You need to be a computer technician to get half the games even running on PC

While the original post can be stretching it a bit, it does have a point. PC Gaming isn't a very straightforward thing, and you do need a bit of techical knowhow to get things to work at times. I've been PC gaming since just before MSDOS was finally killed (eg Fatal Racing, Quake I, Wolfenstein 3D, Terminal Velocity, Wing Commander I-IV, etc), and the problems ranged widely back then (especially the Windows 9x days), and unfortunately, they never completely went away even under Windows 7 (in fact I've had to tinker with Steam just now because it hanged when I tried to run it so I can play Half-Life: Source).

Just to give a really weirdexample (my current gaming PC runs on an Intel Core I3 540 w/ 16GB DDR3 RAM and a GeForce GTX 550 Ti w/ 2GB VRAM, running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit), why the hell is it that Quake 3: Arenaand Quake 4 cannot install in a Windows 7 64-bit environment (i.e. run the installer and you get the 64-bit compatibility error message; but they can run if you COPY an existing installation of themto a Windows 7 64-bit system - did that on my system while I was migrating from Windows XP), but Quake 2 and Unreal (i.e. the first Unreal and Unreal Tournament games) can (i.e. install and run right in Windows 7 64-bit)? I mean, shouldn't the newer games be better suited for Windows 7 than the older ones? (I even got Wing Commander IV (an MSDOS game!), with a special Win9x executable bundled with Wing Commander: The Kilrathi Saga, to run just fine under Windows 7.)

Sailor_Enlil

Wait, youa re using 20 year old games as your benchmark for how difficult it is to get games to play on a PC?

This is what I'm talking about when console gamers just whine about PC stuff 'cause they want to whine and justify their crappy, outdated consoles purchases.

Seriously, wing commander is nearly 20 years old. And yet, you still managed to get it to work! That's like getting your xbox 360 to play an old NES game (which by the way your Pc can do too!). Good luck with that.

Bottom line is: PC gaming can be extremly easy:

Click a button to dlownlaod from Steam and then play.

The only reason it scares stupid people away, is because it offer options. TONS of options, and people are terrified of options. They prefer mediocrity for some reason.

Im a computer technician and I did not know about it. :P

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

While the original post can be stretching it a bit, it does have a point. PC Gaming isn't a very straightforward thing, and you do need a bit of techical knowhow to get things to work at times. I've been PC gaming since just before MSDOS was finally killed (eg Fatal Racing, Quake I, Wolfenstein 3D, Terminal Velocity, Wing Commander I-IV, etc), and the problems ranged widely back then (especially the Windows 9x days), and unfortunately, they never completely went away even under Windows 7 (in fact I've had to tinker with Steam just now because it hanged when I tried to run it so I can play Half-Life: Source).

Just to give a really weirdexample (my current gaming PC runs on an Intel Core I3 540 w/ 16GB DDR3 RAM and a GeForce GTX 550 Ti w/ 2GB VRAM, running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit), why the hell is it that Quake 3: Arenaand Quake 4 cannot install in a Windows 7 64-bit environment (i.e. run the installer and you get the 64-bit compatibility error message; but they can run if you COPY an existing installation of themto a Windows 7 64-bit system - did that on my system while I was migrating from Windows XP), but Quake 2 and Unreal (i.e. the first Unreal and Unreal Tournament games) can (i.e. install and run right in Windows 7 64-bit)? I mean, shouldn't the newer games be better suited for Windows 7 than the older ones? (I even got Wing Commander IV (an MSDOS game!), with a special Win9x executable bundled with Wing Commander: The Kilrathi Saga, to run just fine under Windows 7.)

Kinthalis

Wait, youa re using 20 year old games as your benchmark for how difficult it is to get games to play on a PC?

This is what I'm talking about when console gamers just whine about PC stuff 'cause they want to whine and justify their crappy, outdated consoles purchases.

Seriously, wing commander is nearly 20 years old. And yet, you still managed to get it to work! That's like getting your xbox 360 to play an old NES game (which by the way your Pc can do too!). Good luck with that.

Bottom line is: PC gaming can be extremly easy:

Click a button to dlownlaod from Steam and then play.

