"dumbed down for the console gamer"

[Snarky Username]

Well, I feel that there's some truth to it, but that would be more like "Dumbed down for the console controller" than anything.

The reason most people say "dumbed down for the console gamer" is that console gaming is the mainstream, and everyone likes to think that they're better than the majority of sheep that go with the crowd, even when they're just sheep in a different crowd. Also, PC gamers usually resort to fanboyism rather than admit that consoles and PCs are both great for playing video games and that neither is better than the other.

 

[efeat]

So, the OP asked...

"Dumbed down for the console gamer" - This is a phrase I see a lot on the escapist but what exactly does it mean?

...and this guy answered...

Games designed to focus on all the consoles' strengths while neglecting to make use of any of the PCs strengths...

...and for some reason this thread kept going on for several pages even though it had clearly been answered. Weird!

 

[Snarky Username]

So, the OP asked...

"Dumbed down for the console gamer" - This is a phrase I see a lot on the escapist but what exactly does it mean?

...and this guy answered...

Games designed to focus on all the consoles' strengths while neglecting to make use of any of the PCs strengths...

...and for some reason this thread kept going on for several pages even though it had clearly been answered. Weird!

Well the point of an internet forum is to discuss these things, not just have a person answer it and go away. This isn't yahoo answers.

 

[Professor James]

Find a console gamer who won't call me a fag, then you can make this thread.

I won't

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

So, the OP asked...

"Dumbed down for the console gamer" - This is a phrase I see a lot on the escapist but what exactly does it mean?

...and this guy answered...

Games designed to focus on all the consoles' strengths while neglecting to make use of any of the PCs strengths...

...and for some reason this thread kept going on for several pages even though it had clearly been answered. Weird!

Well the point of an internet forum is to discuss these things, not just have a person answer it and go away. This isn't yahoo answers.

I'd start to get self-conscious if threads kept on ending every time I supplied a decent answer to the OP.

 

[10zack986]

Also, the only thing more irritating than PC developers dumbing down out of necessity, is developers dumbing down because they think it's better. Why the hell did Modern Warfare 2 not have dedicated servers? Fuck if I know.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

The reason most people say "dumbed down for the console gamer"

Strange thing is, I've rarely heard "dumbed down for the console gamer". "Dumbed down for consoles," I hear a lot but not for 'console gamers'.

 

[Snarky Username]

The reason most people say "dumbed down for the console gamer"

Strange thing is, I've rarely heard "dumbed down for the console gamer". "Dumbed down for consoles," I hear a lot but not for 'console gamers'.

Really? I hear mostly "dumbed down for console gamers"

Mostly when PC vs Console threads pop up and the flamewar arises. But my point is that there is some truth to the phrase "Dumbed down for consoles" but almost none to the phrase "dumbed down for console gamers."

 

[Alexnader]

A lot of people here when arguing that dumbed down refers to the interface have stated that "mouse and keyboards are generally more precise than joysticks".

http://www.gamesfirst.com/?id=1286
This article refers to the PC and 360 game Shadowrun, which bombed. It was touted to support PC and 360 users playing together online and according to the game's studio FASA, the PC gamers got ripped by the console gamers in straight up play.

Now there could be numerous issues behind this unexpected result, I remember hearing about the ridiculous spread of the weapons which negated pixel accuracy for all weapons but the sniper rifle.

It's just an interesting result, I mean have their been any proper studies into this? I don't mean scientific research but have there been any other games (specifically FPS) that pit console players against those on the PC? Have there been any other direct comparisons between PC gamers and console gamers beyond anecdotes about how the mouse is "felt" much more "precise"?

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

It's just an interesting result, I mean have their been any proper studies into this? I don't mean scientific research but have there been any other games (specifically FPS) that pit console players against those on the PC? Have there been any other direct comparisons between PC gamers and console gamers beyond anecdotes about how the mouse is "felt" much more "precise"?

Well, according to Rahul Sood [http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-against-pc.html], Microsoft were experimenting with it again in FPS games and... yeah, didn't end well for consoles. Of course, this is all 2nd, possibly 3rd hand info, so take it as seriously as you want.

On tech specs, a mouse is more 'precise' but that only matters when both the software and the user both utilise those levels of precision, as well as the effect of display resolution on the necessity of such precision.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

"Dumbed down for the console gamer" translates to "homogenized for the retards". Games these days suck because if they challenge the minds of the retards, they will ragequit and ***** about it, causing the industry a massive financial kick in the balls.

 

[bue519]

Its probably because you have ruined every awesome franchise, EX: look at Fallout 2 compared to 3. One was awesome, the other was a dumbed down buggy piece of trash. Just please play Halo Wars, and leave the rest of the RTS's alone.

hey don't be blaming us for "ruining" your favorite franchises just because a developer wants to make more money by being available to more people than just one specific area plus did you really have to go insult a guy just because he said in his opinion that he preferred fallout 3 to fallout 1&2 I felt that was uncalled for especially since you immediately wrote him off as a console elitist with no prior knowledge of whether or not he even owned a console

Maybe not but I could see where the conversation was going. But the OP was about what it "dumbing down console games" I gave my opinion, I just feel that overall Fallout 3 is a sub par game compared to others in not only the series but the genre. I mean cmon Oblivion had better characters, areas, more quests, and all round more to do plus you get all those sweet bugs. Sorry if I'm not satisfied with a sub par game, and don't understand where its praise comes from. I'm just stating my opinion everybody has one, deal with it.

 

[jboking]

In what possible way?

The only mindset that I was "suggesting" is that mindset that every developer has: The bigger profit, the better. Of course if the market for "dumb" games is the larger market, they will target it. It's their job.

Wonderful. But that's exactly what he was talking about. I'm surprised you can't see it. It's the idea that instead of producing games that are more enjoyable for all(effectively making two versions of the game - PC and Console), just make one 'dumber' version of the game because the potential profit looks so much more awesome. It's just begging that I make the inferior game. That's the only mindset he was talking about.

Also, there is quite a bit of incentive to create brand loyalty by considering the wishes of the player. Look at Valve. There are tons of people on here that would sell their soles to that company, because they do what is best for the player, not necessarily for the company. Brand loyalty can go a loooooooooong way.

I think you might have been coated in too much rage fuel over the comment itself to see how it applied.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

I find the controller more accurate then the mouse. Part of that is probably tuning the setup on my mouse for different games. Playing PC games hurt my hands, as I have messed them up in the past, so playing my 360 is more sensible. I don't like the saying because I use them both. I think it is outdated and is only used by PC Fanboy Elitists. There are many of those here.

 

[Legendsmith]

I think it is outdated and is only used by PC Fanboy Elitists. There are many of those here.

I agreed with you up until there.
Please explain how the mouse is outdated.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

You say that and yet just because I like Fallout 2 people say its a terrible game. For me Fallout 3 is bad because it was buggy, they dumbed down the orginals survival in the wasteland, and Oblivion was a better version of Fallout 3. That is why I do not enjoy the game, its not because its new or anything the devs just didn't give a crap.

Who said Fallout 2 was terrible? I love it personally, in fact I was just playing it yesterday. I just hate the combat and much prefer the way it's done in F3.

What I'm saying is it's all down to taste, to me the 'miss, miss, hit, miss, miss, hit...', purely luck based combat of the originals feels much 'dumber' than the FPS shooting of the latter.

 

[kahlzun]

I'm pretty sure what they refer to is the control scheme (ie: less buttons)

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

It is just a derogatory way of saying a game was simplified so it would even work[/] on a console.