A rant on PC fanboyism

[cameron196789]

I play both PC and console, and I cant see a difference, except some games are exclusive. I think some people just play too much on either the PC or console and develop a preferred choice, in the examples you showed, it looks like too much of an attachment to the PC/console.

 

[Racecarlock]

I once again drag this post out, because it needs to be said.

Rivarlies, both between companies and their fans, have always been there.

Nintendo and Sega had a friendly competition, mostly in good fun ("Nintendon't" is hilarious) and Nintendo won in the end.

N64 vs PSX was so interesting, it practically spawned two distinct gaming directions. Everybody, especially the gamers, won.

The PS2 won its generation by the sheer number of great games, even if most of them also came out on GCN or the PC or whathaveyou. Sony won so hard, Nintendo made a waggle-platform next, to avoid the tough fight altogether.

Then the XBox came along, and the Console Wars were born. "My cheap assortment of near-identical hardware running 98% of the same games is much better than yours, you dirty fanboy!" Every gamer lost.

The PC was only dragged into this because for the first time since the Commodore64, their plastic boxes full of fans could compare to some of our mid-range machines, so naturally everybody made sure we would lose some, too. Misery loves company?

It's not very admirable of PC Gamers to let themselves be dragged into these ego-measuring contests (especially since it's kindergartners inviting full-grown men...), but there you go.

And all that just because the guys who make the most money in PCs decided to give everyone cheap and easy access to online trash-talking. Good job, Bill Gates.

The problem is that PC gamers love to play a game that feels natural on the PC (using a mouse in inventories, not just scrolling through list) and this simple idea, that takes modders that can only work an hour or so a day months, is overlooked and ignored by AAA developers when it would take them a day or two to impliment.

It's not that hard, it's not even that big a deal to PC elitists when the graphics have to be toned down, it's when something very simple gets overlooked and ignored. Another way to think about it is that developers will change controls between Xbox and PS3 (press A/X to start) but they rarely, if ever, do so for PC gamers (Just Cause 2 said press start to start, the default key mapping was for Xbox 360 controllers on the PC)

9/10 times it's never the fact that a game looks different graphically, it's just that developers don't care. They use a quick-port system and never bother to test it or even use it. They stopped caring because they figured most PC gamers can just mod bugs out and they won't complain.

Take it up with them. Don't lie down and accept it. And don't let them redirect the blame on to us. You probably don't do this already, but I gotta cover all bases here.

Hi there. I'm a PC gamer and I don't hate console gamers.

Actually, most of us don't, just so happends that the ones who do are usually pretty loud about it.

Then this rant didn't apply to you. Read the disclaimer.

So you're only ranting against the people who don't consider you anyway?

Isn't that sort of like walking into the centre of Dublin and say "Feck everyone, if they're English"?

You're preaching to the choir, re-underlining their bad behaviour and bringing yourself down by responding to it.

Not only are you feeding the trolls, you're setting a table for them.

I was merely stating that if you are a PC gamer that doesn't act all fanboyish, then my rant wasn't aimed at you. You can still respond, but I wasn't trying to group every PC gamer in with the fanboys, hence the disclaimer.

Allow me to reiterate, since you went and posted my thread in your list of evidence, that you completely missed the entire post I made.

Skyrim will start on the Xbox 360 (okay) then ported to PC (meh) which shouldn't be too hard (Wait WTF?!)

It's okay until they start to say "Oh the PC gamers can just get the same game, we'll just translate the keys and shove it out the door within a week"

Fair enough, but i'm sure the verbal ***** slap they'll receive from passionate PC gamers like yourself will make them reconsider. Plus some of the responses from other people in that thread are quite fanboyish.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Another fact is though that a large part of games, if mainly developed with the consoles in mind will never look as good, have the kind of level-design with huge open beautiful levels (it's a trade-off between lower quality textures, decreased sight-range and a lot of streaming or "closed off" small levels that look brilliant because of RAM-restrictions console-side) or control/be designed the way it would if developed for PC (for instance with enemies popping in from all directions and having to switch a lot or LESS cover-based shooters because you can aim and shoot faster with a mouse).

The RAM-restriction is probably the biggest issue when it coms to fundamental differences in game design between PC and console.

