A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and
Pointless polling, at that!
Here's the question:
#
Congratulations! You just acquired your newest game. You've taken the
time to download it and install it (or swap disks if you're just that
old school), and now the game is waiting for you to run it. You've double-clicked the icon, endured the inevitable logo-screens and
introductory cinematic, and now you're at the main menu screen. What's
the first thing you do now?
_S_tart a New Game!
I wanna see what this thing is all about! Everything
else can wait.
_O_nline gaming is where it's at.
Load up the multiplayer!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
_C_ontrols are the epitome of any good gaming
experience. Let's start re-mapping keys!
_E_xtras? What goodies await? Have I unlocked
anything yet?
_F_riends make any games better. Where's the
in-game chat-client?
_M_arketplace option? What does this do?
Can I buy a new skin?
_A_chievements are important. Let's see what
goals are waiting for me ahead.
_U_ser modifications make the game. I never
settle for the base product. Now that I know
the game runs, let's quit and start
installing some mods
_P_rogramming is key. Fuck actually playing this
game. I'm just here to see if I can hack its
DRM or do some other neat tricks with the code.
_L_ike any of my games ever start-up correctly
the first time. I'm going to be spending the
next three hours dicking about with config files
just trying to get the damn thing to run!
_N_ever go with any of the offered options.
I do something else entirely. Fill in here:
__________________________________________
#
Okay, this one is easy for me. Inevitably, I take option _V_ and
tinker with the graphics settings. First thing, almost every time. The
only time I don't do that is if the game doesn't let me (maybe it
drops me immediately into the gameplay and forces me to play the
tutorial or something; then maybe controls get the nod). But given the choice, I'm futzing with the video settings. Usually setting
everything to "Ultra Epic Make-The-Fans-Scream" mode too. Framerates
be damned; I want pretty. ;-)
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random andYup. First thing I do is tweak graphics. Then I run it.
Pointless polling, at that!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
V because my PCs are old,
On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:29:27 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Yup. First thing I do is tweak graphics. Then I run it.
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and
Pointless polling, at that!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
Especially I turn on (and calibrate) HDR and activate DLSS 3 to get more
out of my card's cycles.
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and
Pointless polling, at that!
Here's the question:
#
Congratulations! You just acquired your newest game. You've taken the
time to download it and install it (or swap disks if you're just that
old school), and now the game is waiting for you to run it. You've double-clicked the icon, endured the inevitable logo-screens and
introductory cinematic, and now you're at the main menu screen. What's
the first thing you do now?
_S_tart a New Game!
I wanna see what this thing is all about! Everything
else can wait.
_O_nline gaming is where it's at.
Load up the multiplayer!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
_C_ontrols are the epitome of any good gaming
experience. Let's start re-mapping keys!
_E_xtras? What goodies await? Have I unlocked
anything yet?
_F_riends make any games better. Where's the
in-game chat-client?
_M_arketplace option? What does this do?
Can I buy a new skin?
_A_chievements are important. Let's see what
goals are waiting for me ahead.
_U_ser modifications make the game. I never
settle for the base product. Now that I know
the game runs, let's quit and start
installing some mods
_P_rogramming is key. Fuck actually playing this
game. I'm just here to see if I can hack its
DRM or do some other neat tricks with the code.
_L_ike any of my games ever start-up correctly
the first time. I'm going to be spending the
next three hours dicking about with config files
just trying to get the damn thing to run!
_N_ever go with any of the offered options.
I do something else entirely. Fill in here:
__________________________________________
#
Okay, this one is easy for me. Inevitably, I take option _V_ and
tinker with the graphics settings. First thing, almost every time. The
only time I don't do that is if the game doesn't let me (maybe it
drops me immediately into the gameplay and forces me to play the
tutorial or something; then maybe controls get the nod). But given the choice, I'm futzing with the video settings. Usually setting
everything to "Ultra Epic Make-The-Fans-Scream" mode too. Framerates
be damned; I want pretty. ;-)
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
Okay, this one is easy for me. Inevitably, I take option _V_ and
tinker with the graphics settings. First thing, almost every time. The
only time I don't do that is if the game doesn't let me (maybe it
drops me immediately into the gameplay and forces me to play the
tutorial or something; then maybe controls get the nod). But given the >choice, I'm futzing with the video settings. Usually setting
everything to "Ultra Epic Make-The-Fans-Scream" mode too. Framerates
be damned; I want pretty. ;-)
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
[Well, to be fair, usually the first thing we probably do
is slam the ESC key trying to get out of the intro logos.
