A rant on PC fanboyism

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

snip

Please use the enter bar the next time. The way you have it posted now makes it awful to read and very hard on the eyes.

OT: There is plenty of fanboysim on consoles. At least the other PC gamers admit that some of their brethren are trollish twats that think their platform is ultimately superior due to a couple of superior features(kb mouse for certain genres, moar power). Yet on this forum you never seem to see console players admit that they have elitists in their ranks. Even though many perpetuate myths that a gaming pc costs well over 1k in any currency for a half one(1k will get you a powerul enough one with some longevity if you want to pay 10k you are a hardware geek or you aren't building your own PC. This is the biggest PC gaming sin).

Another thing I think PC elitists may have over console ones(but they are both trolls) is that they accept the limitations of their hardware. You will never see a PC gamer Elitist arguing that a KB+M is better for 3D platform games so why do console gamers continue to argue that a controller is as good as or better than a mouse? I don't know. Fair enough if you prefer one or the other that is no problem. Since we are talking hardware here I can say that a kb+mouse is better for FPS, RTS, MMO and most RPG games. While a controller is better for TPS, Platforming games, Fighting games, Driving games and Action games(of the style of PoP and DMC). This is like arguing a controller is better than an arcade stick with Fighting games. It isn't so don't do it.

I mean my god some of the arguments you get off non gamers in real life who think they are gamers are fucking appalling. First off I have never seen a PC person go out of their way to soot down consoles in real life. I have however, been told that the 360 has better graphics than a PC in real life.

 

[MoTHic727]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe fan-boy ism is very much about multiplayer these days...

Generally when convincing someone a console is better, the heart behind it is it 'convert' that person into that gamer platform. In a way, this could all be fixed it we had cross-platform multiplayer, to stop the need to 'convert' people to a platform because you don't need anymore players in matchmaking because all platforms are in there.

I myself am a PC gamer, and I admit I am quite a patriotic person about it, I suppose it could come from that I have built my PC, its got character, personality. Its in a way my own creation, that I think is one of the beauties of PC gaming. On the other hand that could also apply to consoles as well, I would say my xbox has character ass well.

From the developers point of view, whats cheaper, console... What has a better developing platform (correct me if I am wrong, I'm not exactly qualified in this), console. What audience has the higher number of units? Console again. Console is the money maker in this day in age, and the bottom line for any developer is money, no matter how passionate, no money, no games.

Not many people have PC's these days, there is a much greater target market in console gaming and so game developers will always choose it, that's why PC is an after-thought. Perhaps if PC were the major market, games would look much better, I think we can all agree they are pushing the consoles to the very fabric of their limit these days, with PC hardware doubling it at peak. But games still look quite similar on both platforms...

I do hope I have not been to bias, please correct me if I am wrong

 

[Jimmybobjr]

welcome to the internet.
where everyone hates everyone.
where gaming platforms are defended more than everything else.
where people are ridiculed for having opinions.
Where threads like these are ignored.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

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.

It isn't that is really only an advantage in late stage. Even then consoles tend to even out with PCs and their upgrade costs due to PCs having cheaper games. So in the long run costs end up as equal.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

If I buy a PC with some of the latest gaming hardware(usually double the cost of consoles at the start of a new console generation), I will be able to use it for gaming for maybe at most a year and a half before I have to upgrade.

Slow the graphics and power advancement, make things cheaper and last longer, then the PC will be revitalized and gain more of a following in gaming.

a year and a half? come now, you pulled that out of your ass.

Nope, before I got my 360 two years ago, I was a PC and Nintendo console(because it is the cheapest console-wise) gamer. I'm going on my experience with my PC over a five year period between 2003 and 2008. I had to upgrade my computer three times in order to keep in running order to play the latest PC games.

 

[RadiusXd]

If I buy a PC with some of the latest gaming hardware(usually double the cost of consoles at the start of a new console generation), I will be able to use it for gaming for maybe at most a year and a half before I have to upgrade.

Slow the graphics and power advancement, make things cheaper and last longer, then the PC will be revitalized and gain more of a following in gaming.

a year and a half? come now, you pulled that out of your ass.

Nope, before I got my 360 two years ago, I was a PC and Nintendo console(because it is the cheapest console-wise) gamer. I'm going on my experience with my PC over a five year period between 2003 and 2008. I had to upgrade my computer three times in order to keep in running order to play the latest PC games.

are you talking max settings high? if not I just cannot believe that at all.

