Okay guys and gals.....

After the top-of-the-line graphics cards are choosen, the PSU cables are tucked and tied neatly, that login chime rings for the first time, you have to make some crucial descisions about the games you wish to install.

Make a list of the titles you would recommend a new PC gamer to acquire for thier fresh rig. List them by genre if you wish, but make the list hover in the sub-$200 region. Reasons why would be nice as well :)

A PC is not an investment.

thinicer

grrrr cynics....

ummmmmm....yea, we established that through a flame war. nice try though

[QUOTE="defkt"]new rules.... if you're a cynic with no life and the closest thing to a girlfriend you have is a bottle of jergens and your palm, please omit your attempts at critizing word choice, grammar, etc.... to feel "alpha" in your own special way;) People in my situation need answers to influence our purchases, not you acting out anger about your social life (or lack therof).sadikovic

From a gaming perspective its choice and opinion!

From an investement point of view its logic that makes a PC a better investement

So this thread/question FAILS tremendlessly.

Bold enough to admit to this.... " if you're a cynic with no life and the closest thing to a girlfriend you have is a bottle of jergens and your palm...." Great, now everyone knows you play pocket pool professionally. good job!

I haven't treated myself in a while. This holiday season, I'm thinking about finally getting into PC gaming. I want the best investment possible. btw, the bolding is so I see the lines clearly.

I want to know:

1. What makes an investment in a $1000+ PCbetter than buying a $400 plug&play xbox 360?
2. **MAJOR** Why has it been worth it to make the extra investments over the years?
3. How long do top of the line graphics cards take to look dated and how much of an advantage( if any) does that pose over consoles?
4. From your previous experiences, how much do you usually spend on upgrades, etc.... and how long after your original purchase is it required to maintain great visual/processor quality?How much look can you recoop(I'm going to an icy hell for spelling and grammar, I know) from selling parts, and what advantage(monetary/performance) does that give over buying into the new console cycle?
5. Price/Game still worth it after hardware costs?
6. Any other tidbits of info that will steer me into finalizing an Antec900/8800GTS-320/Core2 /2gbRAM order on newegg....

it isn't a better investment, I've got a friend who has spent over $35,000 in the last 6 months up-grading his PC, and yet it still can't run Doom 1 at a consistent frame rate.XenoNinja

I hope to god that's sarcasm