But video settings seem to be what we do after we get to
the main menu ;-)]
On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:38 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
I only go into the audio settings after I have played the game for
awhile to adjust the audio balancing. I hate when I need to turn down
the audio for something like 'voices' but the game does not have an
option to do so.
On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:53:04 -0500, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
said this thing:
On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:29:27 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Yup. First thing I do is tweak graphics. Then I run it.
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and
Pointless polling, at that!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
Especially I turn on (and calibrate) HDR and activate DLSS 3 to get more
out of my card's cycles.
Huh. I always thought I was odd in this tendency; that most people
would look at the game first before diving into video-options. But so
far the consensus here seems to be that's the thing to do right after launching the game.
[Well, to be fair, usually the first thing we probably do
is slam the ESC key trying to get out of the intro logos.
But video settings seem to be what we do after we get to
the main menu ;-)]
I wonder; are we outliers? Or is this typical of PC gamers that the
FIRST thing we always do is tweak the video-settings.
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:38 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
I only go into the audio settings after I have played the game for
awhile to adjust the audio balancing. I hate when I need to turn down
the audio for something like 'voices' but the game does not have an
option to do so.
On 7/3/2026 11:21 AM, Mike S. wrote:
On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:38 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
I only go into the audio settings after I have played the game for
awhile to adjust the audio balancing. I hate when I need to turn down
the audio for something like 'voices' but the game does not have an
option to do so.
I usually go straight to audio settings (after video) to lower music, effects, and ambient noise, and up the speech. And to put on subtitles.
On Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:34:24 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
[Well, to be fair, usually the first thing we probably do
is slam the ESC key trying to get out of the intro logos.
But video settings seem to be what we do after we get to
the main menu ;-)]
This is so true. If I am going to play a game for any length of time,
I try to find a way to disable these annoying intro logos permanently.
On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:53:04 -0500, Zaghadka <zaghadka@hotmail.com>
said this thing:
On Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:29:27 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Yup. First thing I do is tweak graphics. Then I run it.
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and >>>Pointless polling, at that!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
Especially I turn on (and calibrate) HDR and activate DLSS 3 to get more >>out of my card's cycles.
Huh. I always thought I was odd in this tendency; that most people
would look at the game first before diving into video-options. But so
far the consensus here seems to be that's the thing to do right after >launching the game.
[Well, to be fair, usually the first thing we probably do
is slam the ESC key trying to get out of the intro logos.
But video settings seem to be what we do after we get to
the main menu ;-)]
I wonder; are we outliers? Or is this typical of PC gamers that the
FIRST thing we always do is tweak the video-settings.
Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> wrote:
On 7/3/2026 11:21 AM, Mike S. wrote:
On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:38 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
I only go into the audio settings after I have played the game for
awhile to adjust the audio balancing. I hate when I need to turn down
the audio for something like 'voices' but the game does not have an
option to do so.
I usually go straight to audio settings (after video) to lower music,
effects, and ambient noise, and up the speech. And to put on subtitles.
Me too. Subtitles definitely since I don't hear well. :(
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
A new month, a new opportunity for polling. Completely Random and
Pointless polling, at that!
Here's the question:
#
Congratulations! You just acquired your newest game. You've taken the
time to download it and install it (or swap disks if you're just that
old school), and now the game is waiting for you to run it. You've
double-clicked the icon, endured the inevitable logo-screens and
introductory cinematic, and now you're at the main menu screen. What's
the first thing you do now?
_S_tart a New Game!
I wanna see what this thing is all about! Everything
else can wait.
_O_nline gaming is where it's at.
Load up the multiplayer!
_V_ideo/graphics settings are where I go first
Let's start toggling options.. If I'm playing this
sucker, it's gonna look as nice and smoothly as my
machine can handle.
_C_ontrols are the epitome of any good gaming
experience. Let's start re-mapping keys!
_E_xtras? What goodies await? Have I unlocked
anything yet?
_F_riends make any games better. Where's the
in-game chat-client?
_M_arketplace option? What does this do?
Can I buy a new skin?
_A_chievements are important. Let's see what
goals are waiting for me ahead.
_U_ser modifications make the game. I never
settle for the base product. Now that I know
the game runs, let's quit and start
installing some mods
_P_rogramming is key. Fuck actually playing this
game. I'm just here to see if I can hack its
DRM or do some other neat tricks with the code.
_L_ike any of my games ever start-up correctly
the first time. I'm going to be spending the
next three hours dicking about with config files
just trying to get the damn thing to run!
_N_ever go with any of the offered options.
