[Topgun]

Im itching to play something deep. I don't know if I want an adventure game or rpg or whatever, I just want something with realtime and deep gameplay, and something long, like 50+hrs. I like oblivion, but I have two problems with it

• too many small dungeons/ruins/whatever, the game is full of them, which wouldn't be a bad thing, except there usually is no reward for exploring them and they are way too small and simple. I want zelda style dungeons, only more of them and not all of them should be important to the main plot
• the second problem I have with the game is that my actions don't affect npcs much. sure, if I steal something I can go to jail or whatever, but if I kill some lord and not get caught nobody seems to care.

the game can be old, I don't really care about graphics.
sci-fi or fantasy, it doesn't matter.

also, my little brother likes to watch me play, he is 7 so I don't want anything m rated, unless there is some option to turn off gore or the like (in oblivion I just made a transparent texture for blood)

so yeah, something like oblivion but different.

[Thaeris]

This isn't real-time, but definately one of my favorites. And your approx 50hrs of gameplay can go and rot. These will take a very long time to play indeed... (think WEEKS)

Check this site out:

http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/

I'd recommend the original Avernum Trilogy; I found Avernum 2 to be my favorite. These are based on the old Exile series of the 90s from the same company. If you want a faster game, I thought the original Geneforge was pretty good. I can't say much of the others, though.

In general, Spiderweb makes good, solid RPGs with a good deal of character. The stories are generally quite enjoyable, too.

Or, if you just want to venture about becoming insanely lord-like with a horde of troops, you can always get Mount & Blade. That never gets old, and there's a significant modding community for that title as well.

[Thaeris]

Double post for the sake of more old-school RPG advice:

If you've got an old Mac or a Mac emulator, try this one:

http://www.paranoidproductions.com/odyssey/index.html

This is a very good, very old game. This has some of the best puzzle-solving, dungeon delving action you've ever encountered. The artwork is actually quite beautiful in some places, and the world is massive. There are a TON of weapons available, and some of them are actually quite amusing. If you care to get this one running, it's well worth your time.

[MP-Ryan]

-Deus Ex
-System Shock 2

Those are absolute must-plays.

KOTOR is also a worthy title, if you've never played it.  Mass Effect is decent, but not fantastic.

[General Battuta]

-Deus Ex
-System Shock 2

Those are absolute must-plays.

KOTOR is also a worthy title, if you've never played it.  Mass Effect is decent, but not fantastic.

I'll heartily second these.

Homeworld.

STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl.

[Jeff Vader]

- Planescape: Torment
- KOTOR

I don't care for RPGs much but these two are like... I mean, dewd. Play them. Or at least Torment.

[Kosh]

Pong

[Aardwolf]

Pong

He said a PC game!!!

[Topgun]

Im gonna check out Planescape, I already have the two Kotors.

[Vidmaster]

Planescap is wonderful. ALSO RECOMMENDING THE SPIDERWEBSOFTWARE GAMES HERE!  That makes two.
I'd say try out Geneforge instead of Avernum but I guess everybody thinks about that differently.
DeusEx and SystemShock 1/2 are definitly must plays. If you need graphics, try DragonAge and TheWitcher (Enchanced Editon please), those are current-gen RPGs.
Ah yes, there is WingCommander and Freespace of course 

And if you know those by heart (likely), did you try TheBabylonProject? For some reason, nobody seems interested in this great game lately and my uber-release of FortuneHunters2261 had really disappointing download numbers.

[Thaeris]

Planescap is wonderful. ALSO RECOMMENDING THE SPIDERWEBSOFTWARE GAMES HERE!  That makes two.
I'd say try out Geneforge instead of Avernum but I guess everybody thinks about that differently.
DeusEx and SystemShock 1/2 are definitly must plays. If you need graphics, try DragonAge and TheWitcher (Enchanced Editon please), those are current-gen RPGs.
Ah yes, there is WingCommander and Freespace of course 

And if you know those by heart (likely), did you try TheBabylonProject? For some reason, nobody seems interested in this great game lately and my uber-release of FortuneHunters2261 had really disappointing download numbers.

'Bout time someone backed me up here!