The only reason it scares stupid people away, is because it offer options. TONS of options, and people are terrified of options. They prefer mediocrity for some reason.

WC4 did run, but took quite a bit of trickery to do so (eg you need a file from Wing Commander: Kilrathi Saga first).

Also, explain this (demo of Need for Speed: Shift - exits to Windows upon game start):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFCekBJXsjM

And I once tried a game that had very minimal system requirements but failed to run on most PC's. That game? Slam Tilt Pinball (bought it as a gift for my dad who loves pinball games). For some odd reason, it would only run on Compaq desktop PCs, and nothing else.

And as I stated, Steam gives me a few headaches once in a while (like when it hanged a few hours ago upon startup, as in the "This program has stopped responding" error came out). And don't get me started on that "The Memory cannot be read" error that plagued Half-Life 2 during the first few months after its release (it wasn't resolved until a few Steam updates later, but before which Valve's support kept insisting it was the hardware's fault (yeah right, and Doom3, which was released at the same time, had no such problems)).

No problems myside. I also learned its best to never buy games right at release be it consoles or Pc. This has been the generation of buyer game testers. Get game, have to enjoy all the lols to a developer drops in some patch work. Its really sad that consoles now have to experience this full force in this iteration of consoles. It use to be one of its saving graces with the only problem being disc read errors or catridge mallfunctions. Now they having all kinds of lols with the only way out being a developers attatemp to fix it in patches. jedikevin2

No problems myside. I also learned its best to never buy games right at release be it consoles or Pc. This has been the generation of buyer game testers. Get game, have to enjoy all the lols to a developer drops in some patch work. Its really sad that consoles now have to experience this full force in this iteration of consoles. It use to be one of its saving graces with the only problem being disc read errors or catridge mallfunctions. Now they having all kinds of lols with the only way out being a developers attatemp to fix it in patches. jedikevin2

The Wii is the only true console left where you really just insert the disc and play.

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]No problems myside. I also learned its best to never buy games right at release be it consoles or Pc. This has been the generation of buyer game testers. Get game, have to enjoy all the lols to a developer drops in some patch work. Its really sad that consoles now have to experience this full force in this iteration of consoles. It use to be one of its saving graces with the only problem being disc read errors or catridge mallfunctions. Now they having all kinds of lols with the only way out being a developers attatemp to fix it in patches. Sailor_Enlil

Then you are as lucky as I am with my Pc as Ps3 had all kinda of hard lock freezes, horrible online connection problems etc on its release of GT 5. There have been a fair amount of patches to that game. Infact, if you go look up the update list of patches its been, fix bugs and glitches and problems after release, add some more content, fix bugs and problems on the new content, add more content, fix problems from new content etc etc.

As was pointed out, the wii has been the closest to the early days of pop in and play without hassles.

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

[QUOTE="mitu123"] Do you know what specific drivers and fixes you need to get a game running properly?

Kinthalis

Wait so you are running CUTTING edge technology. A multi-monitor setup and a multi-GPU setup.

This is LIGHTYEARS ahead of consoles.

It's essentially new tech, even though the main systems have been there for a while, new architecture means new tech.

And you already know that new, cutting edge tech is going to have issues. This is ALWAYS true. Hell, looka t the xbox 30 upon release with it's 40% failure rate.

You know with an SLI system you will be waiing for an SLi profile. You know with a multi-monitor system, you need to check if the devs took eyefinity/whatever Nvidia's tech is into account.

So your experience is not avergae PC gamer's experience. And typically people like you and me know that cutting edge means a bit fo a hassle every so often.

It boggles my mind how someone willing to dump money ona multi-monitor, multi GPU Pc gmaing setup cna hate on the platform so much.

Totally masochistic attitude :)

Read the post again. Explain the problems of Quake 3 and 4 on Windows 7 64-bit (i.e. why they refuse to install, and the only way to get themintoWin7 64-bitis by copying exisiting installs from other systems).

