PC Elitism: Pros, Cons, Even more cons, and why it really shouldn't matter.

[Schtoobs]

I'm pretty sure a lot of this stems from a lack of cross-platform interaction. Whenever you segregate people they band together and call it community but it's closer to a mob when interacting with other communities. I bet people wouldn't feel so pigeon-holed or feel the need to defend "their" platform or attack "other peoples" platforms if they could all play multiplayer together regardless of platform. I know "it wouldn't be fair because different controllers" but most people don't win many games online and even less care whether they do or not. Most people would rather play with their friends and lose than play with a bunch of strangers and win. As others have said, it's about fun after all.

Considering the connectivity and speed of communication we have nowadays it's ridiculous that we can't play together. I wish more gamers would kick up a stink about this. I'd love to hear someone at a PlayStation (for example!) public Q&A ask the question "Will I be able to play with my friends on XBox and PC?" followed up with "Why not?".

 

[Terramax]

Most people don't care about power and graphics. They care more about convenience. Both in how they acquire and play games and hardware. Even if a PC were the same price as a console, but still more powerful, they're still more inconvenient.

Personally, I'd still be happy playing games of Gamecube graphics and power. It's all been shiny bells and whistles since then.

PC also lacks the variety in terms of good games. Most PC exclusives are indie and low-budget games that most people don't want to play.

These aren't just elements that affect gaming. In lots of industries, from retail to car insurance all sell more on convenience and choice than they do quality.

 

[SKBPinkie]

For me, it always comes down to this - are there any console exclusive games that I'm interested in?

Yes. Hell yes, in fact. Pretty much about half of my favorite games ever have been only on consoles. Halo, Monster Hunter, Naughty Dog's games, Gears of War, Forza, a few PSP games from back in the day, etc.

But then again, if these were all available on PCs and it was guaranteed that every game, ever, would come out on every system in existence, then yes, of course I'd get a powerful enough PC to play every game. But given the current situation, why would I move on to a system that doesn't have a lot of the games that I'm interested in?

 

[Panorama]

I own both ps3 and pc, if you had asked me say 6-7 years ago why i hated the console mainly it was for them doing really crappy ports over to the pc for early 360 games but as time has gone on they no longer just straight port it over with no alternations, but i have no anger and love both my pc and ps3, currently catching up on my ps3 play time now playing the last of us.

 

[Terramax]

But out of morbid curiosity, I'll ask anyways: what exactly can a console do that a PC can't? What is this hypothetical "offroad" that the console is capable of, that a PC somehow can't do?

See most post.

1.) Convenience - consoles are smaller, easier to set up and access the content you want, you don't have to pay for an OS, or deal with an OS at all, and they're a one-size-fits all rather than being bogged down with choosing specs, etc, which 99% of human beings don't want to have to deal with.

2.) Different kinds of games. Certain games on PC for a particular demographic of gamer, games unique to consoles that appeal to a different demographic. That's where I get the analogy of the two vehicle models. And it makes complete sense to me.

For instance, no point me owning a PC as I don't give a darn about obscure indie titles, MMOs, FPS, and RTS (although I do happen to own a PC).

Let me know when fighters, Cave shmups, arcade racers, split screen 4 player, and decent platformers by Japanese devs (usually superior to Western platformers) hit the PC, and then we'll talk.

And please don't say it's "it's more easily distributed to a wider audience", because just about everyone owns some device other than a console which is capable of playing games, be it a PC or tablet or smartphone. Consoles are HARDLY the most convenient way to expand the gaming medium any more.

They're more convenient than a PC, and that's what matters. Phones and tablets have nothing to do with it, seeing as they're not capable of playing the same games on a big screen (as far as I'm aware). Aren't they ultimately touch screen only these days? A pretty huge handicap if you want to play most games.

Actually it's more because of the recent trend towards "casual" gaming more than anything else. Which you can pin on two different sources: the Nintendo Wii's focus on casual gamers, and PC/mobile games designed for the casual audience (everything from Facebook games to Fruit Ninja).

