Posted January 05, 2021
And don't miss all the free games.
https://www.gog.com/games?page=1&sort=popularity&price=free&hide=dlc
Post edited January 05, 2021 by eando52
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
And don't miss all the free games.
https://www.gog.com/games?page=1&sort=popularity&price=free&hide=dlc
Ryan333
Classic Crusader
Registered: Sep 2008
From United States
Posted January 05, 2021
A fantastic resource for most games is PCGamingWiki: http://www.pcgamingwiki.com
You'll get a wealth of information about each of your games, including version differences, where to find and how to install patches and other essential improvements (FYI: GOG usually has any official patches applied by default), where the game's configuration files are stored, and how to work around common bugs and issues. On many games, you'll also find information on tweaks and modifications such as getting a controller to work with a game that doesn't normally support one or getting an older game to take better advantage of modern hardware (wide screen support, enhanced graphics quality, etc.)
Also, look at the forums here on GOG for each of your games and check the "STICKY" threads pinned to the top of each forum. They also include essential info like unofficial but highly-recommended patches and tweaks to improve the games, workarounds for known issues, links to strategy guides, etc.
You'll get a wealth of information about each of your games, including version differences, where to find and how to install patches and other essential improvements (FYI: GOG usually has any official patches applied by default), where the game's configuration files are stored, and how to work around common bugs and issues. On many games, you'll also find information on tweaks and modifications such as getting a controller to work with a game that doesn't normally support one or getting an older game to take better advantage of modern hardware (wide screen support, enhanced graphics quality, etc.)
Also, look at the forums here on GOG for each of your games and check the "STICKY" threads pinned to the top of each forum. They also include essential info like unofficial but highly-recommended patches and tweaks to improve the games, workarounds for known issues, links to strategy guides, etc.
Post edited January 05, 2021 by Ryan333
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 05, 2021
Also, those flight sims are AWESOME - and don't feel bad for jotting down keystrokes ;) There's a reason they came with button reference maps! Heck, I kept stick it notes when I played them in my "gaming prime" - nevermind when I was older. Keep in mind, especially the Star Wars series - they are very much reflex / hand eye coordination games - something that tends to fade when you're older. And they were tough back in the day - try not to get frustrated - they are AMAZING games, but if ends up being too much don't sweat it too much - they're tough on all of us ;)
Heroes of Might and Magic might be your best bet to start off with. It's an fantastic game you can play over and over - it's got a great pace and really lets you pore over your turns... or just jump in and start messing around to see how it all works.
It's a great one to sort of kindle the gamer in you. And like I said, it lends itself nicely to acclimating to PC games at your own pace.
Themken
Old user
Registered: Nov 2011
From Other
Posted January 06, 2021
I tried learning to use a controller when I was thirty-eight with no luck and went back to keyboard, mouse and a big joystick. Maybe others will have more luck. I persisted for up to hundreds of hours to learn some types of games with unwilling muscles. Patience and persistance.
gog2002x
Modding is fun!
Registered: May 2015
From United States
Posted January 06, 2021
Don't feel hesitant to use Walkthroughs or Guides if you get stuck in a game. I've wasted too many hours trying to figure something out on my own when I could have just Googled it and saved myself the frustration.
These often have good recommendations and sometimes list known bugs or game breaking quests to avoid. A lot of these were made by people who have played the game in question quite a bit, enough to inspire the creation of the said guide or walkthrough.
I will caution that you to avoid reading too deeply to avoid spoilers if you want a fresh gaming experience.
Welcome to GOG and pc gaming and Happy New Year!
.
These often have good recommendations and sometimes list known bugs or game breaking quests to avoid. A lot of these were made by people who have played the game in question quite a bit, enough to inspire the creation of the said guide or walkthrough.
I will caution that you to avoid reading too deeply to avoid spoilers if you want a fresh gaming experience.
Welcome to GOG and pc gaming and Happy New Year!
.