Sailor_Enlil

I don't have Quake 3 anymore. I do have Doom 3 which installs and works fine in 64-bit Win 7. Quake 4 has the same engine as Doom 3. I installed it which went okay and it works fine on my side:

Also, SLI has existed in its modern form since 2004, or earlier, if you look at AFR implementations like ATI's MAXX. Multiple monitors date back to at least 2007, or again earlier if you count Matrox's Parhelia. If you think that's cutting edge, wait until you hear this new mind-blowing rumor that Apple's going to make a cell phone.lowe0

True. SLI now and SLI with 3dfx Voodoo 2 (1998) are pretty similar. Multimonitor also dates back to at least the late 90's.

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

kozzy1234

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

Sailor_Enlil

wow ur just cursed :P

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

NoodleFighter

wow ur just cursed :P

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

lowe0

wow ur just cursed :P

I don't know it never happened to me :P

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

wow ur just cursed :P

NoodleFighter

I don't know it never happened to me :P

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

lowe0

wow ur just cursed :P

I don't know what the solution is, as I don't ahve access to system, but I can tell you what the problem is:

USER ERROR.

Or atleast that is the issue 99% of the time. It could alseo be some sort of hardware issue, but it's not like consoles don't have those.

BTW in the last 4 years of using steam I've never had it crash on me. not once.

[QUOTE="cainetao11"][QUOTE="slvrraven9"] no but apparently your tech skills are. admittedly it does take some skill and knowlege to run some games on the pc. you should ALWAYS find out the requirements before hand. Kinthalis

That's ok man.

It takes courage to admit your shortcomings, and people settle all the time.

People settle for the ugly girl, because the pretty one attarcts too much attention. They settle for the beater car, because they can't afford the beamer.

No shame in that.

Just don't go saying your sub-par choice is somehow, magically, just as good as the obivoulsy superior version.

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

wow ur just cursed :P

Kinthalis

I don't know what the solution is, as I don't ahve access to system, but I can tell you what the problem is:

USER ERROR.

Or atleast that is the issue 99% of the time. It could alseo be some sort of hardware issue, but it's not like consoles don't have those.

BTW in the last 4 years of using steam I've never had it crash on me. not once.

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

Sailor_Enlil

LOL Task Manager, kill process, restart Steam, how hard was that?

[QUOTE="Kinthalis"]

[QUOTE="lowe0"] Not good enough. What's the actual solution to his problem?

lowe0

I don't know what the solution is, as I don't ahve access to system, but I can tell you what the problem is:

USER ERROR.

Or atleast that is the issue 99% of the time. It could alseo be some sort of hardware issue, but it's not like consoles don't have those.

BTW in the last 4 years of using steam I've never had it crash on me. not once.

It's not my fault this guy is too stupid to use a PC.

I'm saying it's farily easy to use. I'm not saying it's easy to use for every moron out there.

I'm asusming a certain level of intelligence and savvy. Maybe I'm asusming too much? :P

The only perk you need to be a computer technician and run all your games is to know how to use google.

[QUOTE="Kinthalis"]

[QUOTE="lowe0"] Depends on the game in question. Generally I'm stuck waiting for SLI profiles (or drivers with SLI performance fixes). Most recently, I also had to wait for DICE to unbreak prompts and tags on multi-monitor setups, and I'm still waiting for Bethesda to unbreak Skyrim's menus on multi-monitor setups. Which game did you have in mind?

lowe0

Wait so you are running CUTTING edge technology. A multi-monitor setup and a multi-GPU setup.

This is LIGHTYEARS ahead of consoles.

It's essentially new tech, even though the main systems have been there for a while, new architecture means new tech.

And you already know that new, cutting edge tech is going to have issues. This is ALWAYS true. Hell, looka t the xbox 30 upon release with it's 40% failure rate.

You know with an SLI system you will be waiing for an SLi profile. You know with a multi-monitor system, you need to check if the devs took eyefinity/whatever Nvidia's tech is into account.

So your experience is not avergae PC gamer's experience. And typically people like you and me know that cutting edge means a bit fo a hassle every so often.

It boggles my mind how someone willing to dump money ona multi-monitor, multi GPU Pc gmaing setup cna hate on the platform so much.

Totally masochistic attitude :)

Maybe cutting edge is not the right word but his point is that it's pretty hardcore stuff only a marginal percentage of people engage into. It is therefore not as widely supported so some issues are to be expected.

