# Online gaming recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 4, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265 "2008-02-04T20:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/1 "2008-02-04T20:30:16Z")
I just got a new computer with a nice big monitor (for once) and I’m interested in checking out some online gaming options besides poker, which is about the only thing graphics-wise my old laptop could handle. Any suggestions/recommendations/condemnations? Gaming wise I like first-person shooter games the best, especially the WW II titles available for PS2. I also play a lot of college football and FIFA soccer. I got the Sims as a gift a couple years ago but didn’t really get into it. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/2 "2008-02-04T20:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Survey1215] I just got a new computer with a nice big monitor (for once) and I’m interested in checking out some online gaming options besides poker, which is about the only thing graphics-wise my old laptop could handle. Any suggestions/recommendations/condemnations? Gaming wise I like first-person shooter games the best, especially the WW II titles available for PS2. I also play a lot of college football and FIFA soccer. I got the Sims as a gift a couple years ago but didn’t really get into it. [/QUOTE] FIFA 08 I belive has an online multi-player matching lobby. Shooters, well there’s lot. PC’s is where shooters rule the roost. The call of duty and the medal of honor games are an option, as are the Battlefield games. There are also less ‘realistic’ ones like unreal tournament and Team fortress which are a lot of fun. There’s of course the new high end ones like Crysis. Gears of war for Pc is great stuff too. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/3 "2008-02-04T20:53:12Z")
Steam makes a game call Red October with is a WWII game of German vs Russia battles. Those are pretty fun especially the 50 player servers. You can also get Team Fortress 2 from them and lots of other games as well. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/4 "2008-02-04T22:28:12Z")
Counterstrike 1.6 is the only popular FPS you have a chance of running by the sounds of it. ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/5 "2008-02-05T16:14:35Z")
[QUOTE=Palooka] Counterstrike 1.6 is the only popular FPS you have a chance of running by the sounds of it. [/QUOTE] Why’s that? My new machine (dual-core processor, 3 gb memory, 500 gb harddrive) should be able to handle most current online games, shouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/6 "2008-02-05T17:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=Survey1215] Why’s that? My new machine (dual-core processor, 3 gb memory, 500 gb harddrive) should be able to handle most current online games, shouldn’t it? [/QUOTE] CPU and GPU (graphics card) is what matters most in terms of games. What kind of GPU do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/7 "2008-02-05T17:44:23Z")
For WWII FPS online gaming, the most viable choices are; - Red Orchestra (Russian vs. German front, a HL2 mod IIRC) - Medal of Honor: Airborne (Not a large online community) - Call of Duty 1&2 (not a large online community, but probably the definite WWII online experience) - Battlefield 1942 (A rather small and hardcore online community, but a rather old game) Of course, if you want good FPSes without the WW2 caveat; - Unreal Tournament 3 (Loony but insane fun) - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Fairly new, shiny game with good/great online play) - Counterstrike: Source (Large online community, fairly balanced - AWPs notwithstanding) ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/8 "2008-02-06T00:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=Survey1215] Why’s that? My new machine (dual-core processor, 3 gb memory, 500 gb harddrive) should be able to handle most current online games, shouldn’t it? [/QUOTE] I totally spaced out reading your OP and thought you simply got a new monitor for your laptop. Your new machine should be fine. Call of Duty 4 is great. ---
**Author:** ![mambocrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mambocrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mambocrow)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/9 "2008-02-06T01:02:50Z")
Here’s one you won’t often hear about. World War II Online (wwiiol). It’s been out since 2001. It’s somewhat glitchy, but the game area is huge, and it combines ground, air, and naval units (all spawnable). The navy part’s very weak, but most of the map is over land. They’re offering a 14 day free trial. [http://www.wwiionline.com/scripts/wwiionline/index.jsp](http://www.wwiionline.com/scripts/wwiionline/index.jsp) ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/10 "2008-02-06T16:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=Kinthalis] CPU and GPU (graphics card) is what matters most in terms of games. What kind of GPU do you have? [/QUOTE] My graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU Sadly I have no idea if that is good or bad or average. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/11 "2008-02-06T17:37:05Z")
[QUOTE=Survey1215] My graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU Sadly I have no idea if that is good or bad or average. [/QUOTE] Sounds like it’s a GPU attached to the motherboard. At a guess, I’d say it’s probably about average, given that current GeForce cards are 7 and 8 series. You should be able to run most current games, but probably not at very high graphical quality. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/12 "2008-02-06T18:22:09Z")
[QUOTE=Survey1215] My graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU Sadly I have no idea if that is good or bad or average. [/QUOTE] Integrated graphics solutions are no good for gaming. You can expect to run modern games at very low resolutions at very low graphics settings, and older games a bit better ☹ I know it sucks, but if you do want to try out some of the newer games a good video card is not going to cost an arm and a leg: [http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/04/best\_cards\_february\_2008/](http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/04/best_cards_february_2008/) The 8600 GTS for $120 seems to be the sweetspot for a mid-range solution. ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/13 "2008-02-07T22:06:24Z")
[QUOTE=Kinthalis] Integrated graphics solutions are no good for gaming. You can expect to run modern games at very low resolutions at very low graphics settings, and older games a bit better ☹ I know it sucks, but if you do want to try out some of the newer games a good video card is not going to cost an arm and a leg: [http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/04/best\_cards\_february\_2008/](http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/04/best_cards_february_2008/) The 8600 GTS for $120 seems to be the sweetspot for a mid-range solution. [/QUOTE] So if I get Call of Duty IV I should expect it to look like crap? Bummer. I’m going to check out some of the online options this evening. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/14 "2008-02-07T22:29:39Z")
I keep hearing about an online Stargate game. Anybody know anything about this? ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/15 "2008-02-07T23:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=Oslo Ostragoth] I keep hearing about an online Stargate game. Anybody know anything about this? [/QUOTE] It’s still in production but [here’s their web site](http://www.stargateworlds.com/). I haven’t heard too much about it other than it is an MMORPG based on the Stargate series. It will probably be 2009 before it comes out though. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-gaming-recommendations/436265/16 "2008-02-08T23:11:53Z")
[QUOTE=tanstaafl] It’s still in production but [here’s their web site](http://www.stargateworlds.com/). I haven’t heard too much about it other than it is an MMORPG based on the Stargate series. It will probably be 2009 before it comes out though. [/QUOTE] I’ll have to pay attention tonight. I thought they mentioned something available now.