 

[jyork89]

Personally I don't find a PC gamer saying how good PC is too be terribly irritating depending on where they say it. I when there is a post about a console game, and some PC gamer feels obliged to tell everyone why their console is inferior. And likewise it's just as annoying when there is a thread about a PC game and some console gamer needs to come in and say console is better.

Worst of all is when it boils down to a thread that turns into a mine is better than yours flame war, which I feel this one may inevitably end up as. Come on people. We're all gamers. Each to his or her own right? I love PC games for their complexity, controls and customization options.. I love console games because I can play them on a big screen and I know when i stick it in the my Xbox 360 (or whatever) as long as it says Xbox 360 on the box it will work.

 

[00slash00]

blaming us for games being more complicated, or thanking us? i dont see how games being less simplistic is a bad thing. i found it hilarious when people (mostly console gamers, it seemed) thought the witcher was too complicated. research monster, kill monster, get reward. what exactly was complicated about that? what kinda games do these people play that made the witcher seem so beyond their grasp?

but anyway, how would i feel if pc gamers were constantly being told that their gaming platform of choice was inferior? well i suppose much the same way i feel now, because it seems like every day i check these forums there is at least one or two popular threads full of console gamers attacking pc gamers. stop acting like youre a victim, console gamers on these forums are just as guilty as we are

 

[Vibhor]

i cant think of any advantage a console has over a pc.

Lower entry cost... although it remains to be seen if that can remain the case into the next console generation.

I don't think buying a HD TV is actually cheap.
The entry cost is around 1000$ for both consoles and PC, that is, if you want a good experience.
You would find that a PC is cheaper in the longer run. The various accessories for consoles increase the cost for consoles up to eleven.... but who am I to speak anything? I haven't upgraded my PC since 2008

 

[Turtleboy1017]

snip

I totally agree with you, and I...

Oh wait no I don't. The fact that you're letting stuff that these "PC elitists" hurt your feelings is probably more indication of the fact that you actually care than anything.

If you honestly and truly believe that console gaming is somehow the equal of PC, which I fail to see how it could possibly match, the easiest thing to do is simply not say anything at all, and go about doing whatever it is that you do.

 

[YawningAngel]

DISCLAIMER: I'd like to start this out by saying not all PC gamers do this, and I really appreciate the ones that don't. This is not aimed at anyone not guilty of this, so put your flame shields down. For those that do do this, prepare thyself.

I have been a member of the escapist since last year, and there's one thing that keeps popping up that is really really annoying. Almost every PC gaming thread I go on to is filled with smug pricks who act as though their choice of platform makes them better than anyone else. As if that alone wasn't annoying enough, they then point the finger at console gamers like, for example, ME. At these people i'd like to pull the do unto others card. You would undoubtedly hate it if console gamers were constantly blaming PC gamers for more complicated games or the PCification of console games. You'd hate it if we constantly strutted around proclaming that gamepads are the unseatable god of control methods. So why the fuck should we have to take it from you? What are we? Low class peasants? And I have no problem with you if you just love the PC to the exclusion of other gaming platforms, that's your choice. It's only when you lord that choice around and act like you're somehow a better person because you only play on PC. That drives me nuts. I love my Xbox 360, but you don't see me walking around and claiming that it's reborn Jesus in gaming platform form. As for the "dumbing down" of PC games for the console crowd, who do you think does the dumbing down in the first place? Developers. That's who you should blame. Not me, who is just trying to discuss gaming in peace. And yeah, the gamepad has less buttons than a keyboard. I play games fine with it anyways, and if a developer is making a first person shooter and their excuse for a two weapon system is that the controller doesn't have alot of buttons, they're just trying to get you to blame us, which sadly has apparently worked. Besides which, if I got a really complicated game with a bloated fractal spreadsheet nightmare of a user interface, I wouldn't blame it on PC gamers or the fact that the keyboard has alot of buttons on it. So why should I have to deal with it from your end? Huh? Can't I just game in peace? I can't speak for all console gamers when it comes to our behavior, I can only tell you how I behave, which I have. But one thing I do know is that probably most console gamers are sick of hearing how we're dirty peasents who are destroying the entire video game industry because we chose to play our games on a console. You'd hate it if we were doing it to you. So stop doing it to us.