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

[QUOTE="kozzy1234"]

Press start game on steam... so hard :lol:

nunovlopes

LOL Task Manager, kill process, restart Steam, how hard was that?

The one time I was able to resolve it involved deleting a certain file in the Steam folder, then restarting Steam so that it doesan update(in other words, something gets corrupted in the Steamsoftware, causing that message to appear. I wonder why).

[QUOTE="lowe0"][QUOTE="Kinthalis"]

I don't know what the solution is, as I don't ahve access to system, but I can tell you what the problem is:

USER ERROR.

Or atleast that is the issue 99% of the time. It could alseo be some sort of hardware issue, but it's not like consoles don't have those.

BTW in the last 4 years of using steam I've never had it crash on me. not once.

Kinthalis

It's not my fault this guy is too stupid to use a PC.

I'm saying it's farily easy to use. I'm not saying it's easy to use for every moron out there.

I'm asusming a certain level of intelligence and savvy. Maybe I'm asusming too much? :P

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

wow ur just cursed :P

Kinthalis

I don't know what the solution is, as I don't ahve access to system, but I can tell you what the problem is:

USER ERROR.

Or atleast that is the issue 99% of the time. It could alseo be some sort of hardware issue, but it's not like consoles don't have those.

BTW in the last 4 years of using steam I've never had it crash on me. not once.

Okay then wise guy. Explain EXACTLY what user action leads to that error message in Steam (as in every single step).

[QUOTE="lowe0"][QUOTE="Kinthalis"]

Wait so you are running CUTTING edge technology. A multi-monitor setup and a multi-GPU setup.

This is LIGHTYEARS ahead of consoles.

It's essentially new tech, even though the main systems have been there for a while, new architecture means new tech.

And you already know that new, cutting edge tech is going to have issues. This is ALWAYS true. Hell, looka t the xbox 30 upon release with it's 40% failure rate.

You know with an SLI system you will be waiing for an SLi profile. You know with a multi-monitor system, you need to check if the devs took eyefinity/whatever Nvidia's tech is into account.

So your experience is not avergae PC gamer's experience. And typically people like you and me know that cutting edge means a bit fo a hassle every so often.

It boggles my mind how someone willing to dump money ona multi-monitor, multi GPU Pc gmaing setup cna hate on the platform so much.

Totally masochistic attitude :)

nunovlopes

Maybe cutting edge is not the right word but his point is that it's pretty hardcore stuff only a marginal percentage of people engage into. It is therefore not as widely supported so some issues are to be expected.

OP must be a moron because it's usually pretty damn easy to get any game running from my experience.jer_1

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

i give the tc the biggest bs thread of the year award, lolz

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Freak2121GTAF

Well I just happened again so I tried that suggestion of yours. The result?

Your search - - did not match any documents.

[QUOTE="nunovlopes"]

[QUOTE="lowe0"] Also, SLI has existed in its modern form since 2004, or earlier, if you look at AFR implementations like ATI's MAXX. Multiple monitors date back to at least 2007, or again earlier if you count Matrox's Parhelia. If you think that's cutting edge, wait until you hear this new mind-blowing rumor that Apple's going to make a cell phone.lowe0

Maybe cutting edge is not the right word but his point is that it's pretty hardcore stuff only a marginal percentage of people engage into. It is therefore not as widely supported so some issues are to be expected.

Well, obviously the most sound business decision is to devote the most resources to your bigger customer base. That doesn't mean you should ignore a part of your customer base but since resources are limited developers have to focus somewhere. I guess that's why multi-GPU multi-monitor gaming sometimes doesn't work so well.

[QUOTE="Freak2121GTAF"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

Well I just happened again so I tried that suggestion of yours. The result?

Your search - - did not match any documents.

You seem to have stumbled on a pretty strange error. That's not what your typical Steam experience looks like.

[QUOTE="Freak2121GTAF"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

Well I just happened again so I tried that suggestion of yours. The result?

Your search - - did not match any documents.

Do you really thinks everyone out there has Steam crash on them every time they try to open it?

Do you think that perhaps it's an issue with your hardware or your own configuration that doesn't seem to apply to 99% of Steam users out there?

