new pc gamer. what exclusives new-old should i get for a nice welcome

well i got an HP notebook for my birthday that has 2gbs ram and a 2ghz+ duo core processor with a geforce 7400 256mb video card

i have been using a pc that freezes from the sims and i never expected this gift or was even thinking about pc games. i've heard of half life2 being better on a pc then the console which i didnt have that version of, i loved far-cry, riddick, and elder scrolls on the xbox and i am looking forward to seeing spore when it comes. and which UT or UC game is it thats supposed to be really good online. i dont know where to start!!

and about vista online with XBL cross platform online gamming. is the PC like a free XBL?

and am i future proof with those specs

you video card is pretty weak....dont expect it to player newer games all that well....minimum settings at best.

but yearh.....Half Life 2, Farcry (PC version is completly different, BF2, are all good.

On RTS try C&C First decade or Age of mythology Gold

On FPS go with the CoD recommendations along with UT 04

On TBS go with Civ 4

On RPG try to find the baldur's gate 2 collection, I'm sure a purist will find me and start yelling but starting out with Baldur's Gate 2 then going with the expansion is still enjoyable.

Action RPG, play Diablo 2

i will likely get something in the half life series. so it's UT-04, i knew one of them were really good and elder scrolls morrowind. i can start off with them.

how is the online community on far-cry anyway. is it big and made with a good connection, i played far-cry online and i was very good but that was my friends with a regular xbox and i wasnt buying a full priced re-make to play the same game because of backwards compatability issues

you video card is pretty weak....dont expect it to player newer games all that well....minimum settings at best.

but yearh.....Half Life 2, Farcry (PC version is completly different, BF2, are all good.

cobrax25

I have a GeForce 5200 FX and I can run any Source engine game on medium. With his card Half-Life 2 and other Source games will run fine.

Anyways if your interested in online games get Counter-Strike:Source, maybe Day of Defeat:Source (only if you like WW2). If you buy Half-Life 2 you should get CS:S with it. You also can get some good mods if you have HL2, like Insurgency Mod.