Nope. Even before that period of time, video games were eclipsing cinema. Perhaps it's been sped up with the casual market, but don't forget the wave of new gamers that came out of the PSX generation, and the PS2 after that. Various demographics of people, whom had not touched games before for fear of being considered uncool, were happily playing the likes of Resident Evil, Tomb Raider and Fifa. 'Playstation' became a household name.

 

[Charli]

Here's a thought, how about everyone stops having a damn persecution complex and plays some fucking video games?


Because at the end of the day, that's all we really want from any of these things.

*raises coffee cup*

Quite so. Quite so.

Now where did I put my backlog of shit I needed to play.

 

[Rellik San]

PC also lacks the variety in terms of good games. Most PC exclusives are indie and low-budget games that most people don't want to play.

Wait... what?

"Yes, I mean that original Half-Life... whooo boy, no one wanted that did they? What about that darned Quake 3 Arena? Man that was trash that barely sold anything, Shadowrun returns, clearly nobody wanted to play that what with it's massive kickstarter success... and man don't even get me started about what a waste of money Star Citizen is, I mean really? A PC only space sim in this day and age? Who in their right mind would want that? Don't even get me started on Dawn of War or the Total War games... I mean psh... RTS? Who even plays that right? Sim City? How could that even ever be considered fun? And I don't know about you, but I always struggle finding anyone to play DOTA with, how about you?

And as for Starcraft? What even is that?"



Ok that's enough belabouring of the point. With maybe the exception of Shadowrun, not a single one of those games could be called bad (in Sim City's case horribly mismanaged yes, but not bad), or low budget... and looking at sales figures, I'd also say pretty darn successful. So with that in mind, tell me, what do you consider a true success critically and commerciall that everyone wants to play and has variety? Otherwise this just kinda sounds like a straw man of the most obscene magnitude I've ever heard.

But out of morbid curiosity, I'll ask anyways: what exactly can a console do that a PC can't? What is this hypothetical "offroad" that the console is capable of, that a PC somehow can't do?

See most post.

1.) Convenience - consoles are smaller, easier to set up and access the content you want, you don't have to pay for an OS, or deal with an OS at all, and they're a one-size-fits all rather than being bogged down with choosing specs, etc, which 99% of human beings don't want to have to deal with.

2.) Different kinds of games. Certain games on PC for a particular demographic of gamer, games unique to consoles that appeal to a different demographic. That's where I get the analogy of the two vehicle models. And it makes complete sense to me.

For instance, no point me owning a PC as I don't give a darn about obscure indie titles, MMOs, FPS, and RTS (although I do happen to own a PC).

Let me know when fighters, Cave shmups, arcade racers, split screen 4 player, and decent platformers by Japanese devs (usually superior to Western platformers) hit the PC, and then we'll talk.

1.> This is a fallacy, firmware updates are "dealing with an OS" as you'd put it, as for not wanting to chose specs, etc. if that was the case Apple would own more than 5% of the total home computer market. You're speaking in broad strokes here. You can't even claim hardware stability as RROD and YLOD have shown in the past. The truth is and as many have said, the days of console convenience are long, long past.

2.> Except the PC has a lot of Fighters (KoF, GG, SF, etc.), arguably the ultimate arcade racer (Trackmania) and is getting a decent amount of love from Japanese Devs these days. CAVE shooters, admittedly not so much, all you've done is show you don't really know much about PC Software or the way it seems to be heading. :S Of course, I'm not saying PC is better for your tastes, I'll concede a console as your better option. But don't presume to make a statement like 99% of the populace agree with you. when as clearly demonstrated they don't.





Also what's with these "obscure indies" comments?
What does that even mean? Most of the indie games I hear PC Gamers talk about are hardly obscure, or is that the new catch all for games that don't release to console now? It sounds like the kind of comment I hear at work when discussing movies and say "did you ever see the original?" and get back "I don't like older films, they are for cinema nerds."

