Im tired of "Better Graphics" being a major argument of PC vs. Console

[BartyMae]

I care less about the graphics being superior and more about the graphics being anomaly-less and it running smoothly. I'd take a bit of antialiasing over larger textures or a greater amount of polygons any day...and the same for FPS.

 

[Evil Smurf]

So we're on the Escapist, one of the places where a common refrain among 360/ps3 users that criticizes the Wii is graphics but, when it comes to PC vs 360, the graphics argument suddenly becomes old and tired.

Wow. Simply...wow.

My Wii and I tip our hats to you.

 

[Araksardet]

As a dedicated PC gamer who doesn't care a whit about graphics, I'm always a little disappointed when my fellow PC elitists pull out graphics as the trump card in the PC vs consoles debate. Of course, I understand that it's really important to some people, and I wouldn't discount it entirely, but it's frequently presented as THE main selling point of PC gaming, often even the only point some people mention. When are graphics the only argument that gets mentioned, it feels like PC gaming is being sold short.

I love PC because of the mouse and keyboard (higher input accuracy + complexity), because of the cost (1 decent laptop + low Steam sale prices VS 1 console + 1 TV + higher game prices + 1 shitty laptop I'm going to need anyway), because of the openness (as a programmer and hobbyist game developer, this is a big plus), and because of the mods. I play Skyrim on the minimum settings and so long as the framerate is decent and there's no significant lag, I don't care that the textures are as sharp as pebbles. It's awesome that PC gaming can let us have such amazing graphics, if we want them, but there's a lot more to love too.

(Not that there's nothing to love about consoles, but for me the convenience of load-and-play doesn't outweigh all the other goodies. Of course, I'm aware that for other people, that convenience does matter more.)

 

[VoidWanderer]

As a primary console gamer, I understand why people want a game to be running at higher graphical fidelity.

However, the counter-arguement is, how much more development time is spent on making the game look pretty compared to say game mechanics and narrative?

The ONLY reason that the PC is better than consoles is when they game can be tweaked to work properly AKA Modding.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Well it sort of is a major argument, obviously.

There are plenty of other reasons as well, in fairness.

 

[BoredAussieGamer]

Given that for the majority of my PC gaming up to this point, I've had to play games on the lowest settings, I tend not to care about the graphics debate.

Yeah we have better graphics, sometimes we don't. The only real caveat to the graphics argument on the PC field that I can see is that in the future when the games graphics look aged, high resolution mods can be downloaded.

So I can understand where the OP is coming from. And given that there are numerous other arguments that work towards PC's favor, I tend to ignore the graphics argument. And besides, when we get to the point that individual pixels are the size of atoms, none of this shit is gonna matter anyway.

 

[Stainlesssteele4]

Name a game. I guarantee the controls can be modified via the config or ini files. I didn't say it had to be through the game, but every game can be modified.

Man, you're really trying to mince things here.

I could also modify a controller hurr durr.

You can't just discredit it though. I said every PC game's controls could be modified. Was I wrong? Just because it takes a bit of effort for some games doesn't make it not true. And on that note, .cfg editing is part of PC gaming; Most of us know how and what to do, like it's second nature. Also google.
Config files were meant to be configured.

 

[Kyr Knightbane]

I hate the whole PC vs Console argument. We're all gamers so we're all brothers (and sisters) in arms. Games are supposed to unite us and allow us to tackle monstrous odds and monsters. Take down rogue terrorists or sharpen our daggers and swords and allow us to defeat any number of undead or smelly orc hordes. PC, or PS3 or XBOX 360 or Wii, or DS or VITA or PSP, we should all put aside this ridiculous nonsense of being torn apart by being 'fans' of consoles or pc. WE SHOULD STAND TOGETHER!!!!

UNITE FOR THE GAME!!!!!!!

Well thats my 2 cents anywho

 

[sunsetspawn]

I use my PC to play things I can't play on the 360. I've done Gothic 2 and Deus Ex, and I'm currently going through Gothic 3 CP 1.75. I'm also currently prepping the Nehrim Oblivion thing, which isn't a mod but rather a whole new game. Oh, and I'll also play Oblivion with Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul (totally seperate from the Nehrim game in different folders and shit).

Vanilla Oblivion is dogshit that I couldn't get very far into before the level scaling made me ill.

Risen was great on the 360, and I really think the low scores were PC elitist dipshits spamming it downward or consoletards that hurr didn't know why they couldn't go everywhere right away durr.

So yeah, I use my PC when I need to but graphics mean fuck-all to me so I'd rather use the 360...

I will give it up though, Gothic 3 does look fantastic all maxed out, far superior to 360 games, and that shit is 6 years old.

 

[sunsetspawn]

Modding can possibly make a game more fun, I'll give you that. But customization is only an advantage if you know what all the shit in there is.

This is true. PC gaming is definitely not for everyone; it's for people like me who enjoy tweaking and fiddling with loads of different settings.

Enjoy? No, tolerate. Unfortunately in the realm of RPGs there are a lot of craptastic console games out there are the only way to get a decent experience is to get the PC title and sometimes deal with modding horseshit. "Here's my fucking money, make a decent product!"

When I start having to fiddle with shit because it's whack I get ornery, and when fans are better at programming and making gameplay than professionals you know the industry has serious issues.

I don't want to fiddle with computers in my free time.

Upgrading's fun if you like nerding out over hardware but if you just wanna play games I'd imagine it's a massive chore.

Indeed, but sometimes your hand is forced.

 

[C. Cain]

I always hear people, often on this website, saying that graphics don't matter at all and this is why older games are still good. So graphics don't matter, as long as its on PC?

Nope. Here's how it works:

- Good games are good irrespective of graphics.
- If there are two versions of the same game which only differ in their graphics and nothing else, then the version with better graphics is considered to be the superior one.

 

[C. Cain]

As a primary console gamer, I understand why people want a game to be running at higher graphical fidelity.

However, the counter-arguement is, how much more development time is spent on making the game look pretty compared to say game mechanics and narrative?

The ONLY reason that the PC is better than consoles is when they game can be tweaked to work properly AKA Modding.

That's hardly a given, now is it? Instead of focusing on game mechanics and narrative the shorter development time may also be used to churn out an ungodly amount of unnecessary sequels that only serve to milk an established franchise's cash cow.

And for some reason I'm inclined to believe that that's a more likely course for any given publisher than pouring their resources into a more innovative and refined project.

 

[peruvianskys]

With a console, you can pop a game in there from the begining of the console's lifespan to the end without worrying about minimum system requirements.

I could live in a tent and marvel at how I never have to worry about my electric bill going up, but it doesn't change the fact that my living situation is objectively worse.

 

[mdazfrench]

. . . while the rest of the argument on the other aspects of the PC version of the game is kinda sketchy and boil down to "because it on a PC hurr hurr"

Mod community, nuff said