Edit: Some examples of this crap. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.259536-PC-Gaming-Master-Race
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.290579-Whats-with-PC-gamers-being-the-master-race
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.290144-Zero-Punctuation-The-Witcher-2-Assassins-of-Kings
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.290163-Skyrim-to-be-a-console-port-which-shouldnt-be-too-hard

Actually, I'd find almost all of this stuff hilarious. The gamepad is demonstrably inferior for any game with more than a few controls, and (excluding a substantial redesign) it should be clear to anyone who thinks about the issue that games must be simplified for the console, simply because the lack of a nuanced input method means it wouldn't be playable otherwise. If you don't believe me, go get one of the age of empires games that were ported directly to the PS2 and see how you do with it.

 

[00slash00]

I used to be a PC gamer but then I realized the only kind of game PCs are good for are point-and-clickers. So I only play those on my PC and never worry about upgrading the hardware every 2 damn months since adventure games run nicely on even a moderate PC.
I've owned a PS3 and 360 for quite some time now and couldn't be happier.

2 months?! i upgrade every 2 years and have yet to encounter a game i couldnt run on max or at least high settings

 

[DaHero]

Sonic SNIP!

Fair enough, but I'm sure the verbal ***** slap they'll receive from passionate PC gamers like yourself will make them reconsider. Plus some of the responses from other people in that thread are quite fanboyish.[/quote]

Yeah I give you that, I have no problem letting Bethesda know I'm not in the least bit happy with them thinking my console is "no big deal" but I'm not going to say it's the console gamers fault.

As for the comments, well I can't fix stupid, or fanatical, sorry =/

 

[Turtleboy1017]

PC gamers are attacked for being elitists far more often than they mock console players. The behavior you're focusing on isn't exclusive to PC gamers but you're treating it like it is. It's bigoted favoritism, attacking one group for attitude problems that exists in every other group. The difference is you don't feel you belong to the PC gamer category so you can ignore identical pretentiousness within your own association.

People who act like that are just assholes, they exist all over. OP, you are the one creating this segregation by labeling it as a problem with PC gamers. And anyway, it's generally rare that a PC vs console argument begins with a personal insult made by a PC gamer like you suggest. It's usually something like "Stupid consoles dumbing down my games." followed by the console fanboy making the personal attack "You're a PC elitist!" then the PC gamer gets stoned to death for wanting games that fulfill their potential. OP, you've made it clear that you hate how this elitism often gets personal, but when the console first yells "elitist!" that's when it starts getting personal, PC gamers usually just attack the industry.

The Wii is constantly mocked for being a lesser console, and everyone seems to be fine with that. If developers started designing games for the 3DS (a device with weaker hardware and controls) and ported them to the 360 and PS3, you'd be upset too.

PC gamers are upset that many of the games they play can't reach their full potential either explicitly or implicitly because of consoles. Anyone who flaunts their superiority like you say is a asshole and would remain an asshole no matter where he is or what he does. Only the terms change, it's shallow to single out PC elitism. We aren't stupid, we're aware that devs make the final decisions, but they have specific hardware and mindsets to consider. Any reasonable person won't automatically hate console players, but some people are perfectly justified in hating the console and it's affect on the industry.

Let me put it this way, I don't think I'm better than you in any way, obviously I don't know you. But my PC is better than your 360 in almost all aspects, which is specifically why I've chosen to use it for gaming. That isn't a personal attack, but many people would be quick to call me an elitist for saying so. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to see people scream "elitist!" when no personal attack was made by the PC gamer? And people constantly get away with that because it's become trendy to hate PC elitists since our culture hates potential arrogance more than anything else.

/thread

Read this, copy paste it, let anyone that agrees with you read it, and if they still don't agree with you, or you don't agree with this, sorry, you're beyond help.

And by the way, the PC truly and honestly is better than an xbox in literally every aspect besides price, and exclusivity. If you take those last two factors out, there is absolutely zero reason that an xbox would ever be superior to a PC.

True story.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I love console games because I can play them on a big screen

I'm really, really sorry about this (I sincerely am), but I can't let that argument slide. It's my OCD or something. I will quote myself from earlier.

A lot of people don't realize that a TV makes a good monitor. As long as you're not using the "A bigger TV is better" argument, because that drives me bonkers. You're 40 inch TV from 6 feet looks about the same size as my 23 inch monitor from 2 feet, so what was gained other than the ability to brag about how big your TV is?

