The PC tag pertains questions about PC-specific problems with a game, and the tuning of a PC configuration to best accomodate gaming. Applies to all of Linux, Windows and OS X.
42
votes
9answers
4k views
Hand exercises after a gaming session?
I hope this is not off-topic, but this is important for me, and I assume to many other gamers as well.
Unlike most other computer applications, many PC games make liberal use of the mouse for most ...
28
votes
5answers
92k views
I've misplaced a perk, can I get it back?
While leveling in Skyrim I put a perk in a tree, but now I feel like it is wasted, since I've found blowing things up with spells is much more fun than stabbing things with a giant sword.
Is there ...
23
votes
2answers
14k views
Is there a way to bind items to the number keys in Skyrim?
I'm less than impressed with the favorites menu for quick swapping spells in the middle of a fight. Is there anyway I can bind them to the number pad on the keyboard?
23
votes
3answers
21k views
Can I play Steam games without running Steam in the background?
Is there a way I can play without having Steam running in the background?
19
votes
3answers
50k views
How can I extend the view distances further?
OK, I'm lucky enough to have the game run smoothly enough for my tastes on the Ultra settings - so with all the game-provided settings set to maximum.
Most of the time it looks brilliant. However, ...
18
votes
3answers
4k views
What happens if I activate a product key on Steam for a game I already own?
I have a Steam product key for Just Cause 2 I got for free with the purchase of my video card. However, I already have a copy of this game attached to my Steam account. What will happen if I try to ...
18
votes
2answers
369 views
What important differences are there between the various online game distributors?
Last weekend, I decided I was going to buy a couple of games, which I haven't done in a while. I seem to remember a time when your choices consisted of either Steam, or... Steam. Now there seems to ...
17
votes
1answer
36k views
How to increase mouse sensitivity in Skyrim?
How can i increase mouse sensitivity in Skyrim?
on the main menu the mouse cursor is sluggish
in-game mouse sensitivity is too low
Things i've tried:
increasing Look Sensitivity in-game:
In ...
17
votes
2answers
1k views
Where did this guy's face go?
I'm having a bit of trouble in certain areas with NPC's faces disappearing in Skyrim on PC. It's very odd because their skin and eyes are no where to be found but their facial hair stays intact. It's ...
16
votes
1answer
54k views
How do I turn off mouse acceleration in Skyrim?
Mouse acceleration seems to be on by default, and I can't find anywhere in the launcher settings or the in game settings to turn it off.
It's very annoying as it makes it feel as if the mouse is ...
16
votes
2answers
9k views
Under what circumstances can I unlock the negative levels in Super Meat Boy?
While playing one of the dark world stages in Level 1 of Super Meat Boy, I reached the end of the stage after dying several times. However, Band-Aid Girl, instead of doing her normal crying animation, ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Input lag when in third person
I have seen this asked multiple times all over the internet but haven't found a proper answer to this yet.
Whenever I'm in third person view I experience major input lag on character movement, i.e., ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
How to improve animations and textures in Fallout 3 GOTY?
I am planning to restart Fallout 3 now that I bought the GOTY edition (I had previously bought and played the normal version without addons).
I remember that, when I played the first time, the only ...
15
votes
1answer
664 views
Can I run both Windows and Linux Dwarf Fortress from the same directory?
The reason I'm asking this is because I want to play Dwarf Fortress mainly on my main Windows computer, but I'd also like to be able to continue the same save from my Linux VPS.
I already know how to ...
15
votes
3answers
50k views
How do I favorite/hotkey a dual wield setup?
I've been playing Skyrim for a while now, and still have not figured out how to properly create a hot-key to my dual wield setup. I've tested with spells, which easily allow you to select multiple ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
What does “console port” mean in relation to games?
I read some reviews about Crysis 2 and some people complain that it's not a great PC game because it's a console port. I'm trying to figure out (without success) what console port means. Of course I ...
14
votes
3answers
16k views
How can I unlock the whole city on the PC version?
I would like to play the entire city without playing through the game, I only play for sentimental reasons (for the good old days). I would like to unlock the whole city, and there is no "cheat code" ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a way to automatically skip the intro videos in Left 4 Dead?
