2800$ is not what it costs to build a good computer. Don't listen to that number at all... Of course unless you are using a service like alienware, In todays prices the cost for a decent system (no monitor keyboard etc..) is 800 *I built mine from that budget a full year ago, still maxing games). 1000$ from what I have priced together can also get you a lot and can end up helping in the long run (you can use the extra $$$ to get a bigger cpu, dual pci e 16 2.0 slot Mobo, etc...)IvanElk

I wouldnt recommend alienware to my worst enemy. I spit on that entire company.

But i did say 3 years at a good clip. No upgrades needed. After 3 years, just replace the video card, yer good for another 2-3 easily. Im also a bit more eccentric in my system building as well. I triple the memory, get the top of the line CPU, a mobo that WILL be able to be upgraded in 3 years, which means usually the SOB is like $300 just by itself since its usually one of the newest. I also stick with quality hardware. Corsair mem, asus mobo's. Intel cpu's, XFX video cards, Hitachi HDD's, etc. You also have to consider the size in video games, so you get a large capacity HDD. If yer a gamer you probably like music and movies as well, need lots of space if you get them from the net. Also the case is important, but tailored to each of our styles. I love my COSMOS S case, SOB is $300 still, but for complete ease of use for upgrading anything, even though its heavy as a mofo, its got basically roll bars which make great handles to move it and carry it around. Either way, i was running crysis at 54FPS at max resolution, and max graphics, when the game came out. Reviewers werent running it anything more than 60-65fps back then with better hardware on a 7k machine. Just as an example.

Regardless, for 2800 you wont have to upgrade a damned thing for atleast 3 years, course thats with the warranty. I bought my first system from a vendor 2 years ago, i used AVADIRECT. before then, i built everything since 1992 from buying the components about every 18 months to 2 years. It was costing me a lot more doing that, or upgrading pieces over the same amount of time.

But its a figure to look at regardless.

Well the first thing you want to do is make a thread on a gaming forum. Then you're going to need to take advice from anonymous people who very likely have no idea what they're talking about.WolfattheDoor34

Then take the sarcasm from people who post in a forum that arent willing to help you, only to see their written word or their voice heard. You know, politicians.

I have plenty of free time to dedicate to it. I usually don't do anything when I'm not in school on weekdays, only the weekends. I'll be able to work on it a couple of hours a day when I'm done with school work and other stuff. I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing first though. I've obviously never written a book before so I'm now where to begin. Can anyone help me out? Give me some ideas on things to do, or just any help in general would be appreciated. Thanks.

munkey102

Just write. Its as simple as that. Write until your fingers fall off. Dont stick to a topic or genre, just write and write and write. When you cant write anymore, step back and read it all.. figure a genre out, figure a story out based on what youve written. Throw it all into some semblence of order. Then write again till you can write no more. And revise and repeat until you have a clear story. It could take you months, or even years just to get it all down. But once you start, dont stop.. even the most mundane things you write down, will have merit on the finished work. You will find your way amidst the complete and utter chaos of the things you have written, and eventually find your main character and supporting cast.

A real time strategy game based on the second punic war. Rome (Skipio Afrikanus) vs. Carthage (hannibal barca). If it was on the scale of like the Total War franchise, with some command & conquer or starcraft gameplay for battles.... im there dude. Im so there.

I own a ps3, xbox 360 (Which of course is dead, ty microsoft) and a wii, along with 2 desktops (1 old i use as a backup) (1 new that runs anything out there) and a laptop thats 4 years old.

Been there, done that. I havent even turned on any of my consoles for like 5 months. Anything thats coming out that i have wanted to play, has come out for the PC. If you want to play skill players, you play on the PC. If you want to play a game however you want, graphics, trainers, and for the most part no DLC you have to pay for, you play on the PC.

If you want to get a new system that will play pretty much anything out there at a good clip for 3 years, ive priced some systems lately at around $2800 without monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers. If you want to upgrade components, there are tons of great buys for a budget as well.

Get back into PC gaming man, now is the time if you arent getting hammered by the recession like most people, you still will have to deal with 12 yr olds though, but not even remotely on a scale you do with a console. Life isnt always perfect, but put a round through their head a few times in game, and it makes dealing with them so much easier :)