, or arab warrier -- including simulated VOIP chatter in the appropriate language.

 

[yelnad]

I play SIMS II on my mac now, but my heart still lies in my old text based RPG (role playing game) Ancient Anguish. It's still around, but I had to cut myself off. I would telnet up, and spend HOURS, almost days, playing.

 

[Cal]

My PC is for internet surfing, Civ3 and Sims2.

(And sometimes useful things like bill paying and tracking expenses.......)

 

[Nords]

I enjoy blackjack software-- practicing basic strategy & testing betting sequences. Oddly enough I enjoy it more than I like sitting in a Vegas casino winning a pile of real money.

Other than Windows Solitaire, gaming never caught on with me. It probably never will, considering the PlayStation thrashing our kid gives her grandfather with little or no effort.

Maybe it's too many years of submarine drills (plus the occasional "real thing").

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I like the FPS's too. Wife bought me an ATI 9800 pro and copies of HL2 and Doom3 last year for a present.

A few days ago she said the old rear projection tv set we have in the bedroom was getting a little "tired" and i've been instructed to go to costco and buy a new widescreen dlp high definition set and "dont get a cheap one, get a good one".

Yes, she does have a sister, but she's sort of whacky and has three kids.

 

[wabmester]

I've got nvidia 6800's in both my lappy and desktop, and they both run everything fine (I think the 6800 is still top-of-the-line for the lappy market, at least).

Well, my top-of-the-line status didn't last very long. It used to take about a year for graphics cards to migrate from the desktop to the laptop, but nvidia is now shipping the 7800 in a bunch of lappies -- about 3 months after their desktop launch.

So far, the 6800 is fast enough that I have no immediate urge to upgrade, but the 7800 is up to twice as fast, so I'm sure some app with fill that bandwidth vacuum pretty quickly.

 

[Gone4Good]

hmmm. would you say helicopters of the black variety that someone like the plunge protection team might be seen in?

Very funny!!!

 

[laurence]

Well, my top-of-the-line status didn't last very long. It used to take about a year for graphics cards to migrate from the desktop to the laptop, but nvidia is now shipping the 7800 in a bunch of lappies -- about 3 months after their desktop launch.

So far, the 6800 is fast enough that I have no immediate urge to upgrade, but the 7800 is up to twice as fast, so I'm sure some app with fill that bandwidth vacuum pretty quickly.

I'm actually the benefiiciary of someone who has to have the latest technology. New Athlon chip? I got his "old" P4 with a gig of Ram and the Asus Motherboard for $20. I guess I'm just not up enough on games to make buying the latest stuff worth it -two year old games work on two year old hardware just fine.

....yet the shiny, candy like boxes in the game aisle of Fry's call to me....

 

[riskadverse]

I'm addicted to Millipede - with a portrait monitor and trackball, mame emulation makes it undistinguishable from the arcade.

 

[treypar]

Wabmester
I am looking for a new high end notebook. Can you give me some suggestions?

 

[wabmester]

I am looking for a new high end notebook. Can you give me some suggestions?

If you want to play 3D games, one with a Pentium-M + nVidia 7800 will be the fastest, coolest-running, and have the best battery life. The most demanding games (like BF2) require 2GB RAM.

So, that narrows down your choices to either the Dell XPS M170 or the Sager NP 5720 (and other rebranded Clevos). Either one should be fine. I think Dell is the only one shipping right now, but the Sager has better specs in terms of sound, flash card support, full-size keyboard, and a modular drive bay that supports a 2nd HD.

I have a Dell XPS 2, which is the same as the new M170 but has an nVidia 6800 instead of 7800. It's a rock-solid machine, and I've been pretty happy with it, but Dell could have done some relatively simple things to make it *perfect*. The new Sager sounds a little closer to perfect, but it's hard to judge by paper specs.

And, of course, if you don't want top-of-the-line or don't need to play the most demanding 3D games, that opens up the field quite a bit.

 

[treypar]

I do not do a lot of high end games but want a great notebook. What would be the next level down. Thanks.

 

[wabmester]

I do not do a lot of high end games but want a great notebook. What would be the next level down. Thanks.

Well, the next step down really opens up the field quite a bit.   Even if you look at a single vendor, like Dell, you'll find several that might suit you:

1) The Dell Inspiron 9300, high-resolution 17-inch display + good graphics (nvidia 6800) + magnesium-alloy lid and base + great sound + lots of ports, etc

2) The Dell Precision M70, similar to the 9300, but with a 15.4" display (get the WSXGA+).   Normally expensive, but there are some good prices in the outlet right now.

3) The Dell Latitude D810 is similar to the M70, but the X600 graphics card isn't quite as powerful.

4) The Dell Inspiron 6000 is an entry-level machine available with a dedicated graphics card (X300) that will handle some games.

Sony, Toshiba, and Fujitsu also have models in this range, but they usually won't give you the same bang/buck as Dell.

If I were you, I'd seriously check out the M70's in Dell's outlet.   $1225 for a very nice machine with 3-year warranty.   I'd get one myself if I didn't already have laptops on every flat surface in the house.

 

[treypar]

I probably want the 17 inch so I am looking at the Dell 9300. Thanks.

 

[wabmester]

I probably want the 17 inch so I am looking at the Dell 9300. Thanks.

Excellent choice. Get the WUXGA, go6800, 1-2GB RAM, and a fast disk, and you'll be very happy with the 9300.

 

[bosco]

Wabmester
I am looking for a new high end notebook. Can you give me some suggestions?

My suggestion would be to avoid Dell like the plague.

I bought one of their high-end notebooks last November (Inspiron...it's at home, can't remember the model number).

I paid for the extended warranty (first time in my life---never have done this before) because I would be in a northern village.

Just try to reach customer service by phone. Try to deal with them by email. Every call is at least a 90-minute saga of transfers and disconnects. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. You get people from Phillipines, India, etc. etc. They will not listen. I told them that I no longer lived in Juneau. They sent the fedex man to my office that I hadn't worked at for 6 months, 1500 miles away to pick up a cd drive. They refused to talk to me until I could remember my old work number, just because I happened to use that phone when I made the original order.

And the product has problems. Despite my "24-hour" warranty, I had to wait 3 weeks and ship the damn thing off for 2 days. Now, the same problem is back (CD/DVD drive just disappears from the OS).

I will never buy another Dell. It is just too discouraging even trying to reach someone, and the 800 number in the owner's manual connects you to desktops, not laptops, and the correct number is nowhere to be found.

YMMV, but I'm pretty disgusted.

 

[MooreBonds]

I'm a Diablo 2 man...nothing like a double-swing attack with a pair of maces in each hand, mowing your way through 20 enemies...

Ah, sounds like a good idea for some stress relief. Be back later.

If anyone ever wants to play, I'm BoSnerdley (yes, it is a Rush Limbaugh reference, as some on-line gamers have noted ).