The real "Gamer" aesthetic

[Arya]

Something I've noticed, is that nearly all pre-assembled "Gaming PCs" have a particular look to them. Ridiculous angles, flashing lights, glow strips, and they're almost always black, grey/white and red/green/blue. It's the "gamer look"

Funny thing is, I'm the dictionary definition of a gamer - but my PCs have always looked like office machines. They're all black(bar one) and fairly plain looking, big black bricks with a bunch of fans. I pick my cases for pure practicality - I'm more interested in how the system actually works than what it looks like. And most other gamers I've met seem to feel a similar way.

So, what's the true Gamer look? From my experience, it's the "I don't give a dusty ♥♥♥♥ about what my PC looks like" look, have your say below.

I mean, my first serious gaming build used a cannibalised Dell office PC case with one of the door hacksawed off for added cooling. Looked like crap, people laughed when they saw it. But it had an 8800GT, a very decent CPU and could handle Crysis on High at decent FPS. I loved it, and I've still got it... somewhere.

[CursedPanther]

You can always place the case side way. With the correct side facing up you don't need to give up the side intake and window.

[Seven7]

the upper edge of the screen should be slightly above eye level
nostalgia for real oldschool desktops is likely due to the fact that you are using a TV, laptop or latest "fashionable"monitor in tv form-factor, without adjustable stand, and means that you have evolved a cervical osteochondrosis, you need to visit vertebrologist neurosurgeon

[shiel]

Seven7님이 먼저 게시:

the upper edge of the screen should be slightly above eye level
nostalgia for real oldschool desktops is likely due to the fact that you are using a TV, laptop or latest "fashionable"monitor in tv form-factor, without adjustable stand, and means that you have evolved a cervical osteochondrosis, you need to visit vertebrologist neurosurgeon

I think there is a lot of nostalgia for old school gaming in general(not just desktops). When I go back and play older games I'm always shocked by the dexterity required to excel. Games that I used to play at the highest difficulty, I can barely get through at easy/medium nowadays. We are spoiled by the hand holding of todays games and even so called "hardcore" shooters and rts' are poor imitations.

[Seven7]

Well, it's natural, modern players are more casual
before in our country we did not have licensed games and all played in the cracked, which is why there was immortal (as think developers) bosses, but we still won the game because we were younger, more insistent, and most importantly, did not known that the game is impossible to win

[just.kamk /idle]

CatPerson님이 먼저 게시:

I (kind of) miss the ol' horizontal cases. Made sense to put the monitor on top of those. Well, at least to me. I like the monitor up higher.

They still exist.
I.e.: http://silverstonetek.com/product_case.php?tno=3&area=en

shiel님이 먼저 게시:

... When I go back and play older games I'm always shocked by the dexterity required to excel. ...

I'm more surprised by so many f'ed up game mechanics, gameplay, and complete lack of depth.
Difficulty came more from bad design and high apm requirements, than actual learning curve and good design.
Games weren't necessarily better, they certainly were simpler.

[CatPerson]

Seven7님이 먼저 게시:

the upper edge of the screen should be slightly above eye level
nostalgia for real oldschool desktops is likely due to the fact that you are using a TV, laptop or latest "fashionable"monitor in tv form-factor, without adjustable stand, and means that you have evolved a cervical osteochondrosis, you need to visit vertebrologist neurosurgeon

My neck health is fine. My 27" IPS monitor has an adjustable stand but recently I just use a 40" TV on the desk, pushed back somewhat (I have a big desk). Mostly because I don't like wearing reading glasses while gaming. When did the GUI/quest text get so small, haha. Sigh.

As to nostalgia ... that's really all it is. Not going to run out to buy an IBM XT or something. :)

cl_luck 2님이 먼저 게시:

Games weren't necessarily better, they certainly were simpler.

Sometimes simpler is better. But I'm not overly romantic about really old games, outside of a few faves I still occasionally play (mostly strategy and city-builder stuff...). What I do dislike is the trend of trying to make games feel like movies. I don't want to play a movie.