I don't play on a PC so suck it!

[PurplePlatypus]

It can be a bit of a weird comparison sometimes. Computers aren?t consoles, it exists for more than just that so computers + internet is open to certain thing and isn?t under the same controls as consoles. Consoles are more like the workings of a digital distribution platform on computers in terms of restrictions. This can be a bonus for indie developers; they can put out a game on the internet, advertise + network it and update it and what have you a will. It?s also why mods are available for computers in a much more open way than they can be for consoles.

The mouse allows for a different type of interface, games in the genre of RTS favour this; the mouse is quite nice for aiming. On the flip side I would say the keyboard is quite difficult to get used to at first. Controllers favours certain type of games and keyboard + mouse favours certain type of games. Keyboard has a tonne of buttons to hotkey, the analogy stick can allow for a gradient in movement. You need a run button on the keyboard, running with an analogy stick means you just need to push it forward all the way.

Digital distribution platform sales. Ok consoles are now equipped with their own store but I haven?t seen as good a deals as on the computer. Although that?s mostly due to Steam being the ruling emperor of it.

Although in certain areas consoles are a bit less of a hassle. There are downsides to having something as open as computers. With consoles, games are specifically made for that thing with that hardware and software. With computers things develop differently meaning games may not work on your system. Hardware is one issue, not a huge one but it's there. Whatever your hardware is a game that exists will run on it even if you need to go for older ones. No the huge issue is what OS you use and what will be available to you with that.

Personally I think consoles and the computer are great.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Ok I am going to say this right now neither is better overall. What the PC is better at is Community support through mods. The only thing remotely close to this on consoles is LPB and possibly Halo Reach's Forge. I do not care what your preference is keyboard and mouse is better for aiming in FPS games than a controller, Big sales on things like Steam, overall cheaper games, usually a slightly better community due to bans. Ther are others this is just off the top of my head.

Also a myth is that PCs cost over a grand(in euro anyway) and you have to upgrade them every year. I have had mine for 4 years and have not upgraded it in any way. Still plays games fine. The only thing mine needs is a bit more RAM. If you are paying 1,000 or over and building it yourself you are getting something with a bit longevity. It will also be quite high end but not God tiered.

How could I forget about probably the best thing ever. Dedicated servers trump matchmaking P2P no question in almost all cases.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'm pleasantly surprised at how civil this thread turned out, when I saw the OP I was thinking it was be a raging inferno.

OT:

PC gaming has a lot of features that give it an advantage over console gaming. But it's all down to what you prefer. I like the simple ease of just throwing the disc in my 360 and playing away, and I'll happily sacrifice an extra 5% accuracy for the comfort of a controller over a mouse.

 

[TilMorrow]

I feel sad that my PC doesn't have the ability to be upgraded and used to play games made these days . Not only does it support a graphics card type that isn't sold where I live anymore ([sub]stupid PCI and AGP or whatever it was[/sub]) but it doesn't have more slots for ram or memory as well. At least I have an up-to-date-ish laptop that enables me to play some games but the disk drive has now died on it... Welp I guess I need a new desktop!

 

[RanD00M]

You have to upgrade it every year instead of every 5-6 years.

I do hope that'S sarcasm because my PC is in it's third year of service and it can still run all new games on medium to medium high, and it was a mid-end computer when I got it sooooo...

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

I went back to PC last fall, and I haven't looked back. The graphics are noticeably better. You can actually play MMOs and strategy games. You can use mouse/keyboard (better for FPS) or stick with the 360 controller (third person games). You can buy virtually any game online, often at greatly reduced prices. With most games, I can find and easily install mods that fix things I don't like (for instance: in my DA2, Aveline isn't fugly).

The downsides? Yeah, I haven't really experienced those. Putting the machine together was surprisingly easy. I've had next to no issues with drivers or hardware conflicts, and Steam now takes care of all my updates. I use the exact same HDTV and chair I use for console gaming, so there's no lack of comfort. I did spend a grip on the hardware, but I've saved hundreds more on Steam sales.

I know people want to be fair and balanced on this issue, but it's just a no-brainer. I can't imagine someone in my position, with access to all three major platforms (PC, PS3, 360), even considering the notion that they're all basically equal with different strengths and weaknesses. People who do believe such nonsense tend to fall into two camps: 1) either too tech-fraid or budget-challenged to buy a PC, or 2) folks going out of their way (and logic's way) in order to avoid ruffling feathers.

I only bother to turn on my PS3 or 360 to play a very small handful of exclusives. If not for them, I'd probably sell both consoles.

 

[Kingjackl]

I like to look at the difference between PCs and consoles is like the distance between sprinting and endurance racing. PCs are sprinting- they operate on a policy of bursts of high performance followed by high maintenance. With a PC, you would either upgrade it once a year at a moderate price or once every four or five years at a high price. The end result is vastly better performance, but more work required and a bigger hole in your wallet.

Consoles conversly are based on a policy of keeping a consistent speed for an extended period of time. Consoles require no upgrading, which limits their overall performance potential, but don't run the risk of lagging behind that PCs do and generally last a lot longer before needing to be upgraded.

It basically comes down to preference. I prefer a relaxed, risk-free gaming environment, so I tend to go for the consoles. But I think we can all agree that people who like to rave about how VASTLY superior their own choice of gaming platform is to the alternatives are wankers, plain and simple.