If it's a preference to use a massive screen, fine. I just have to point out that as far as quality goes, there's little to no difference.
Note: My 23 inch monitor has better resolution and refresh rates than most TV's do for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Catalyst6]

i cant think of any advantage a console has over a pc.

Lower entry cost... although it remains to be seen if that can remain the case into the next console generation.

With the right peripherals and setup a PC will beat out a console every time.

*However*, that's assuming that you have the technical skill to get all of the things running at once. PCs are undeniably far harder to use than consoles, especially since the devs know exactly what is inside the boxes for consoles. PCs, well, it's a graphics card/drivers/OS/DRM clusterfuck.

In short, consoles are better in the sense that they are (comparatively) plug-and-play. And if you don't mind having a bit less performance, then that's all you really need.

(Note: PC gamer that uses his consoles every once in a while, longtime Sony boy.)

 

[CodeOrange]

3/10, waaaayy too subjective, and the huge wall of text? Try paragraphing next time, I'm just shocked that nobody replied with "tl;dr" or "cool story bro". A tip for next time is to sound like someone that can be taken seriously. Never seen a forum in which the users actually contend for the most controversial thread.

OT: A true PC/Console/Casual/Hardcore gamer wouldn't care what others think of them, unless they have something to prove which in this case their libido is in fact equal to or larger than the opposition. Besides, if PC/Console/Casual/Hardcore gamers really were upset from these topics, then the threads would be reported and the mods would lock them.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I don't think buying a HD TV is actually cheap.
The entry cost is around 1000$ for both consoles and PC, that is, if you want a good experience.
You would find that a PC is cheaper in the longer run. The various accessories for consoles increase the cost for consoles up to eleven.... but who am I to speak anything? I haven't upgraded my PC since 2008

In regards of PCs costing a lot more, no they don't: http://tinyurl.com/FalconGuide
Here's a guide towards buying a PC in logical incremental upgrades. The consoles are below the "Destitute" spec listed here in all regards but the graphics card, which the "Minimum" spec trumps though. Consoles have a PowerPC CPU architecture that largely can't be compared to the x86/x64 PC architecture but the tech has advanced a lot in the last ~6+ years and they're generally better/more efficient at that too.

All PCs from Modest-Very Good can play all games out today at mostly High/Highest settings fluidly, all PCs from Great-Outstanding can play all games out today at their Highest settings, the range beyond that is usually reserved for people with more money than sense.

As much as I respect your ability to reinforce the facts with sources in a rational and civil manner, no matter how many times you, or I, present concrete facts that PC gaming isn't expensive, or in many cases cheaper, there will always be some ignorant nut bag who will scream "PC gaming costs thousands of dollars and my xbox only costs 300 zomg!!!!11!".

 

[Enamour]

Pc are more technologically advanced.
Consoles are cheaper and more accessable.

Cheaper and accessable means MORE people use them and since most people are idiots in the first place and PCs are harder to use and more expensive means more idiots are on consoles but PCs tend to have whiny bitches. Personally I'm a whiny ***** except I split the difference. BUT!

Stick with me here. There's this thing you get taught in logic 101.
"All Jones' are athletes, therefor all athletes are Jones'."

This is F'ing stupid.

"All idiots are console users, therefor all console users are idiots."

This is F'ing stupid.

"Wankers play PC games, therefor all PC gamers are wankers."

This is F'ing stupid.

Wankers are never pleased and idiots don't know the difference between good or bad. I like to split the difference. The gaming community seriously needs to have a good ol' fashioned wanker and idiot lynching. Why can't we just split the difference and stop the delusion?

 

[Simeon Ivanov]

Hi, I'm a PC gamer. And I am part of the "Master Race" xD C'mon, you gotta admit, that DOES sound cool. Anyways, I don't hate consoles ... maybe the fanboys a little, but not the consoles. I think that both the PC and consoles have their pros and cons. For example: PCs can be upgraded, and the setting can be tweaked more. However this is not cheap . This is actually a good thing for the consoles because you never have to buy a significant hardware upgrade, you just insert your game and start playing. Also PC games have MMORPGs, RTSs, Diablo (whatever genre that is) etc. Consoles have Gears of War, Halo, God of War, Bayonetta, Brutal Legend etc.

Can't we all just get along? :/ Perhaps share our system-exclusive games with others

 

[idarkphoenixi]

I have no problem with console gamers, but pc really is the best platform.