Hellooo out there

[AussieG]

I am a 42-year-old Australian living in Ireland for my sins (actually its because I married an Irish lass). I have been playing computer games since space invaders looked like a coffee table and cost you 20 cents a game. I am a writer by trade although until recently had been working in the heady world of PR consultancy. I have a PS2 and an antiquated computer that allowed me to play ultima online in the past (almost bringing about a divorce). Due to the high specs of many of today's games I have resorted to playing Shogun total war, starcraft, Diablo II, etc - mainly strategy on the ol' PC leaving the PS2 for the shoot 'em ups. I have two little girls - 7 and 4 - who severely limit Dad's downtime and therefore game play.

The reason for contacting the TOG was that I read an article in the SMH (it's my home page on my work computer, prevents homesickness) and thought, what a great idea. Nothing used to drive me 'madder' when playing UO than getting continually destroyed by a bunch of barely pubescent PKers. It put me off the game despite the later move to two different types of servers for PvE and PvP.

I am seriously looking at getting back to online gameplay and particularly like the looks of WOW. However, I have yet to convince my wife of the necessity for a new PC (Ireland isn't the cheapest place on the planet - far from it) even though she understands that the hamster that powers our current machine is definitely ready to push up the daisies.

I am seeking advice on WOW, and the type of specs for a PC that will allow me to enjoy the game while not blowing the budget (sounds like one of those personal ads!). It seems that the whole online gaming/PC/tech world has moved on a heck of a lot in the five years I have been in Ireland where due to lack of broadband and computing power and the ever increasing commute to work has limited my game play, so any advice would be appreciated. (I am also not very technically literate by today's standards.)

Sorry for the long post and I hope to hear from someone soon.

[AussieG]

Just read a few of the other applicants and thought I should add that I have read all the guff that was required reading

cheers

PS
I am also happy to abide by your rules and guidelines (needed to add this after reading another post)

Hopefully I've now covered everything

[EVO]

Hi mate i am new too welcome along

[AussieG]

thanks EVO, once I get all high-teched-up I'll have to try your game - BF2. I take it that you need broadband to really enjoy it? I'm not even sure where I am in rural Ireland they have broadband access. I think its more likely two tins with some string stretched between 'em

[Elender]

Welcome M8

About your wife, try to involve her in your addiction (for me it hasn't worked, but some other TOG'er ended up in fights to see who may play on the only house's pc, hehe).

For the wow specs, I play on 2,4 ghz P4 and Geforce 6600, and with one Gig of ram it runs nice at 1280*1024. , so this game will not leave you dire straits.

Hope to see you on wow soon

[insomnia]

Welcome to TOG

Welcome to TOG mate.

[viking]

Welcome to TOG mate

[Raven]

Welcome to the mad-house, AussieG

Now that ur application has been passed to those busy lil admins, u will just have to wait till they do their rounds and place u in a straitjacket.... then u will be able to join the rest of the inmates in the Lounge for a chat

[AussieG]

Thanks for the welcome all, still waiting to be togerised. My father told me I got a good caning from the ugly stick when I was born so being hit with the tog stick hold no fears.

Elender, there is no chance of the missus coming on board. She has her own addiction to poorly made and acted UK soaps and she also has the hand-eye co-ordination of a house plant. She's just not interested. I don't mind so much as leaves more time for me to play. Also a bit of a breakthrough, got her to agree to get a new PC at the end of the month. Dell had a great offer but unfortunately it has just expired but I am sure there will be a new one before the end of the month.