Post edited January 06, 2021 by gog2002x
Sachys
Woodie Guthrie's Guitar!
Registered: Dec 2011
From United Kingdom
gog2002x
Modding is fun!
Registered: May 2015
From United States
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 06, 2021
Also if you find yourself getting frustrated, try an easier difficulty level or just try another game.
In Dosbox games theres a means to do that internally, but I forget how (hopefully somebody more versed than me can elaborate / clarify that for you).
Welcome to GOG! :)
Hope I'm not rambling too much; I'm a pensioner and this is practically the first post I've ever done on a forum. I've downloaded and played legal free games such as Match 3's, basic Arcade, etc, but the games I bought from GOG are far more sophisticated and interesting. I'm not a gamer as I have no real experience. The heavily discounted (average 70% off) games I bought from GOG are the kind I hope to enjoy. I have some Star Wars X Wing games, Wing Commander games, Quake, Painkiller Black, Sea Dogs, Unreal Tournament, Heroes of Might and Magic, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Trine, Apache Longbow and others. I can't wait to get stuck in!
Is there a quick bit of advice anyone can offer to get started on these complex games, or is it a matter of patience and trial and error? One thing I may need to do is to write down what actions all the buttons do and have the paper in front of me. Also, are there any tips anyone can give me on using a "standard" game controller as I've never used one before? I've tried web searches, but can't find answers to my questions, which I hope are not too inane.
A pensioner myself, though probably with more gaming experience.
It looks as though you have just started to dip into "more complex" games than before.
Firstly, Don't be afraid to try "easy mode" if the chance is there.
Second, there is usually a manual available as an "extra" but they can also be found in the main directory of many older games. Usually a PDF file.
Third, if you are looking for "what to expect" Youtube is your friend. There are reviews, gameplay, tips etc on pretty well any game. As a pensioner you probably have the time to find and view some of these. Both for current and potential purposes.
Can't help with the controller side. I have always used Mouse / keyboard, though some joystick for flight sims in the past when I was sharper.
Let me know if you want deeper info or more on another aspect.
Trial and error/patience is definitely the game. Especially if you're going to use a controller mainly. I've been gaming for so long I can't remember the last time a controller felt foreign in my hands.
Having said that, some of the games you've listed seem to be FPS (First Person Shooter) games. I think most would agree that using a keyboard and mouse would be more intuitive for these games. Mainly because you use the mouse to move your vision around. You may need to tweak some settings to your liking to avoid motion sickness if you are prone to that, especially with some older games.
I believe for Heroes of Might and Magic you really only need a mouse.
I can't say much about the dogfighting games.
Not to overwhelm you with information, but Into the Breach is a very good game that requires very little in terms of PC power. It is also a very straight forward game, as it shows you everything that is going on and is easy to parse.
I also recommend A Short Hike as it is very relaxing.
I hope you have fun, welcome to PC gaming.
Hope I'm not rambling too much; I'm a pensioner and this is practically the first post I've ever done on a forum. I've downloaded and played legal free games such as Match 3's, basic Arcade, etc, but the games I bought from GOG are far more sophisticated and interesting. I'm not a gamer as I have no real experience. The heavily discounted (average 70% off) games I bought from GOG are the kind I hope to enjoy. I have some Star Wars X Wing games, Wing Commander games, Quake, Painkiller Black, Sea Dogs, Unreal Tournament, Heroes of Might and Magic, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Trine, Apache Longbow and others. I can't wait to get stuck in!
Is there a quick bit of advice anyone can offer to get started on these complex games, or is it a matter of patience and trial and error? One thing I may need to do is to write down what actions all the buttons do and have the paper in front of me. Also, are there any tips anyone can give me on using a "standard" game controller as I've never used one before? I've tried web searches, but can't find answers to my questions, which I hope are not too inane.
also, I'm by no means an expert but don't games you've listed go well with just mouse and keyboard?
aaand welcome!