The good thing about Geneforge (apart from being more modern) is that it's a combination of real-time of turn-based (combat is turn-based). This is rather nice as it makes tactics a little more viable. Also, you can send your creations off to other parts of the map to explore while you go elsewhere. Though, you might want to think carefully about doing this depending on the level of resistance you expect to encounter.

Actually, the first Spiderweb game I ever picked up was Nethergate, which pits the Celts vs. the Romans. This one is out of date, but there is a version brought up "to speed" so-to-say. The graphics are the same, I believe, but it should be more effective than the older version if you looked at it (I've got the old one...).

It never hurts to try a demo, and the demo for every Spiderweb game I've ever tried is very large. VERY LARGE. Unlike many other games which have demos made for them which are pretty lax content-wise, you'll get a very good taste for a Spiderweb product as there's a lot you can do. Support your indie developers!

[Adept]

See the thread below about Allegiance for my nr.1 suggestion

2nd suggestion is Mount & Blade
http://taleworlds.com/

You can get it pretty cheap on Steam.

[Thaeris]

Though you might be able to get it cheap over Steam, you might consider other options. I for one don't like having to be connected to the net to play a game...

[General Battuta]

You don't need to be connected to the Internet to play Steam games.

[BloodEagle]

I'm pretty sure you have to reactivate them on a weekly basis to play them offline. I could be wrong on that, however.

[Kosh]

Pong

He said a PC game!!!

You can get the PC version.

[Vidmaster]

It never hurts to try a demo, and the demo for every Spiderweb game I've ever tried is very large. VERY LARGE.

Exactly. You will need more time to finish the Geneforge Demo than finishing the SinglePlayer campaigns of ModernWarfare, World at War and ModernWarfare2 combined 
Avernum 6 is supposed to mark the end of the series, as Geneforge 5 was the final chapter for that one. Me betting on a new franchise soon, somehow I am suspecting a Sci-Fi Setting this time, dunno why.

[BloodEagle]

I'm about two hours into Pyschonauts, and I can't recommend it enough.

[NGTM-1R]

I'd say try out Geneforge instead of Avernum but I guess everybody thinks about that differently.

I'd vote for the Geneforge series myself.

If we're talking Steam stuff here, I'll just cut&paste my review of the squad-based X-COM games from TVTropes.

X-Com is a thing of beauty, with all its little bits integrating well together, but here, I'm just going to praise the tactical game because that's where you'll spend most of your time. The controls are fairly simple, but comprehensive enough you will not find their simplicity limiting your options. I first ended up playing an X-Com game (TFTD, in fact) without a manual but blundered about very little. This is truly something you can pick up and play quite easily, yet I can't recall ever encountering a situation that the available options did not cover.

But it's not a friendly game, when you get right down to it. X-Com is out for your blood. Enemy Unknown and Terror From The Deep lay in wait to eat hapless squaddies and able seamen usually...but not always. Apocalypse will eagerly hunt you down no matter the situation.

The tactical game is unforgiving as few other games are. One building unchecked, one corner unsearched, one false step, can cost you half a squad. This is the genius of the game. Even on the easiest difficulties, X-Com will unashamedly force you to lay off the Zerg Rush, can the Hollywood Tactics, and start thinking like the most important thing in the world is to see the next sunrise. You will learn patience. You will learn to be methodical. You will learn what Properly Paranoid really means. Or you will, at best, end up repeatedly gutting your squad to win. It is equally likely there will be no survivors.

You will earn your victories, not by overwhelming your opponents with numbers or with firepower, but by being smarter and more careful. Bravery is not required to save the world this time. Brains, however, will be.

And at the end, when you have mastered the tactical game, when you can lead your rookies against their first UFO or USO and lose not a one, you will have learned more about tactics than most squad-based games could ever teach.

[Mongoose]

It doesn't exactly mesh with all of your criteria (namely, the PC part), but I can't recommend Chrono Trigger highly enough.  I've had little to no interest in RPGs in general, particularly of the Japanese variety, for most of my gaming career, but I picked up the DS port on a whim, and I'm incredibly glad that I did.  There are no random battles whatsoever, and even though the battle mechanics are technically turn-based, they operate on a replenishing action-meter mechanic that keeps things very fast-paced.  (Plus, thank the Maker, there's no grinding required whatsoever.)  The premise is fantastic, the story is engaging, and the characters are memorable.  It's for good reason that this title appears on so many all-time-greatest-games lists.