X-Com Complete Pack: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/964/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roiJizt8jxw
http://image.projectnext.eu/CarmenSanDiego_en_slideshow.gif

Continuing with awesome Steam deals, The Freedom Force pack is also $2 this weekend. They're basically tactical RPGs where you control a team of superheroes, and are excellent in both gameplay and presentation, as well as being a bit more recent and approachable than the X-com games.

pain killer I hear was good for your FPS goodness

Have a lot of music? Try out audioSurf: http://store.steampowered.com/app/12900/

If you're looking for something with a bit more meat on the bone I would also recommend the original Call of Duty, Half-Life 1, Deus Ex, and Rome: Total War (if you like turn based games mixed with a bit of RTS).

Welcome to the Dark Side, Brett!

Gotta love Steam, pc-gaming just wouldn't be the same without it. Oh, did I mention they were developing a version for macs?

As for cheap/playable - try the Killing Floor or Team Fortress 2, perhaps?

Machinarium. It's a neat little indie game featuring no dialogue whatsoever. Featuring robots.

You can even try it out before you buy it.

http://machinarium.net/demo/

*and featuring robots.

Torchlight or the Civilization series (especially if you played and enjoyed Civilization: Revolution). Or if you want some oldies-but-goodies from bygone days, I'll loan you Baldur's Gate 2.

Oh man, you guys have given me plenty of great fodder. I may have to just pick one at random -- I don't know how I'll be able to choose otherwise.

Plants Vs Zombies. Duh!

Psychonauts!!!! It's two bucks on Steam right now, so what are you waiting for?

Grim Fandango.

Some of the games being suggested actually have Mac versions.

You really should play Cave Story.

It's Cave Story time, Brett. CAVE STORY.

www.gog.com www.spiderwebsoftware.com www.bit-blot.com (if you'd like a console experience on a PC)

Full Throttle :)

What's your specs?

TEAM FORTRESS 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plants. vs. Zombies

I think XCOM is the only possible choice.

C I V I L I Z A T I O N

@Jeffrey Glad to see someone second my suggestion.

Okay didn't anybody read the part where he said he got an ACER NETBOOK?

That IS NOT A GAMING MACHINE in no uncertain terms. The only games that thing is going to handle are probably things like Minesweeper, Peggle, Bejeweled and the sort of thing that doesn't involve a lot of things that move around on the screen and need graphics processing power.

Honestly if you want to game on a PC you're going to have to get a really good desktop rig or a gaming laptop like the ALIEN-WARE types cause a Netbook ain't gonna cut it bro.

I would definitely get Torchlight on Steam. It has a netbook mode, so it should play well on your machine.

@Scott Torchlight and Civ4 should both run on his machine.

@Jason did you help him with his machine?

@Toby Nope. I don't help folks buy PCs. I might refer to people better-suited for such advice, but I don't dispense it.

@Jason Yeah, Civ is a must.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys. My computer is definitely not a gaming rig by any means, but with 20+ years of computer game history -- and innovative low-spec indie gaming coming out every day -- I'll have more than enough to keep me covered.

I bought that X-COM pack today -- I think sampling those will be my first task. Thanks again, everyone!

@Brett You just made Rob a happy man.

@Brett I just bought that, also... I've never played one before.

Spelunky, a delightful platformer where you go downwards instead of sideways. Each level is randomly generated from a palette based on the area you're in. Beat 5 levels of the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom style area 1; full of snakes, traps and gigantic rolling boulders, go on to go on area 2, a jungle environment full of coin stealing monkeys and carnivorous plants. And so on. Each game starts you off with 5 hearts which you can increase by saving Princess' and stealing a kiss off them or simply visiting the local brothel to get some paid-for kissy, kissy action. There are a variety of different power ups; from a devastating shotgun that'll rip through enemies like my farts rip my boxers to a golden cape allowing you to fall to your death that little bit slower. But these power-ups come and go. The only friends you can really trust are the 5 ropes and the 5 bombs that you start with although the amount of times I've thrown a bomb only to have it bounce off a wall, hit me in the face, knock me to the ground and then explode my tiny Indiana Jones impressionado makes them difficult to describe as friends.

But the true beauty of this game is that you will not see most of this in your first playthrough. Maybe in about 300 playthroughs if you're lucky. You will die in Spelunky, alot. But you will never accuse the game of being cheap. The platforming is so... tight that every time you die it will be your fault. Not the AI being cheap. Just you being too cocksure.

Accidentaly clicked post before I could edit it. God damn it. Guess I'll have to cut it short.

Everyone has that one achievement in gaming that they are most proud of. Here is mine:

So yeah... Spelunky. It's free and it's the game I've played almost everyday since March 30th 2009 when I was introduced to it by a far greater writer than I am. If you're not yet convinced by my words. Let this guy have a go
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/03/30/snake-to-death-the-majesty-of-spelunky/ http://www.spelunkyworld.com/

Killing Floor on Steam -- $15.