Most older games don't have particularily good controller support in my opinion, some are even quite difficult to get working well, or downright bad with a controller. So I would also invest in a really good and comfortable mouse and keyboard set.
Someone already mentioned the manuals. Most older games, pre-2005 or so, will require you to read a manual in order understand what to do and how to play it, depending on the genre to some extent.
Post edited January 06, 2021 by eando52
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 06, 2021
Everyone plays the games differently. It's first and foremost your personal experience and how you chose to do it is completely up to you. Some go in gun-ho and try their best without much preparations, but others like a more methodical approach and study and prepare of it. Having a "cheet sheet" or notebook hady is actually a very common way to play, especially if a game is older since there wasn't as much in game help and tutorials as there are today.
For most of your games you won't actually need a game controller, as they can be, or might have only been intended to play with a mouse and keyboard. Heroes of might and magic for instance is a strategy game where you can do everything with a mouse and would be tedious to play with anything else.
Do note that as much as people today might try, getting really old games to work on new hardware is rarely as straightforward and almost never without issues. Some may not work very well or have sound issues, or the controller might not be detected at all. The latter is unfortunately almost to be expected since a lot of older games were meant to be played with a joystick or even just a keyboard. But today there are many ways to make things work, you only need patience and a desire to learn new things.
We can definitely help you if you get stuck with anything, so go ahead and ask. Again, welcome!
My recommendation with this, and any other game for that matter, is to try it out yourself first, see what you can figure out and what you can't, and then, if you feel the need to, watch someone else play it on youtube or a similar site, with the accompanying "Oh, so that's what that was!" and "Oooooh, I see now!". We all go through it at some point, especially with some games that can be as challenging/complex as a full time job, or when exploring a new genre.
And above all else, have fun!
Hope I'm not rambling too much; I'm a pensioner and this is practically the first post I've ever done on a forum. I've downloaded and played legal free games such as Match 3's, basic Arcade, etc, but the games I bought from GOG are far more sophisticated and interesting. I'm not a gamer as I have no real experience. The heavily discounted (average 70% off) games I bought from GOG are the kind I hope to enjoy. I have some Star Wars X Wing games, Wing Commander games, Quake, Painkiller Black, Sea Dogs, Unreal Tournament, Heroes of Might and Magic, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Trine, Apache Longbow and others. I can't wait to get stuck in!
Is there a quick bit of advice anyone can offer to get started on these complex games, or is it a matter of patience and trial and error? One thing I may need to do is to write down what actions all the buttons do and have the paper in front of me. Also, are there any tips anyone can give me on using a "standard" game controller as I've never used one before? I've tried web searches, but can't find answers to my questions, which I hope are not too inane.
Wing Commander games aren't too complex, mostly focusing on your ability to make decisions in the thick of things. These decisions (including failing to complete your mission) can impact how the game plays out in a branching storyline. However, it's still a matter of "putting the thing on the thing."
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, well, the game goes into how you play it. Approach it as if you're Kirk. It's supposed to be an immersive simulation, so it's going to get rough with you and be unforgiving. The others, i haven't played so much.
Both games, as far as i'm aware, will assume you've read the manual. I would like to recommend morrowind or oblivion to you. Oblivion is a bit more forgiving with "quest markers" that tell you where to go, but morrowind is quite viable if you read the manual, as it's not really that complex of a game to get into (it has alot of freedom and complexity, but really easy to get your foot in the door, unlike the others you've mentioned that i'm familiar with).
Post edited January 06, 2021 by eando52
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 06, 2021
That being said, if you feel like tinkering, there's a very descriptive (and scary) wiki about what every line in a config file is, here: https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Dosbox.conf
Ultimately it's not the end of the world even if you do somehow break something, since you could always uninstall then reinstall the affected game, which would reset everything.