 

[Hashime]

I feel sad that my PC doesn't have the ability to be upgraded and used to play games made these days . Not only does it support a graphics card type that isn't sold where I live anymore ([sub]stupid PCI and AGP or whatever it was[/sub]) but it doesn't have more slots for ram or memory as well. At least I have an up-to-date-ish laptop that enables me to play some games but the disk drive has now died on it... Welp I guess I need a new desktop!

Wait, AGP or standard PCI?

You can easily get both online, though they will be crappy by today's standards.

 

[Syntax Error]

In 4 years of having this computer I've changed the graphics card once. Beyond that I added a new hard drive and DVD drive, but didn't need to add either, those were simply for convenience. You really don't need to upgrade a PC very often at all. Still cheaper to own a console, but because graphics have really plateau'd recently, the whole PC's becoming obsolete in a year thing has really died.

It was never true in the first place, IMO.

 

[Aphex Demon]

You can do fucking ANYTHINGGGGGGGGGGGG on it. Apart from play Xbox on it.... ?

 

[Dott]

Tell me why I should care.

So long as you don't play games on the Wii, everything is just dandy.
(Because the Wii is shit - everyone knows it, Yahtzee said it, it's true. Period.)

 

[GameMaNiAC]

Better graphics, the ability to mod, and player-run servers for multiplayer. But when it comes right down to it, I don't think either form of gaming is superior, and anyone who thinks one is superior to the other is full of it.

Yeah, that sums it up for me.

 

[gellert1984]

ive have a bunch of friends who play PC and they think that consoles are worse and so im like screw that but i also see that there are alot of reviewers who also use pc and im just wonadering... whats so special about PC?

Consoles are easy, plug 'n' play, rarely break down, (although this seems to be untrue for the more recent gen.), usually cheaper. But once they're kaput you need to either buy a new one or ship them back to a company for repair/replacement.

PC's tend to be more complex, more can go wrong with them, especially on the software end, you need to be at least a little savvy to use them effectively (which a lot of people can't be assed with these days). But you tend to get better graphics (depending on how much money you throw at your box) mods for games that increase replayability and parts are easily replaced and upgraded, extending the usable life of a PC. Also most games come out for PC eventually, though not always strictly legally.

Another note on mods; there have been games released in the past by companies that either went bankrupt at release (Vampire:TM:Bloodlines) or just release buggy games (SW:KOTR II). Now these games had incredible promise but were almost unplayable at release, I had KOTOR II on Xbox and it was terribly buggy. But a few modders (or in the case of Vampire the crew who actually made the game then lost there jobs) work out the kinks and release unofficial patches to make these games playable, and awsome games they are. Also hi-def mods increase replayability of much older games. Freeware games like Mekteks re-release of MW4, flash games and shareware mean theres usually something to do if you're willing to look, which is again the problem, people tend to want things now and quickly.

It also has to be said that PC games are generally cheaper than Console games, I have a high end custom made PC and people express shock at how much it cost me, but if I bough the games for 360 or PS3 that I bought for my PC I'd pay almost half again in royalties.

 

[sb666]

I think this website is mainly populated by pc gamers. anyway the pc is better for fps and rts games i dont see any difference between fps games on pc and console my self, but that's the most common reason. I my self play pc and consoles. Now i think i might need a flame shield.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

well, i guess did kinda go high range, but still that was 1600. true that for less then 1000 i could've gotten a computer that exceeds the current consoles in terms of power. but then running games at full settings with screen capture on wouldn't be so easy now would it?

Yes, and if I had $5k+ to blow I could build a computer that would render high quality 3D images in under an hour while I gamed but I wouldn't use that price tag as the average cost of a gaming rig.

 

[RadiusXd]

well, i guess did kinda go high range, but still that was 1600. true that for less then 1000 i could've gotten a computer that exceeds the current consoles in terms of power. but then running games at full settings with screen capture on wouldn't be so easy now would it?

Yes, and if I had $5k+ to blow I could build a computer that would render high quality 3D images in under an hour while I gamed but I wouldn't use that price tag as the average cost of a gaming rig.

alright alright, i'm sorry.
something that people would actually do though is 3D, and that in full settings on the most demanding games is pushing over 1000. at least give me that, please.

 

[Sansha]

ive have a bunch of friends who play PC and they think that consoles are worse and so im like screw that but i also see that there are alot of reviewers who also use pc and im just wonadering... whats so special about PC?

Good.

When a PC user switches to console, the average IQ of both groups increases.

 

[Baneat]

You have to upgrade it every year instead of every 5-6 years.

I do hope that'S sarcasm because my PC is in it's third year of service and it can still run all new games on medium to medium high, and it was a mid-end computer when I got it sooooo...

It's more like, we have the choice to upgrade it and improve, and consoles are locked down to newer generations for upgrades. Given the choice, we tend to pick what we like. Rand00m likes to upgrade it not-so-often, I go for about 2 years, and some real enthusiasts overhaul every year.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

It has it's place, but it isn't the master gaming machine many people make it out to be.

On the one hand, the mods are AWESOME, the prices are better and the DLC is often free, but on the other hand, there are massive amounts of glitches, crashes and errors as well as not being nearly as fun or engaging as a console.