 

[Waaghpowa]

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Sorry, but no. PC gamers aren't demanding higher end graphics, it was usually a given because of of the potential of the hardware available. Since developers knew that the kind of people who would buy their games would want to make the most of their hardware, they push it to technical limits whereas consoles were viewed as children's toys. What they demand now is proper use of the resources available and proper optimization. This includes things such as using DirectX11, which was excluded from Crysis 2 despite promise that it would. DirectX 11 isn't just for better visuals, but better performance.

Your games run without worry on the Xbox, because the hardware is static, there are almost infinite hardware combinations with PC's which can sometimes cause issues.

You may not have to replace your Xbox till the next generation, but how does it make it any better? So in 2 years, or less, you need to throw away what you paid 300 dollars, for another slightly better version for twice as much? Given the length of the current generation, a high end PC will easily carry over into the next generation, and can be modified for years.

If PC gaming developed at a console's cycle, making it so that the user, if the user only has the money to buy the cheap level of new hardware, only has to replace their hardware ever four to five years, the PC gaming would see new life and many more users.

Considering how long this generation has lasted, it's incredibly easy to get into PC gaming. The level of hardware required to play the current generation of games at the same level, if not better, is significantly cheaper than it was years ago. What was considered high end then, is now mid to low.

I get the feeling that you're viewing PC gaming the same as consoles. PC gaming isn't about getting a box that will only play games, it's about having your obligatory computer that CAN play games, rather than splitting the cost between two pieces of tech and simply having a higher level of freedom.

If it's your preference to play a console for the sake of simplicity, that's fine. Just don't try to compare the two as the same, because they're not.

 

[Waaghpowa]

To me, it feels that that group of particularly stuck up, loud PC gamers feel like PC gaming is dying and are just trying to retaliate. Even Bethesda is developing Skyrim on consoles and porting it to PC. It seems like they're just trying to hold on to their PCs even if it means missing out on so many great games.

If I remember correctly, the "Skyrim for consoles" thing was only in terms of controls, which is a big "Whoop dee doo".

 

[AndyFromMonday]

I've never seen any PC gamer proclaim they're superior to console gamers. On the other hand, I've seen a lot of PC gamers demanding developers make full use of their platform's capabilities. As it stands, every single game released this year is developed around console hardware which is quite inferior giving that it was made way back in 06/07. PC's are capable of more hardware both wise and controller wise and all I want, and I hope most PC gamers want, is that when a developer decides to create a game for the PC they make full use of its capabilities.

Face it, consoles ARE inferior. The hardware is outdated and the controller doesn't have enough buttons which forces developers to create workarounds. Does this mean the PC is superior to consoles? Yes. Does this mean PC gamers are better than any other sort of gamer? No.

 

[The_Echo]

From my dictionary...

console
noun
1 a panel or unit accommodating a set of controls for electronic or mechanical equipment.
- a cabinet for television or radio equipment.
- the cabinet or enclosure containing the keyboards, stops, pedals, etc., of an organ.
- a monitor and keyboard in a multiuser computer system.

PC gaming is console gaming.

In all seriousness though, every gaming platform has its elitists, and they're all annoying as fuck. So let's just ignore them, how about that?

 

[Treblaine]

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

"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."

Well PC gamers have INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY, and needed a lot of TIME AND EXPERTISE, and they don't do all that to be humble, they do that for an objectively more powerful and effective system.

How about you stop to consider how arrogant it is of yourself to except us PC gamers to be humble and deferential and basically LIE that our gaming PC is no better than 360/PS3? Because that is bullshit, as Xbox 360 gamers are utter elitists to Wii owners.

"You'd hate it if we constantly strutted around proclaming that gamepads are the unseatable god of control methods."

Everybody would hate that because that would be untrue.

Mouse + Keyboard ARE objectively superior to gamepad as an actual input device, this is a verified fact. Gamepad may be more comfortable to use as you can slump back on a couch, but that does not make it a better at doing it's job. It is CASUAL to value slovenly comfort over gaming capability.

"And yeah, the gamepad has less buttons than a keyboard."

Irrelevant. The Xbox 360 gamepad has 21 distinct inputs within easy reach PLUS two analogue sticks, that matches very well the number of inputs within reach of the fingers using keyboard and mouse. That is no excuse for dumbing down. No excuse for arbitrary 2-weapon-limit other than console gamers simpleton demands.

