Total Noob to Online Gaming - question

[Edge1]

I'm basically a dinosaur who has only played single player games for many, many years. I know virtually nothing about online gaming. I've got a fellow dinosaur friend who has a game-worthy PC now and I was wondering - is it possible to play alongside him specifically online (I think it is) in a particular game, or are you basically thrown in with a bunch of strangers every time you play online? Do I need his IP address, username, or some other such thing? Any fun game would do, preferably a shooter. Is CSS or whatever its called something that would work here?

I know this is total noob stuff, but hey you guys know games and I appreciate any help.

 

[Jeeebus]

I'd say that the majority of online games offer you the ability to play in the same game as friend. It's kind of a vague question, but some games may have their own server/friend lists, while others you can use something like XFire to see what game/server your friends are in. COD :MW2 has a mode where you can play cooperatively with a friend online (against computer AI targets), whereas most shooters will pit one team of players vs another. You generally can choose which "side" you're on such that you and a friend can be on the same team, but if there are too many players on one side, game may not let you.

As to choice of games, there really are way too many out there to sort through.

 

[ViviTheMage]

If you're going to play an FPS together, just join the same server. If you guys just want to do 1v1, you can create some sort of private server, and have him connect to your server...or find an empty server, to play together.

What games, specifically?

 

[Edge1]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your patience. I've been intentionally ignorant on the subject unfortunately. Its great to hear that I can pull it off with most games in one way or another. COD - MW2 is perhaps a little too recent (read: pricey) to buy 2 copies of. But definitely something like that - war themed shooters are always good.

 

[jlee]

Return to Castle Wolfenstein- Enemy Territory is free.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Some games are primarily match-making based (Left 4 Dead, COD : MW2 from what I've heard), and will generally throw you in the mix with other random players. However, in at least L4D and L4D2's case, they also give you the option of inviting friends to a game, or creating a friends-only lobby which will let you set up the game how you want it and privately.

Other games (like Counter-Strike: Source (CSS) and Team Fortress 2 (TF2)) have a dedicated server browser which will let you both choose a specific server and join. You'll likely play against other strangers on the server, but you can both join the same or opposing teams and have fun.

The one thing you need to expect is criticism. People in multiplayer first-person shooters (or just about any multiplayer game, actually) tend to be overly critical of other peoples' skill level. You'll be called a noob, told you suck, tricked into exiting out of the game (pressing F10 in CS:S does this), etc. It'll be frustrating, but it's just a gauntlet to get through. Ignore it, and have fun.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Return to Castle Wolfenstein- Enemy Territory is free.

Enemy Territory is insanely fun. Stupidly unrealistic and sometimes boring, but it takes decent coordination and teamwork, and servers with custom rules (low gravity) can provides hours of rocket-launching, grenade ticking goodness. You also can't beat the price.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

IMO left for dead and its sequel are great co-op games. you play in a group of 4 survivors, would be fine to play with your friend and 2 bots.

 

[Edge1]

Awesome guys - just what I need. Sounds like we'll cut our teeth on ET, but for real graphical goodness move up to L4D before long. Love these suggestions. I think we'll have a good ol' time.

Another noobish question - do we want to have microphones? Do you generally talk to the other players or no? I've got headphones with a built in mic - doubt he does though.

We may also enjoy a hockey or soccer game.

 

[Edge1]

Some games are primarily match-making based (Left 4 Dead, COD : MW2 from what I've heard), and will generally throw you in the mix with other random players. However, in at least L4D and L4D2's case, they also give you the option of inviting friends to a game, or creating a friends-only lobby which will let you set up the game how you want it and privately.

Other games (like Counter-Strike: Source (CSS) and Team Fortress 2 (TF2)) have a dedicated server browser which will let you both choose a specific server and join. You'll likely play against other strangers on the server, but you can both join the same or opposing teams and have fun.

The one thing you need to expect is criticism. People in multiplayer first-person shooters (or just about any multiplayer game, actually) tend to be overly critical of other peoples' skill level. You'll be called a noob, told you suck, tricked into exiting out of the game (pressing F10 in CS:S does this), etc. It'll be frustrating, but it's just a gauntlet to get through. Ignore it, and have fun.

This is great advice, I appreciate it.

 

[tviceman]

Awesome guys - just what I need. Sounds like we'll cut our teeth on ET, but for real graphical goodness move up to L4D before long. Love these suggestions. I think we'll have a good ol' time.

Another noobish question - do we want to have microphones? Do you generally talk to the other players or no? I've got headphones with a built in mic - doubt he does though.

We may also enjoy a hockey or soccer game.

