I've recently gotten into PC gaming on my decently strong laptop(or so I think). Since PC gaming is fairly make-shift, I've got some questions.

How does Multiplayer/co-op work? I have MW2 and Orangebox, so I'm becoming familiar with Steam. What other gaming mediums are there? I'm assuming steam is not the only show in town.

Systems Reqs Lab is a pretty useful tool. What does 'recommended' mean? Does not meeting the recommended specs affect gameplay, or can you just tune down the definition?

Responses are mucho appreciated.

Steam is the main Digital distribution network available on PC, but other than Valve games and a few others (like Modern warfare 2) most games don't actually integrate with steam. A lot of games on PC use their own services or Gamespy or the much maligned GFWL (Games for windows live) or a few other services for multi-player. Steam (and GFWL) is probably the closest thing on PC to services like XBL or PSN, providing friendlists etc. Services like Steam also allow you to buy full games online for download. 

Reccomended basically means you should be able to run the game well, on higher settings and resolutions etc. Compared to Minimum requirements which are basically the lowest level of hardware capable of running the game.

If you need to know anything else just ask.

Thanks for the info!

happy to help ; )

just so you know, one reason steam works so well is because they have sales all the times.

They have a midweek sale and a weekend sale on one game, every week.

Then for holidays it's a sale frenzy :p

Rest of the time though I tend to buy retail and just instal.... more and more games integrate with steam and in that case buying retail or steam is the same thing but you have the box as an extra.

Steam now has achievements and chat functions... it's very close to what you have on XBL games wise...

Right now steam is a very viable option to center your gaming on.

So if you buy a game on Steam, are you able to enter your account and play it on another PC, or is it still limited to your PC?

Only if that game is installed on the other pcs hard drive. Oh and i hope that you enjoy the Orangebox. Half life 2 is one of my fave games of all time.

You can play it on any PC provided you have Steam and the game installed on the computer you're going to play it on. You just can't be logged into your account on more than one computer at a time, however.

Also, if you own an OSX compatible game on PC (ie- Team Fortress 2), then you also own the OSX version.

What does OSX mean?

Oh I definitely will. I'm thinking I'll dive into Half-Life 2 over Thanksgiving to soak it in stress free.