Just about finished with PC Gaming...

[GonzoGamer]

For disscussion value, has there actually been anyone else who has moved from PC Gaming to Console Gaming?

I actually moved from console gaming to pc gaming. I'm fed up with the consoles this generation: you got a piece of crap with good support and a well made console with shitty support.
The PC is the only thing that has the potential (it does take a little effort on the users part) of having both.
The only thing I still use my ps3 for is rentals.

 

[Wolfram23]

Well there's a lot of things that can be going on here. I mean "they" (who are "they?") won't usually replace a motherboard unless it's totally defective, but that's also not exactly common.

I wouldn't be surprised if either dust build up caused over heating (you know you have to clean out the CPU and GPU heat sinks at least once a year, if not every 6 months?) or else the power supply is dying and fucking your shit up.

OP: I'd suggest you figure out what your specs are and go over to Tom's Hardware, where a bunch of helpful computer geeks like myself can direct you through the troubleshooting. That is, unless wherever you're getting it fixed is doing it for free.

 

[Sleekgiant]

Learn to IT

Honestly PS3 and 360 consoles can fail just as much as a computer if you don't know what you are doing.

I've only had one PC issue in the years I've owned computers and it only took me 10 minutes to figure out the problem.

 

[ohnoitsabear]

So your PC happens to suck and therefore all games for PC sucks?? Logic Everyone!!

Never said PC Games suck.

Also we did find out the problem with my computer, the HDD they put in was faulty, luckly they're coming to fix it.

I can't fix it myself as no one in my family knows how to make or fix a computer.

Well then let me explain just about everything you will need to know to fix a computer.

Step 1: Find out exactly what the symptoms of the problem are.

"It doesn't work" is not a valid answer. Remember everything that you do that causes the problem to happen, such as opening a program or turning the computer on. Next record EVERYTHING that is abnormal, and write down ALL error codes. If you need to restart the computer multiple times to get this information, do it; it probably won't make anything worse.

Eventually, you will probably be able to figure out exactly what's important, but at first, stick with this.

Step 2: Figure out exactly what is causing the problem.

If it is an issue with a specific program, type in the program name (and version number, if know it), the symptoms of the problem, and any error messages you had into google. Try to find a page where someone has the exact same problem as you.


If the problem isn't associated with a specific program, then type the following into google:

The symptoms
Error messages
Applicable hardware. If you bought a pre-built computer, just type in the model (it should be on the case).

Then, as above, find a page where someone has the exact same problems as you.

If you can't find anyone with the same problem as you, post your symptoms and hardware in your computer or hardware manufacturer's forums, the forums for your software, or a general tech support forum.

Step 3: Fix the problem.

Follow the solution on the page you found exactly. If you don't know how to do something, google how to do that.

If the problem is a hardware malfunction, contact the customer support of the hardware manufacturer.

If the solution is something that you are uncomfortable or incapable of doing, then and only then contact a computer repair person.

Step 4: Make sure everything works.

Do everything you did in step 1 to make the problem happen and see if it happens again. If it does happen again, return to step 2.

 

[floobie]

I can sympathize. I recently sold my gaming PC for the same reason. PC gaming is fun, but keeping a PC working reliably has the potential to be quite a pain in the ass. I got sick of using Windows (my main computer is a Macbook... personal preference, no need to get into it), sick of dealing with the buggy mess that is Steam, sick of save games randomly corrupting, sick of games randomly just ceasing to work (Fallout 3, Mirror's Edge, Serious Sam HD, but not the rest of my Steam library all stopped working one day out of nowhere)... blech. Realistically, it was just a string of bad luck on my part. But, it was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. I'm sure I could've troubleshooted for a day or two and gotten everything working again. But, I just couldn't be bothered.

My Playstation 3 has been wonderfully reliable since I got it. And, of the games I play, only a handful are PC exclusive. And, lucky for me, those also run on OS X (mostly Blizzard games).

What I have now... my PS3 and my Macbook... it's just easier. I have a lot of interests and precious little time to pursue them all. Troubleshooting a computer isn't one of them. It's just a waste of my time. So, fuck it.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

So it's not PC gaming, just PCs you have a problem with.

If you don't know how to maintain a PC I wouldn't recommend PC gaming.

....ummmm..does that involve?

-adequte cooling
-virus checks
-not downloading seedy looking crap
-de-fragging now and again
-backing up your hardrive


did I miss anything? (because at some point Id wanna get back into PC gaming)

I would add: 'pulling your PC apart every six months for a clean out and a good dusting'.

I do regular system tune-ups and registry cleaning which also helps. Backing up data is an absolute must, but never discount physically cleaning your PC.

I've had my own gaming PC since early 2009 and I've upgraded in the last six months. Have had very few issues with it and I've had a great learning experience too. Down the road I plan to build my next rig from scratch (won't be for a while yet). Maintaining a PC can be a daunting prospect, but it's not all that hard if you buy and download smart and consistently run some simple maintenance routines.

well (time to put on my dunce cap)

Im are of the registry (what it is)..how does one go about cleaning it up?

Get CCleaner(already said) or something similar and Defragler(by the same group) and that will sort out all of your software related stuff. On the dust end don't be afraid to take a hoover/vacuum to your case AFTER taking it off but for internals I'm sure you know to be more gentle.