I do something else entirely. Fill in here:
__________________________________________
#
Okay, this one is easy for me. Inevitably, I take option _V_ and
tinker with the graphics settings. First thing, almost every time. The
only time I don't do that is if the game doesn't let me (maybe it
drops me immediately into the gameplay and forces me to play the
tutorial or something; then maybe controls get the nod). But given the
choice, I'm futzing with the video settings. Usually setting
everything to "Ultra Epic Make-The-Fans-Scream" mode too. Framerates
be damned; I want pretty. ;-)
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT):
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
On Sat, 4 Jul 2026 00:47:58 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) said
this thing:
Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> wrote:
On 7/3/2026 11:21 AM, Mike S. wrote:
On Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:38 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:
V because my PCs are old, but where is the audio setting option?
I only go into the audio settings after I have played the game for
awhile to adjust the audio balancing. I hate when I need to turn down
the audio for something like 'voices' but the game does not have an
option to do so.
I usually go straight to audio settings (after video) to lower music,
effects, and ambient noise, and up the speech. And to put on subtitles.
Me too. Subtitles definitely since I don't hear well. :(
And because the art of balancing audio has apparently been lost. Not
just in games, but in movies too.
I'm a bit more forgiving with games, though, since often
a) the developers don't know what else will be going
on around the world when a conversation starts, and
b) they can't necessarily account for what hardware people
will be running the game on. It's hard to find a
perfect balance when player one will be using a laptop
with the speakers on the bottom, another player will
be using earphones, and a third player might have
a 10.1 setup.
I've got a lot less patience with film directors who have complete
control of the production. Mike your fucking stars so we can hear
them!
candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid>
looked up from reading the entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The
Augury is good, the signs say:
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT): >>> On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
Yes, they are. It's spiders that are not.
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
I've got a lot less patience with film directors who have complete
control of the production. Mike your fucking stars so we can hear
them!
On Sat, 04 Jul 2026 13:31:23 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
I've got a lot less patience with film directors who have complete
control of the production. Mike your fucking stars so we can hear
them!
You needed to tell this to Christopher Nolan before he made Tenet.
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> writes:
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
I have a feeling video settings are usually first too? I mean, first
entry in the settings so it's kind of automatic to go there first?
Anyways, for me it's also video first, favoring VRR over FPS caps;
quality is second place.
Then audio, maybe "other" or "gameplay" or whatever for subtitles, then controls. Although I don't usually fiddle with controls early, only if something seems to need improvement after some play.
And then, if there are annoying startup videos, I'll see if I can find
out how to disable those. I wish devs would just show them once and stop
or have a standard on how to disable. If there's a mod to disable the
startup videos then that's the first mod to install.
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT):
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT): >>> On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
bugs?
On 7/14/2026 7:20 PM, Ant wrote:
candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote: >>> Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT): >>>> On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
bugs?
What kind of anti-virus software do you use on an ant malware?
Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> wrote at 17:08 this Sunday (GMT):
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> writes:
What's the first thing you do when you start a new game?
I have a feeling video settings are usually first too? I mean, first
entry in the settings so it's kind of automatic to go there first?
Anyways, for me it's also video first, favoring VRR over FPS caps;
quality is second place.
Then audio, maybe "other" or "gameplay" or whatever for subtitles, then
controls. Although I don't usually fiddle with controls early, only if
something seems to need improvement after some play.
And then, if there are annoying startup videos, I'll see if I can find
out how to disable those. I wish devs would just show them once and stop
or have a standard on how to disable. If there's a mod to disable the
startup videos then that's the first mod to install.
I personally like startup videos/animations, but it is nice if they
offer a way to skip it by clicking or pressing ESC. I know Balatro and >Stardew Valley do that...
Turn off the music
rms
(then again, this joke may not work at all ;-)
On Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:51:02 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:
On 7/14/2026 7:20 PM, Ant wrote:
candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote: >>> Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT):
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
bugs?
What kind of anti-virus software do you use on an ant malware?
Perhaps some sort of Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks?
.
.
.
.
.
.
(this joke may not work in countries which use a different brand of insecticide)
.
.
.
.
.
.
(then again, this joke may not work at all ;-)
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:51:02 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:
On 7/14/2026 7:20 PM, Ant wrote:
candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote: >> >>> Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote at 00:25 this Friday (GMT):
On 7/2/2026 2:22 PM, Ant wrote:
V because my PCs are old,
What the insect said.
wait are ants insects or
bugs?
What kind of anti-virus software do you use on an ant malware?
Perhaps some sort of Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks?
.
.
.
.
.
.
(this joke may not work in countries which use a different brand of
insecticide)
.
.
.
.
.
.
(then again, this joke may not work at all ;-)
I like those RAID. ;-)
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