A mic is great for a game such as l4d. In the middle of a finale or crescendo battle typing out a message isn't very safe as it will interrupt your play. Adequate headsets can be had for around $30 off amazon or newegg.

 

[soccerballtux]

A mic is great for a game such as l4d. In the middle of a finale or crescendo battle typing out a message isn't very safe as it will interrupt your play. Adequate headsets can be had for around $30 off amazon or newegg.

Or Logitech ones for $15 at walmart.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Valve games have a nice handy feature where you can right click a Steam friend's name and click "Join game" and you'll atomically jump into the server they're playing in. I use that with my bro to play TF2.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Valve games have a nice handy feature where you can right click a Steam friend's name and click "Join game" and you'll atomically jump into the server they're playing in. I use that with my bro to play TF2.

steam platform will really simplify your multiplayer experience. additionally, lots of us ATers have it and if you are looking for more players we are only mostly strangers, not complete

 

[Edge1]

I was actually looking at TF2 in BestBuy over lunch. Maybe dual Orange Box purchases are in order. Or at least one for me anyway. Again I appreciate the feedback. This should be fun.

 

[guy93]

Some games are primarily match-making based (Left 4 Dead, COD : MW2 from what I've heard), and will generally throw you in the mix with other random players. However, in at least L4D and L4D2's case, they also give you the option of inviting friends to a game, or creating a friends-only lobby which will let you set up the game how you want it and privately.

Other games (like Counter-Strike: Source (CSS) and Team Fortress 2 (TF2)) have a dedicated server browser which will let you both choose a specific server and join. You'll likely play against other strangers on the server, but you can both join the same or opposing teams and have fun.

The one thing you need to expect is criticism. People in multiplayer first-person shooters (or just about any multiplayer game, actually) tend to be overly critical of other peoples' skill level. You'll be called a noob, told you suck, tricked into exiting out of the game (pressing F10 in CS:S does this), etc. It'll be frustrating, but it's just a gauntlet to get through. Ignore it, and have fun.

Lmao.. I tell bad people to pres F10 because they suck..and I actually got a few people to do it. Or I tell them to type in unbindall in console(ROFL), all their keys get unbinded. Hahahaha

 

[zerocool84]

I was actually looking at TF2 in BestBuy over lunch. Maybe dual Orange Box purchases are in order. Or at least one for me anyway. Again I appreciate the feedback. This should be fun.

TF2 really is one of the best multiplayer games out there. There is going to be a learning curve because there are different classes and different ways to play with them all but once you learn, it's very fun. Tons of player made content and updates are released for it regularly.

 

[mindcycle]

What are your computer specs? You may run into problems with some of the newer games if your machine is more than a few years old.

I'd honestly suggest looking into picking up two copies of UT2004 (Unreal Tournament 2004). It's a fun game that is still actively played and will run well even on older machines. You should be able to find a few copies for dirt cheap.

 

[pontifex]

Lmao.. I tell bad people to pres F10 because they suck..and I actually got a few people to do it. Or I tell them to type in unbindall in console(ROFL), all their keys get unbinded. Hahahaha

hopefully you grow out of that before you graduate middle school.

 

[guy93]

hopefully you grow out of that before you graduate middle school.

Forgot to mention that was a while back.. about a year or so into playing the game, that was when I was 14, 17 now, I rarely ever pub, just scrim or play in a league match when it is time. Usually keep to myself. But it used to be fun, won't lie.

 

[Sureshot324]

If you want to play with your friend I recommend using either Steam or Xfire. If you leave one of these programs running in your sys tray at all times, you'll be notified whenever your friend joins an online game. Then you can just jump into the game. That way to don't have to call or msg him every time you want to play together.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Another recommendation for Steam (TF2/LFD) here. It's a really easy platform to get started on if you're playing with a friend due to the integrated voice chat and ability to jump to your friend's game/server through the software.

 

[Edge1]

Thanks a lot guys - Steam really seems like the way to go. Mature product, generally great service (from what I understand), and the deals I've seen you guys talk about (weekend/holiday sales I think) are really tempting. As I said, I've intentionally avoided online gaming although I know people have great fun with it.

Someone asked about specs, and I'm good to go. I'm a noob to online, but not gaming in general . Q9400/8800GTS 512 here. My buddy though is somewhat limited with a Radeon 4670/E6300@2.8Ghz. I set him up HTPC style and he's loving it. I think that card will still play many current games acceptably on 1280 x 1024 or thereabouts. He's not a graphics snob at all. Put it this way, he's enjoying the SP Return to Castle Wolfenstein I gave him. I know the Source engine is pretty easy on folks and I also had a chance to try Portal on a friend's machine and I loved it. Orange Box seems like a good start.

Thanks, you guys have been great.