 

[The Lunatic]

Obviously PCs are better than consoles.

Like, really, how can you see something that can literally do everything another can do, but, better, and not think "Hum, maybe this is just better."

Obviously, it comes at a cost.

PC is the enthusiast's choice, consoles are fine for a hobbyist.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I'm pretty sure a lot of this stems from a lack of cross-platform interaction. Whenever you segregate people they band together and call it community but it's closer to a mob when interacting with other communities. I bet people wouldn't feel so pigeon-holed or feel the need to defend "their" platform or attack "other peoples" platforms if they could all play multiplayer together regardless of platform. I know "it wouldn't be fair because different controllers" but most people don't win many games online and even less care whether they do or not. Most people would rather play with their friends and lose than play with a bunch of strangers and win. As others have said, it's about fun after all.

Considering the connectivity and speed of communication we have nowadays it's ridiculous that we can't play together. I wish more gamers would kick up a stink about this. I'd love to hear someone at a PlayStation (for example!) public Q&A ask the question "Will I be able to play with my friends on XBox and PC?" followed up with "Why not?".

Because PC offers unfair advantages, namely mouse and keyboard.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_microsoft_killed_pcxbox_cross-platform_play_because_%E2%80%9Cconsole_players_got_destroyed_every_time%E2%80%9D

Unless it's a co-op focused game any sort of crossplay has resulted in one side destroying the other.

Until a console comes out with a controller that eliminates the need for auto-aim or the ability to use a mouse any sort of head to head gameplay will be horrible and unbalanced.

And I for one don't think that the COD kiddies would like that, no matter what you say about people who love to loose.

 

[Shadowstar38]

But out of morbid curiosity, I'll ask anyways: what exactly can a console do that a PC can't? What is this hypothetical "offroad" that the console is capable of, that a PC somehow can't do?

And please don't say it's "it's more easily distributed to a wider audience", because just about everyone owns some device other than a console which is capable of playing games, be it a PC or tablet or smartphone. Consoles are HARDLY the most convenient way to expand the gaming medium any more.

I...don't think you can hook your tablet or smart phone up to your tv and controller and run COD. At least not anything I've seen.

Even though a PC can do both of those, it's still way more of a pain in the ass to use. I don't want to waste my time looking at system requirements for new games, finding out why something's crashing, or open the machine up. I need a machine that can just play everything they make for said machine for years with no bullshit.

PC is the enthusiast's choice, consoles are fine for a hobbyist.

That sound pretentious as fuck dude.

 

[Miss G.]

I guess it just sounds like PC Gamers are elitist when enough of them start going on and on about rigs, a cornucopia of specs/terms I don't even understand, PC is best platform for gaming, you know the ones. It would be childish to lump all of them with what I'm hoping is a minority, I've not been in online communities long enough to say for sure, yet. At the end of the day, PCs are too much effort and expense while not even having (enough of) my genre on it as compensation, let alone nice exclusives that I actually want to play, so I don't see it as the (elite) gaming platform some make it out to be.

Or, the most smug of all. Which is a computer user, its just not a pc though. Its the people who use Macs. Spend 3 times as much on equipment that is exactly the same power as a plain pc/laptop. Then they brag about it, they are more interested in being seen using an apple than anything.

I doubt that's the case for every Apple user. I use a MacBook Pro just because its easy to use and gives me peace of mind, that is something I (and mine) don't mind paying for. I've never had the latter with my old desktop PCs and laptop and I can safely say that had we known then what we know now, my family would've never had anything but Macs in the first place as it would've saved us lots of time and money in the long run.

 

[kasperbbs]

I have found there are more threads and posts complaining about PC gamers being smug than I have seen actual posts and threads where PC gamers are smug.

That being said...

Here's a thought, how about everyone stops having a damn persecution complex and plays some fucking video games?