Every time you start Left 4 Dead, it plays a short video to introduce Valve software, then it plays the game intro video. You can skip these videos by pressing ESC twice, but is there an easier way ...
14
votes
3answers
10k views
What is a good way to manage multiple characters?
On Skyrim, it seems very difficult to manage multiple characters. Their quicksaves overwrite each other and you have to trace back the date of when you last did a "full save" to load a different ...
14
votes
2answers
58k views
How can I edit coalesced.bin so that I can use cheats and graphics tweaks?
I've seen that I can tweak my game by editing files like bioinput.ini and bioengine.ini, but I couldn't find these files anywhere. They seem to be part of another file called coalesced.bin, and I ...
14
votes
4answers
11k views
Can Skyrim's console savegames be migrated to PC?
My PS3 Skyrim is starting to have the dreaded lag problem. I've tested Skyrim on my PC and it works perfectly on medium settings with 60FPS@720p (and better graphics than the PS3). It is also ...
14
votes
3answers
5k views
Where do I download the manuals for games I buy on Steam?
I recently signed up with Steam and bought a few discounted games, but I can't find any manuals for them. I assumed they'd be installed along with the games, but I can't find any sign of them or of ...
14
votes
1answer
3k views
Can I make mods for Skyrim?
Can regular owners of the Skyrim game make mods for skyrim? Will it include mod tools, level editors, etc?
If not, are there any customizations that end users can do?
14
votes
2answers
3k views
Is it possible to prevent the mouse cursor from highlighting menu items?
This thing is driving me nuts on the PC version of Skyrim:
Open any menu such as LOAD/SAVE by hitting Escape, talk to a NPC, or just check your inventory.
Use the WASD keys to navigate because it's ...
13
votes
4answers
13k views
Can Portal 2 co-op be played between PC and PS3 Steam linked accounts?
The PS3 version of Portal 2 comes with a code to link it to a Steam account. Apparently this allows you to play on both the PC and PS3 with one purchase.
Can this be used to play co-op between the ...
13
votes
4answers
18k views
How can I sync vertical/horizontal mouse sensitivities?
Is there a way to tweak Skyrim so that vertical cursor sensitivity = horizontal cursor sensitivity?
13
votes
5answers
14k views
Deus Ex: Human Revolution mouse lag?
I've just installed DX:HR via Steam, and I've noticed there's really bad mouse/keyboard lag in the game. Framerate seems fine for the most part, but when I move the mouse, there's about a quarter or ...
13
votes
3answers
39k views
Which women have “romance” options in The Witcher 2?
I'm remembering that in the first game there were quite a few women that Geralt could pursue. So far I've only found Triss as a romantic prospect in the second game. Are there any others?
13
votes
3answers
7k views
How do I use Wii remote and other controllers for PC games?
Is there a device or adapter (similar to the one asked about here for the Xbox 360) to allow me to use my Wii remote and classic controller to control PC games?
13
votes
1answer
61k views
How can I view FPS in Skyrim?
I want to be able to see the FPS I'm running at, as it feels a bit low.
I've tried tdt in the console to no avail.
13
votes
2answers
735 views
Updated Skyrim, and Now I Can't Attack With Left Hand
I just installed an update to Skyrim, but now I want to get rid of it because I can no longer attack with my left hand at all. Because of this, I can't hit with bows, magic, or anything left-handed. ...
12
votes
7answers
4k views
Is there a PC controller that behaves exactly like an Xbox 360/PC Windows Controller?
I have an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows and I know that it's very good and one of the most or even the only, sometimes, PC controller supported by recent games.
A friend of mine would like ...
12
votes
2answers
327 views
Does collecting coins in Plants vs. Zombies play a song or just random notes?
Playing in my Zen garden I sometimes collect 20-30 coins, and they tend to make very melodic tunes. Do the coins play the notes of a particular song or is a random note played each time? I've tried ...
12
votes
3answers
15k views
How to force Maximized Fullscreen mode in any game?
