What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Hi guys, last weekend I spent £699 buying a Sony Viao laptop with Intel Core Duo 1.73 processor, 1 gig memory, 120 gig hard drive, Vista:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Notebook-1-...2404&sr=8-2

I haven't played computer games in years but would like to get back into them. I used to love Amiga and PC RPGs like Eye of the Beholder, Ultima 8. I spent many many hundreds of hours playing Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant.

Are there any isometric/3D RPGs that would run on this laptop, or is it just too under-featured?

Thanks!

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

It's an older one, but Fallout may be just what you're looking for. It's great fun and very low system load. I have a simliar lap top and can't run much, but I was able to play Fallout and Baldur's Gate 2.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Planescape: Torment

Was RPG of the year in like '99 I believe. Not your stereotypical RPG plot. Interesting main character. Neat twists.
Try it out!

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Thanks... so is my laptop really so bad that the only games I could play are 7-8 years old?

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

These guys are pulling your leg. Your laptop can run any non-action game to date. It can probably run most modern FPSs _if_ the video chipset in it is not junk.

On the other hand, the above recommendations are some fine RPGs.

The most recent game that is similar to the ones you describe is probably Neverwinter Nights 2. If you like a more first-person experience some people have really enjoyed Oblivion.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Even though Fallout, Baldur's Gate 2, and Planescape are older games don't count them out. They're all in the top 10 in terms of best single player RPG's for the PC. BG2 is personally my favorite RPG of all time. Definitely try them out.

As for some newer stuff I'd try out Neverwinter Nights (the original not 2). Skip the original campaign (snoozefest) and go right into the 2 terrific expansions: Shadows of Urentide and Hordes of the Underdark. You can pick up NWN: Diamond edition for like $20 and it comes with the game, those 2 expansions, and like 4 other adventures. Plus you'll be able to play it online since you have a legit copy. So basically for $20 you get hundreds of hours of potential gameplay. There are also hundreds of user-made adventures out there to download too that are just as good if not better than the official campaigns.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

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Thanks... so is my laptop really so bad that the only games I could play are 7-8 years old?

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Not at all. Just trying to list the best games. New and Shiny doesn't mean good.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Thanks - actually I checked and it's a slightly better, newer model I have, and in fact it has a 224 meg graphics card:

http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct....ory=VN+N+Series

I'll look forward to checking some of those games out.

Do you think this machine will be able to handle World of Warcraft?

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

runs on my worse desktop,
says it only needs 800mhz of processor

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Not exactly what you are looking for, but this is a fun, free MMORPG that a lot of us play. If you join, check out my guild, The Wicked Players, we are about 1/4 2p2ers.

Scott
"Chilon"

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Planescape: Torment

Was RPG of the year in like '99 I believe. Not your stereotypical RPG plot. Interesting main character. Neat twists.
Try it out!

[/ QUOTE ]

seconded

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Just to clarify some things:

Your graphics card is kinda crappy.

Oblivion will not run satisfactorily on your laptop. I know it's open to interpretation and people have different tolerance levels but it just won't run nicely at all.

World of Warcraft would easily run on your laptop.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Thanks, guys. Well, I will check out World of Warcraft then! Is there a free/small version you can play before you have to subscribe?

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Oh yes, I played Warcraft 2 to death, years back, but haven't played WoW. They're very different?

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Oh yes, I played Warcraft 2 to death, years back, but haven't played WoW. They're very different?

[/ QUOTE ]

WoW is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game where you have one character that starts at level 1 and you take him/her to level 70 by killing monsters, doing quests, going through dungeons w/ parties, etc. Warcraft 1-3 are real time strategy games where you build buildings to make armies and fight other armies.

WoW is a great game but it requires a hefty time commitment if you really want to enjoy the entire game. If you know anyone that has the game they have like 5 free trials they can give to their friends. I think the trials are for like 10 days. Do that if you can.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

In Fry's Electronics, I think it was, I also saw a small package the size of a playing card or so which gave you a free trial. It was for a month I think, and 5 bucks or under.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Luckyjimm, check your PMs. I can get you a WoW trial.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Okay I now have WoW installed. The pretty sweet-looking intro ran fine on my laptop. I tried creating a new account using the code Quadstriker kindly supplied, but unfortunately when I come to enter my credit card details it doesn't like my UK postal code. So I've emailed support and will see why that is, then hopefully get playing!

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Planescape: Torment

Was RPG of the year in like '99 I believe. Not your stereotypical RPG plot. Interesting main character. Neat twists.
Try it out!

[/ QUOTE ]

seconded

[/ QUOTE ]

Thirded. The Nameless One Rocks! Excellent Game. Well worth the time spent playing it.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Okay I now have WoW installed.

[/ QUOTE ]

....

Ooo.. would you consider writing some sort of diary/blog about your experience with this game? It'd be a great read to see how this game does what it does to people - and how your perspective changes. I'd definitely read it.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Okay I now have WoW installed.

[/ QUOTE ]

....

Ooo.. would you consider writing some sort of diary/blog about your experience with this game? It'd be a great read to see how this game does what it does to people - and how your perspective changes. I'd definitely read it.

[/ QUOTE ]


Happy to - especially if (as I hope) I manage to use WoW to wean myself off my disastrous poker addiction!

But first of all I need a European WoW player to send me the code for a free trial - could any of you help?

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Hahah, using WoW to wean off an addiction??? Say goodbye to sunlight for a year or two.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Couple great isometric/top-down games that people haven't mentioned are Icewind Dale (combat-heavy Baldur's Gate spinoff) and Divine Divinity (bastard child of Diablo and Ultima VII).
Morrowind (the prequel to Oblivion) and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines are both fun and will run well on your computer in case you want to try first-person RPGs.

I'll third the Planescape / Baldur's Gate / Fallout suggestions, although Fallout is showing its age by now.

Oblivion will run, but so poorly that it's not worth it.

Stay away from Neverwinter Nights as it wasn't designed for fun single-player.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

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although Fallout is showing its age by now.

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How dare you.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Not trying to turn this in to a technical advice formum, but I just bought a new laptop as well. I'm finding that there are few recently released RPGs that will work on my setup. Got this system: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavili...roductDetail.do

This issue seems to be the processor speed, Oblivion, NWN 2, Gothic 3 etc all seem to have a minimum speed of 2.0 GHz.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

Haha...LuckyJimm...

I've got first hand experience with WOW...and believe me, there are only 2 ways this can effect your life, and both are bad.

1) You dont like the game and quit - best possible scenario.
2) You really like the game and hide in your cave playing it for ridiculous amounts of time.

I suppose if you're just looking to replace a losing/gambling addiction with another - this could do it. It is very easy to blow 12+ hours a day on this game, as you NEVER run out of things to do.

But if you're looking to actually improve your life, playing WOW is pretty much the worst solution.

Proceed with caution.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

>This issue seems to be the processor speed, Oblivion, NWN 2, Gothic 3 etc all seem to have a minimum speed of 2.0 GHz

The issue is not the processor speed (although that certainly doesn't help) -- it's the video card. You need a separate 3D video card for those games: the integrated video processor on your motherboard won't cut it.

RPGs that would probably work on that system include:
- Neverwinter Nights 1 (not 2);
- Wizardry 8;
- Baldur's Gate 2
- Icewind Dale
- Planescape Torment
- Fallout 1 or 2.
- or if you're interested in an action/RPG, either Diablo 1 or 2 are your best bet.

Re: What RPGs will work on my new but cheapish VAIO laptop?
 

europe wow trial is at http://teaser.wow-europe.com/