Also get Spybot Search and Destroy and if you wish to use a controller for certain games Joy to key might be helpful for stuff like emulators and games without proper controller support.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

Also, the first rule of PC's is to never trust your PC with anything important. Troubleshooting software/driver/virus problems is always a waste of time. Have a clean install image with working drivers that you can re-image onto your OS drive in under 10 minutes. If you keep all your files and all your games installed on the same drive as your OS, you're doomed.

Eh. Or once you get to the point where you know enough about what you're doing, you can transcend the need for doing that and just fix the problem instead a lot of the time and only resort to that in real emergencies. Sure, I have my OS and everything else mostly separate, and I back them up separately too, but if you actually do the troubleshooting instead of blowing it away and reinstalling/restoring from a clean image you learn enough about how everything works quickly enough that you don't end up in situations where you have to do that anymore. I'm pretty sure I've been on the same install of Win7 since the final release candidate from before it came out on my desktop, because it just works if you maintain it properly.

 

[targren]

Im are of the registry (what it is)..how does one go about cleaning it up?

Honestly, if you have to ask that question, you should not be doing anything in the registry, or you're well on your way to a format and reinstall. Messing around in there isn't something to be engaged lightly.

 

[Arina Love]

Yep i moved from PC gaming to console gaming, mainly due to games that consoles have that PC don't. i see my PS3 as universal device it can play all new and hot AAA tittles and have games that pc doesn't. Don't care about graphics or how much powerful pc is, i just want games. So yeah that's why i never upgraded my PC since 2006 and only going to buy new one when it breaks.

 

[awmperry]

For me, the thing tempting me to get a console is that... well, it always seems all the good stuff is console-exclusive. The PC is, and for the foreseeable future will remain, a more competent and powerful gaming platform. Problem is that consoles are much easier to develop for. No need to test alternative configurations, you know exactly what you've got to work with, and... how shall I put this... an on average less demanding audience. (Come on, fair's fair - the average Wii player isn't going to be as demanding as the average PC gamer.)

The upshot is that all the good stuff comes to consoles first - and then if it ever comes to PC, chances are it'll be a slapdash port and will never see any of the DLC (Burnout Paradise, Saints Row 2, I'm looking at you two.). This all results in people buying those games on consoles instead, so developers think the PC as a platform is dying, so they continue abandoning us PC holdouts in even greater numbers.

Developers: we PC gamers are still here, we still pay a premium for gaming on what to us is the best and most customisable system available. We are, on average, older and with more disposable income. We'd love a return to the glory days, where DLC was patches (or, believe it or not, actually part of the original game - a crazy idea, I know).

So yeah, I'd love to get an Xbox and a PS3. I probably will, when I have some cash to burn. But for the foreseeable future, the PC will remain, for me, the ultimate gaming rig. So please, devs, let us PC gamers get the same content as the console gamers.

 

[DustyDrB]

For me, the thing tempting me to get a console is that... well, it always seems all the good stuff is console-exclusive. The PC is, and for the foreseeable future will remain, a more competent and powerful gaming platform. Problem is that consoles are much easier to develop for. No need to test alternative configurations, you know exactly what you've got to work with, and... how shall I put this... an on average less demanding audience. (Come on, fair's fair - the average Wii player isn't going to be as demanding as the average PC gamer.)

The upshot is that all the good stuff comes to consoles first - and then if it ever comes to PC, chances are it'll be a slapdash port and will never see any of the DLC (Burnout Paradise, Saints Row 2, I'm looking at you two.). This all results in people buying those games on consoles instead, so developers think the PC as a platform is dying, so they continue abandoning us PC holdouts in even greater numbers.

Developers: we PC gamers are still here, we still pay a premium for gaming on what to us is the best and most customisable system available. We are, on average, older and with more disposable income. We'd love a return to the glory days, where DLC was patches (or, believe it or not, actually part of the original game - a crazy idea, I know).

So yeah, I'd love to get an Xbox and a PS3. I probably will, when I have some cash to burn. But for the foreseeable future, the PC will remain, for me, the ultimate gaming rig. So please, devs, let us PC gamers get the same content as the console gamers.

You could do what I did and get a PS3 used. It was cheap, though buying such hardware used is always a risk. It's worked out for me, and the PS3 is really the place to go for exclusives (that or the Wii. The 360, though it is my main platform, is pretty bad in that area). Speaking of a Wii, you can find it used for about $100 if not less. It might be worth it if you like Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and know of some Gamecube games you'd like to play.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

So it's not PC gaming, just PCs you have a problem with.

If you don't know how to maintain a PC I wouldn't recommend PC gaming.

This ^
Ugh, i've never done that before and the cringe now makes me never want to type it again, but if you ask me it's really a good point. For me the fact that i don't know a great deal about computers or how to maintain them properly is a lot of the reason i stay away from PC gaming.

That, and i'm not a big fan of online gaming, but if you're into online games i'd recommend playing on an Xbox without any voice chat open. (I don't actually own a 360 myself, but from what i see/hear the XBLA has way better online gaming support/opportunities than PSN)

I was exactly like you until about 6 months ago. It takes a bit more investments than consoles, but building a PC isn't that hard. I'm 16 and I can take apart and rebuild a computer. You don't need a degree in engineering or something.