"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."

Well I'm sorry you don't like to hear it BUT YOU ARE. Just because home-truths are uncomfortable to bear that does not mean you can dismiss them, how about you stop to consider how your choices are screwing the industry. You're constant whining of "it's too complicated" is meaning the PUBLISHERS are FORCING the developers to Dumb down!

 

[Owlslayer]

Hi, I'm a PC gamer and I don't hate console gamers.
I have often wanted to own a console, but because of lack of funds i am unable to do that.

Sure, I have frowned every once in a while, when i see a game that's just a horrible port. And i do mean horrible. But that's all. Don't have any feelings towards the people who play on the consoles.

 

[bogster13]

Hello I?m a mayor computer user and play a lot of my games on the PC, but that doesn?t mean that i don?t appreciate the console market. I also have and play games on the PS3 and the Wii. I grew up playing on a NES and loved the Mario games but when I got older, I started using the computer more. I?m stating this so that you will know what I?m coming from and how it may affect my opinion.
First of all it?s a very small amount of the actual PC demographic that acts like smug assholes publicly and they usually stick out because everybody acknowledges their claims by actually fighting a losing battle against them. But PC gamers aren?t the only one act in the manner which you have described.
I see just as many Console gamers fighting amongst themselves and against the PC gamers about ?How our system is the best and all other can go fuck themselves?.
Now this argument is flawed in so many ways, first of all the ?console war? as some idiots like to call it is dragging down and giving our entire industry a bad name. Especially when you look at the actual sales numbers for the various consoles.
Say what you want about the Wii, but it is a console from this console generation. Meaning that while you fistfight over if Xbox 360 or the PS3 is the best, the Wii just walked past you and won.
Though back to the topic at hand, what also has to stop is the use of the ?Fairness doctrine? on the internet, especially within our community.
What is the fairness doctrine you say?
It?s a law that existed in the United States before the rise of the internet to regulate all TV and Radio.
The law was pretty much that you Always, ?Always? had to present both sides of an issue or topic. Good idea in theory, bad idea in practice.
In practice it doesn?t work because it means that you can?t praise something without giving said equal praise to said objects counterpart. For if you don?t you just might be a ?Fanboy?
Thank you for taking you time reading some of my opinions.

 

[CleverCover]

Some of them just can't understand that some people just find playing with a controller with a console more comfortable than with a keyboard and mouse. Or they feel like making a game simpler to handle makes it "dumbed-down" and therefore inferior.

I don't know. Maybe some people just get off on trying to convince people on consoles that their system is fail and the computer is God.

I'm just hoping it's the vocal minority. Because if all of them were really like that, it's really hard to sympathize when they cry about a lack of PC focused games.

 

[EGtodd09]

I'm a PC gamer and the main reason I play PC games instead of console games is I would own a computer in either scenario, so why not have a good computer? Cost? That's completely understandable and now that I'm a bit low on cash I'm considering moving to consoles, but I just love keyboard and mouse, I was brought up on it. And hey, for games like Assassins Creed where the control scheme is designed for a controller I can always plug in an xbox 360 controller. That's really all there is too it. You know Half Life for PS2 supported keyboard and mouse via usb, consoles should have taken that hint so you guys can play RTS games and stuff. Then I'd probably buy the cheapest console.

 

[Bravo 21]

Hi, i;m a pc gamer, although this would probably change if I could afford it, I'm quite broke right now, but I want to play RDR, and play against my friends with xbox or PS3

 

[Sonic Doctor]

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are you talking max settings high? if not I just cannot believe that at all.

Nope, during that time I only had the money to upgrade to where I could play them at settings just above minimum. I had to get at least that, because the stupid minimum settings list on the back of games means shit. Every time I have bought a game where my PC was only at minimum level, the game would always go ape-shit and not run or run for very long without errors.

Snip

From where I am standing, the only difference between consoles and PCs is that PCs can run a few programs that consoles can't like proper painting/art programs, office software, and a few other things. Internet surfing on consoles now is a little shaky, but it should be fine by next generation when they actually design them to and surf(The Wii is only one that advanced the farthest with this, but it was rather broken).

Other than that, the only difference is that PCs advance way too fast in gaming respects. It may be different now, but from experience, PCs don't have longer generations than consoles.