This is like someone getting a broken disc when purchasing a console gaming, and declaring that "Console gaming sucks! It's sooooo full of problems!"

It's beyond stupid.

[QUOTE="jer_1"]OP must be a moron because it's usually pretty damn easy to get any game running from my experience.kraken2109

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

[QUOTE="Freak2121GTAF"] When you get an error like that, it's best to click on "View problem details" copy the first few lines and put it into google. That usually leads me to a solution.

Kinthalis

Well I just happened again so I tried that suggestion of yours. The result?

Your search - - did not match any documents.

Do you really thinks everyone out there has Steam crash on them every time they try to open it?

Do you think that perhaps it's an issue with your hardware or your own configuration that doesn't seem to apply to 99% of Steam users out there?

This is like someone getting a broken disc when purchasing a console gaming, and declaring that "Console gaming sucks! It's sooooo full of problems!"

It's beyond stupid.

I'm just reiterating the fact that PC gaming isn't as straightforward or simple as these elitists claim it to be (as in a one-button solution, which is what Console gaming is pretty much closer to; and as stated, I have never had any kind ofproblems on my PS3 since the day I bought it 3 years ago). If a problem occurs, it can be complicated. For instance see what measures Valveput out for users to go through during that time Half-Life 2 was riddled with the "The Memory cannot be 'read'" error (circa 2004/2005):

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?p_faqid=278

And that problem was ultimately resolved by a Steam update a few months later (and note that Doom3, which wasreleased around the same time, did not have such problems).

While I dont agree you have to be a computer technician, I will say that you need to put in time and effort to game on pc. Which to me makes the whole experience seem not worth it at times. You know the saying, work for what you want and you'll appreciate it more?...That does not go for my gaming needs. I want to put in game and play without EVER having to worry if my platform will play the game.

VanDammFan

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

While I dont agree you have to be a computer technician, I will say that you need to put in time and effort to game on pc. Which to me makes the whole experience seem not worth it at times. You know the saying, work for what you want and you'll appreciate it more?...That does not go for my gaming needs. I want to put in game and play without EVER having to worry if my platform will play the game.

DragonfireXZ95

[QUOTE="nunovlopes"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

LOL Task Manager, kill process, restart Steam, how hard was that?

The one time I was able to resolve it involved deleting a certain file in the Steam folder, then restarting Steam so that it doesan update(in other words, something gets corrupted in the Steamsoftware, causing that message to appear. I wonder why).

How do you have so many problems with Steam?

Why don't you try deleting everything in your Steam folder except for Steam.exe and Steamapps folder?

No you don't. Thats a stupid argument. Are we done here yet?

Yeah, I dont even game a lot on the PC and I spend more time then I want trying to get specific games to work. Thats why PC gaming is such a turnoff. Most people want to just put the game in and play.

to TC: play PC games in 720p on med-high settings ( perferably on a 32in hdtv) if your computer isn't the greatest gaming machine on earth like many here on SW.

to TC: play PC games in 720p on med-high settings ( perferably on a 32in hdtv) if your computer isn't the greatest gaming machine on earth like many here on SW.

UNcartMe

[QUOTE="Freak2121GTAF"]

[QUOTE="Sailor_Enlil"]

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

Well I just happened again so I tried that suggestion of yours. The result?

Your search - - did not match any documents.

And even then the games are riddled with bugs and crash all the time

Seriously, you could pay full price for a game like I did with Arkum City, meet the requirements, and still not have the game work on your rig because of some compatibility issue.

PC gaming is abysmal.

abonsabo

>like I did with Arkum City

>with Arkum City

>Arkum City

>Arkum

>kum

And if this appears? (which it did in my case a few times today)

Sailor_Enlil

Wait until you forget your password on steam and try to reset it. LOL :lol: I hate steam.Made an account ahead of time for skyrim.Can't even reset my password. Click to send email and type in code. I did. New password box appears. Type in new password then boom "error resetting your password" or some **** like that then it loops you back to the start of send to email then new code then type new password then error then repeat broken process. Had to create a new steam account to play skyrim. thank god I never bought anything on steam until I got skyrim.