Three games that totally changed your gaming world, and why!

1. Deus Ex

Best atmospheric experience and set a new standard for storytelling, which is now the number one quality I seek in a game. First time I was exposed to conspiracy theory.

2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Awesome environments and lovable characters and a set the bar even higher for storytelling. Got me into the Star Wars universe.

3. Mass Effect

As we know, set out an amazing trilogy in 5 years and created a continuous universe I grew to love. Gamers aren't happy with some of the design decisions of ME3 but regardless, one of my favorite series' in gaming.

Here's another new PC build post, sorry in advance. This is what I have selected coming out to 1150 bucks:

ASUS Z77 Mobo
i5 3570k CPU
Galaxy GTX 670 OC
8GB Gskill Ripjaws RAM (4GBx2)
650Watt Enermax 80Plus Bronze
Intel 330 Series 240GB SSD
WD Black 1TB HDD
NZXT Phantom 410 Case

Already have Windows 7, a good monitor, and a disk drive. Selling my old build to mitigate the cost. It's a net $800 for this new build.

Is this a go?

My only concern might be the PSU. Customers seem to be happy with it and I don't plan to do SLI or Crossfire, so I think it's just fine.

Do you see PC hardware reaching a plateau in terms of usefulness? Strictly keeping the discussion within gaming.

I feel like the latest hardware is more than sufficient for the most demanding games right now. I feel like near-future hardware innovations (particularly GPUs) are going to be much more powerful than necessary. I don't see games making that "next-gen" push soon.

I think games might be reaching its plateau in terms of graphic capabilities and they're not evolving (graphically) as they use to. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that graphics can only look great to a certain level.

Of course gamplay>graphics but I'm just questioning the future of gaming-based pc hardware and how useful it'll be to gamers who don't use multiple monitors or 3D capabilities.

Newegg has a 500GB Western Digital Raptor 10k HDD on sale for 80 bucks. I was also looking at a 120GB Western Digital SDD for about $110 (Or a 120GB Intel SSD for $130).

I don't use much hard drive space, 500GB is fine for me. I'd pair the SSD with a 7200RPM HDD, which would near an SSD investment to a bit less than $200.

Which would be a better buy? I heard SSDs change lives

This is what I've planned so far:

Intel i5 3570k CPU ($220)
ASUS P8Z77-V Mobo ($110)
Galaxy GTX 670 OC ($350) - Borderlands 2 and ACIII packaged with it!
NZXT Phantom 410 Case ($100)
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4GBx4) RAM ($70)

I'm not too familiar with good SSDs, but I will get one around 120GB. I already have a 500GB storage drive.

get a 7950 and 3570k. your graphics card is pathetic.

jakes456

lol okay

I'm on a Phenom II x3 720 with an unlocked core. So, I actually have a Phenom II x4 at 3.2GHz. My mobo is stuck with AM3, so is there a necessary step up in CPU for my rig?

I was thinking of upgrading to an i5 2500k but I'm not sure if its worth it. I was also thinking about going to a GTX 670 or AMD 7950 GPU, but now I'm getting greedy. Would I see good yields with these upgrades?

I think games that will "last" are the ones that have cult followings. Something like Deus Ex: Human Revolution or STALKER. So many good mainstream games are overshadowed by the anticipation and release of a sequel/successor. I feel like its the formula of today's gaming, maybe I'm wrong. Once a game has been thoroughly played, people look to the next installment before the game fulfills its potential. That's probably a huge generalization, though.

I sure hope the Mass Effect Trilogy has a lasting effect on the gaming world because I loved every minute of all three games. Although I believe mining in ME2 was the labor of love haha! Skyrim's mod community is just insane, and I don't think an ESV is coming anytime soon so Skyrim will be heard about for a loooong time.

As far as FPS goes, I hope BF3 doesn't run itself into the ground. I certainly prefer the style of play it encourages with game modes, map design and game mechanics. However, I anticipate that as long as CoDs are pumped out, EA will feel the need to 1up Activision through the BF series.

Is that a useless combination since their effects are opposite of each other? Foregrip, helping hip fire accuracy but lowering long range accuracy and heavy barrel doing the exact opposite?

Given my current specs, I'm guessing that SWTOR is CPU heavy. I'm getting fps dips to 30-40 in big areas and I doubt it's my 560ti, so is my cpu holding me back a bit?