Looking at what happened to me, we are looking at the average player, not the super geewhiz techno nerds that have the money to buy absolute top of the line PC gaming machine each time. Starting from when I first had to replace hardware on my first PC in 2003(before that it lasted in gaming for 6 years), up to 2008, buying upgraded hardware at a cost I could afford(like I would with each new console generation), I had to replace the hardware on my PC three times. So by going by minimum level standards over those years, PC gaming had three generations in that time period.

You see every 4 years or so I can afford to buy one of the next console generation, I do not however have the 1000 dollars or more to spend every four years or so for the latest top of the line gaming PC.

Until I can buy PC at 400 dollars that will last for 4 years or more with no upgrades and will play all the latest games, I will not see PC gaming as cheaper. Money-wise, consoles are better than PCs, because they are consumer pocket friendly, even with pay extra for online membership, and PC games being 10 to 20 bucks cheaper.

 

[Entropyutd]

I'm a PC gamer and for me it comes down to an interface preference, I prefer a keyboard+mouse, Some people think their preference extends beyond just being an opinion. There's nothing to be done about it, people are entitled dicks

I'm a multiple platform gamer and pretty much across the board gamers are entitled dicks. (Spend 2 mins on xbox live)
It is not just PC users, you can go to any platform specific forum and see misinformed bile.

Fanboys are idiots, but if a person wishes to limit their enjoyment based on their need to "fit in" with the other sheep, then why the hell should I care?

As for the original posters point on console controllers.
I've been using a FPS sniper for years on my xbox360, meaning should I wish to I can play pretty much any game using a keyboard and mouse. Using a PC peripheral on consoles has been a non issue for years now.

This is a drastic oversimplification, I know. But fanboyism is like racism. The sooner people stop labeling each other, the sooner the '-ism' can die out.

Sadly I don't ever see it happening. People need to justify their choices.
It's always struck me as kind of moot, I can't recall the last time I stopped for a second whilst reloading and admired the quality of the wall I was crouching behind. I've always been more concerned with avoiding the guy trying to decapitate me with a rocket launcher.
Add to that the fact that most Devs will not make their game on one format better than the competing format anyway, so you do get more or less the same game across the board, its all a rather pointless argument.

My PS3 CAN outperform my Xbox, I've rarely see it do so. My PC can outperform any console on the market, I've still logged more hours playing Morrowind on the original Xbox than I have on any other game.

 

[Treblaine]

I've never seen any PC gamer proclaim they're superior to console gamers. On the other hand, I've seen a lot of PC gamers demanding developers make full use of their platform's capabilities. As it stands, every single game released this year is developed around console hardware which is quite inferior giving that it was made way back in 06/07. PC's are capable of more hardware both wise and controller wise and all I want, and I hope most PC gamers want, is that when a developer decides to create a game for the PC they make full use of its capabilities.

Face it, consoles ARE inferior. The hardware is outdated and the controller doesn't have enough buttons which forces developers to create workarounds. Does this mean the PC is superior to consoles? Yes. Does this mean PC gamers are better than any other sort of gamer? No.

That may have been true last year but it is thankfully finally starting to change.

-The PC version of Battlefield 3 was the only version shown all through E3 and the developers have gone to great lengths to maximise the graphics potential.

-Metro: Last Light also had the PC focus, while the previous game was very good for PC gamers, really challenged systems in offering the most pretty graphics and suitable controls.

-Witcher 2, obviously made with PC first and foremost. Any Xbox 360 port is still long away and if it was in any way a priority it would be done by now.

-Red Orchestra 2: now THIS is a PC shooter!

-Elder Scrolls V: I believe this was also PC lead all though E3.

-Rage may be made with consoles in mind but Carmack has repeatedly said he has designed the game to scale very well on powerful PCs, so if it looks great on 360 it looks AMAZING on a powerful PC! He is lead programmer and is committed to PC gaming.


Thing is we have just had a lot of high profile foul-ups like Crysis 2, Duke Nukem and Bulletstorm that seem to have given up on PC, but they have paid for that by generally being called inferior to their predecessor.

The tide is turning for PC as everyone is starting to realise the only way you are getting "next gen" graphics is with PC gaming as Playstation/Xbox aren't "regenerating" any time soon.

Other trends:
-Black Ops PC gets dedicated servers (sold $100 million worth on Steam in only 3 months)
-Fable series back on PC
-Kinect officially coming to PC
-Minecraft
-Street fighter returns to PC with Arcade Edition (after brief exodus with Super SF)