I have seen several games that have a video display mode that is windowed with no borders, at the same resolution as the desktop. It's sometimes called "Borderless Windowed" mode, or "Maximized ...
12
votes
2answers
3k views
What has happened to EAX and other hardware sound enhancements? [closed]
Since Windows Vista has dropped support DirectX support for hardware accelerated sound, new games using EAX have become virtually nonexistent. So what are games using today? Have game developers ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
What are the cryptic Steam Super Meat Boy achievements and what do the names mean?
It seems like the following cryptic achievements are only available on the Steam version, not XBLA.
N#7*<1!23
&*>?1$
(=+66&1$
^**5%_=+12
*|-0&&
N&8^2^%$1``
The "description" ...
12
votes
1answer
289 views
What are the conditions and effects of grabbing a suppressed enemy?
Inspired by this question: What happens if you use Skarner's ultimate and then Flash? we can ask what does happen when an ally grabs a pulled-by-skarner enemy?
Does it cancel Skarner's ultimate ...
12
votes
1answer
10k views
Do mods or console use disable achievements for Fallout:New Vegas?
I've heard mixed information on this and I'd like to get a straight answer, for two reasons:
The widely reported Quicksave/Autosave bug is annoying and, quite frankly, has terrified me into ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Multiseat gaming?
Multiseat (see here (SU) and here (unix.SE)) allows multiple users to use one PC with multiple mice/keyboards/monitors as if it were several PCs. It would be great to run some less-hardware-hungry ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Skyrim crashes to desktop in populated areas
I've been playing Skyrim for a few months without issue -- character is level 38.
Suddenly, today, I'm getting very frequent crashes to desktop -- usually when I'm in major cities. Often just after ...
11
votes
4answers
8k views
Does Mass Effect 3 require Origin?
I am not particularly trusting of EA's Origin platform, with some going so far as to call it spyware. I don't care at this point about multiplayer in Mass Effect 3. I know that, more than likely, I ...
11
votes
3answers
32k views
How can I install a Steam game I bought at retail from the disc?
I bought Modern Warfare 3 at retail, and after putting disc 1 in it installs Steam then asks for the CD key. After that it then starts downloading the game via Steam.
I have the disc but it refuses ...
11
votes
1answer
12k views
Is there a quick-save shortcut?
Is there a quick-save and/or quick-load shortcut in Deus Ex: Human Revolution?
11
votes
3answers
10k views
Is it at all possible to install Portal 2 purely from retail DVD?
Does anyone know if it is at all possible to install Portal 2 purely from retail DVD? I purchased my copy just yesterday and after going to about 4% the installer has now begun hogging my bandwidth by ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Any way to fix issue where the mouse will select the wrong dialogue choice?
My biggest pet peeve with Skyrim is that its mouseover detection in menus is shoddy so that sometimes I'll click on one dialogue option but the game will actually select a different one.
Anybody know ...
11
votes
5answers
15k views
How can I increase Skyrim's Volume?
Compared to every other program on my PC, Skyrim is nearly deathly quiet by comparison. I looked into the in-game sound menu, but it's already cranked to max!
Is there anything I can do to avoid ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there an easier way to repair/upgrade/sell overlapping defenses?
Specifically playing as a monk, I tend to overlap my auras for the maximum benefit (e.g. snaring + lightning).
However, when I want to upgrade an aura, if one overlaps the other in almost perfect ...
11
votes
2answers
9k views
What are the differences between Normal edition and the GotY (Game of the Year) edition?
All that I can find is the Zomvatar (zombie avatar) maker. Do you know other differences? Please share.
10
votes
6answers
515 views
Is there a program that tracks the running times of computer games? [closed]
I think I spend way too much time on computer games and would like to know exactly how much time I spend on them, in hopes that this will help me refrain myself from playing...
Is there a program ...
10
votes
9answers
8k views
Both Fallout 3: Game of the Year and Fallout: New Vegas crash when I try to create a new game
I have a problem with Fallout 3 GOTY and with Fallout : New Vegas, both Steam version. Fallout 3 GOTY crashes as soon as I try to create a New game, while Fallout : New Vegas crashes immediately after ...