Because at the end of the day, that's all we really want from any of these things.

I agree.

It's okay to like different things to other people.

Thats pretty much all that i wanted to say, threads about PC gamers being dicks keep poping up, but i can't seem to find any of these people that everyone is so enraged about.

 

[darron13]

I game on both PC and consoles (and handhelds if those count?) but for the life of me I don't get elitism on EITHER side. It really sort of DAMAGES any point you're going to make when you put it forward in a snobby "I'm better than thou" sorta way.

 

[Snotnarok]

I'm all for using what you want, whatever really makes ya happy however some things you say I disagree with...

Being both an owner of PC and console I have to ask: Put in a game and play? Most economic?
Everytime I boot up my PS3 without fail it requires me to install an update for the PS3, then a update for the game sometimes the PSN and despite my internet being quite fast the updates can take up to 25 minutes, this is on top of having to install the game most of the time and that too takes 15 minutes or more. If this was the PS2 or lower era, uh, yeah that is the most simple and awesome way to hop into a game, no argument there
PC the game updates in the background...and does it in 2 minutes tops.

Okay PCs can cost upwards from $500-$1500 dollars to get going sure, but given the outrageous steam sales or Green Man Gaming sales you get games at a fraction of the cost. I don't think I've spent over $25 dollars on a PC game in the last 2 years vs console where I really wanted to play The Last of Us, and the best price I could find was used: $55 dollars.
How many games does it take till that 60 dollar price really catches you up? Pretty quick. Borderlands 2 for $15 on sale vs $60 on console (when I got it)is a large difference...

Often I don't find it's PC elitism, I have PS3, PSvita, 3DS, hell I play the hell out of my GBA SP+ still....and my game gear. But I need a good workstation for my job and hobby: art, so this leads into having a decent gaming platform and I've found it to be far less expensive gaming mainly on console. Console gaming was fun in the previous gen where it was really easy to just drop a disc in sit back and play and the biggest worry was if your memory card had the space, now it's more tedious to get into a game and that's been a complaint I've seen growing recently, maybe next gen will suss it out but I still personally find the prices hard to swallow.

But that's me, play what makes ya happy, if you want to sit back on the couch in a 1 button push on a device and play? Well I'd tell you that's possible with a PC anyway but do what makes ya happy! ...Unless you're playing a game that I'm playing, then try and get it on the same platform. D:

 

[lacktheknack]

Everyone has made their decision based on their financial situation, willingness to work, access to peers in multiplayer, preference in genre, preference of input, and preference in location (ie. desk or couch).

Ergo, elitism is useless.

Change their priority set, and they may be willing to talk.

 

[Vegosiux]

If the PC master race were truly superior, they would not need to gloat about it.

But...but....but...

But now my plan to become a supervillain and take over the world just disappeared in a puff of logic!

Back to the ol' drawing board...

Also, PC gamer cause
1) I don't own a TV
2) I need a powerful PC anyway for the kind of work that I do
3) Mods and input customization.

Now, the moment the concept of platform exclusives dies the agonizing death it deserves, I have no further complaints.

 

[loc978]

To be honest, myself, I don't give a flying fuck about what is better. I am currently working my way through a back log of PS1 and PS2 games that I wished I had when I was a kid (my bucket list I just couldn't afford!) and my PS2 is better than any of your PCs and next gen stuff. It has all functionality offline. It has lasted me the last 3 years, and was only £20 when I got it. It has an enormous (PS2 and PS1) library and all the tried and tested games. It also works perfectly offline, the games are cheap, and loads of games have splitscreen up to 4 players for a great evening with drinks...

err... anyone with a half-decent laptop from 5 years ago can emulate a PS2 flawlessly, using their optical drive to play the proprietary discs. For the PS1, make that 12 years ago... also, anyone with a first-gen PS3... I'd guess the device you used to post to this site is more than capable.

I have 3 PS2s gathering dust now, even though I play PS2 games regularly...