Also, those flight sims are AWESOME - and don't feel bad for jotting down keystrokes ;) There's a reason they came with button reference maps! Heck, I kept stick it notes when I played them in my "gaming prime" - nevermind when I was older. Keep in mind, especially the Star Wars series - they are very much reflex / hand eye coordination games - something that tends to fade when you're older. And they were tough back in the day - try not to get frustrated - they are AMAZING games, but if ends up being too much don't sweat it too much - they're tough on all of us ;)
Heroes of Might and Magic might be your best bet to start off with. It's an fantastic game you can play over and over - it's got a great pace and really lets you pore over your turns... or just jump in and start messing around to see how it all works.
It's a great one to sort of kindle the gamer in you. And like I said, it lends itself nicely to acclimating to PC games at your own pace.
You'll get a wealth of information about each of your games, including version differences, where to find and how to install patches and other essential improvements (FYI: GOG usually has any official patches applied by default), where the game's configuration files are stored, and how to work around common bugs and issues. On many games, you'll also find information on tweaks and modifications such as getting a controller to work with a game that doesn't normally support one or getting an older game to take better advantage of modern hardware (wide screen support, enhanced graphics quality, etc.)
Also, look at the forums here on GOG for each of your games and check the "STICKY" threads pinned to the top of each forum. They also include essential info like unofficial but highly-recommended patches and tweaks to improve the games, workarounds for known issues, links to strategy guides, etc.
Post edited January 06, 2021 by eando52
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 06, 2021
These often have good recommendations and sometimes list known bugs or game breaking quests to avoid. A lot of these were made by people who have played the game in question quite a bit, enough to inspire the creation of the said guide or walkthrough.
I will caution that you to avoid reading too deeply to avoid spoilers if you want a fresh gaming experience.
Welcome to GOG and pc gaming and Happy New Year!
.
I would like to offer my thanks for the amazing and helpful responses to my original post. The advice received will save me a lot of grief. I'm unsure of forum protocol, and marked one reply as SOLVED. This may have been a mistake as I planned to click SOLVED on all the replies as they were all helpful, but can only click one reply. This may have limited the response to my original post. This is practically my first experience of using a forum.
Is there anything I can do about this?
Post edited January 06, 2021 by eando52
gog2002x
Modding is fun!
Registered: May 2015
From United States
Posted January 06, 2021
Also, all the Dosbox based games I've bought from GOG so far haven't needed any tweeks to slow down the game speed. Not to say there aren't any, I just didn't run across any personally and I probably have many of the DnD / RPG based ones.
I can pretty much say I no longer miss my HDD, except the external ones used to backup my game files.
.
eando52
New User
Registered: Dec 2020
From United Kingdom
Posted January 06, 2021
Also, all the Dosbox based games I've bought from GOG so far haven't needed any tweeks to slow down the game speed. Not to say there aren't any, I just didn't run across any personally and I probably have many of the DnD / RPG based ones.
I can pretty much say I no longer miss my HDD, except the external ones used to backup my game files.
.
Thanks for the mention of backing up game files; it didn't occur to me for games, even though I'm careful to do backups as a rule.
Post edited January 06, 2021 by eando52
Titanium
The iron-y
Registered: Nov 2008
From Slovenia
Posted January 06, 2021
I'm almost certain no one here minds that, so you shouldn't worry. In general, I think this was mostly implemented so that if someone searches for a solution for a technical issue and finds a thread where his exact issue was already discussed, this method just highlights the method the original poster found to be helpful. In short, it expedites the question/answer route.
Anyway, enjoy your games and stick around, don't be shy to post on the forum, that's what it's for.
Anyway, enjoy your games and stick around, don't be shy to post on the forum, that's what it's for.
Ryan333
Classic Crusader
Registered: Sep 2008
From United States
Posted January 07, 2021
Don't worry about it -- when multiple answers are equally good, most people just pick the first answer as the solution. Aside from visibly flagging one response as "the solution", the only other effect is giving the respondent a few extra reputation points, which are largely meaningless. (Welcome to the forum where everything's made up and the points don't matter.)