PC Gaming is Cool And All... But...

[TheIronRuler]

Pc is a versitile tool. Gaming isn't its main finction. The consoles are dedicated for gaming.
I love my PC. It's great - I work on it and I also play on it. I just can't imagine buying something that's dedicated to do just one function, run games.

 

[The Lugz]

a console game is much cheaper than a PC one

'occasionally' may be cheaper... possibly?
steam is the big bugbear to that comment really but for the most part i see little difference between platforms

+-£5 on one game then +-£5 on another i reckon it evens out

 

[k-ossuburb]

I think one of the main advantages of a console over a PC (for me at least) is that it takes far less time to switch on a console, play a game, and then shut it off again when you're done. With PCs you've got to wait a while for everything to load up, then find the game then load it and when you want to turn it off you've got the hassle of shutting down the PC.

Some would say that it's better to just keep your PC running and sadly that's not an option for me, I've got to keep my power usage to a minimum because electricity isn't cheap. Oh yeah, and the environment yaddah yaddah.

As I noted, sleep mode uses very little energy (maybe 5 or 6 watts, but probably less than that). Hibernate is close to 0. You only need to restart a computer when you want to install updates to the operating system.

Heck, as long as you keep your XBox plugged in, it uses 2 Watts. You need to unplug it to get 0.

I'd still rather not risk it, it takes even less energy if I unplug it from the wall completely. I'm not exactly rolling in cash and the electricity bill isn't the only thing I've got to fork out for.

 

[scott91575]

What do you have, an abacus? 1 hour to install TF2? That is laughable. Are you talking about download?
No offense, but if you rethink your ideas on PC's you will find you have much more convenience than consoles.

Yes, I meant download. My ideas of PC's? I play PC more than I play console and there is a lot of hoops you have to jump through to play certain games that I find completely ridiculous.

If you want to really compare same games then fine ME2. Servers based on them, several different log ins to get the game, different pages for DLC and game. Troubleshooting and editing game files to solve bugs. There is a massive hassle for trying to get everything to work correctly for your particular system.

Yes once you get everything tuned your computer ends up giving you better performance but the amount of stuff you have to do is ridiculous. Which makes the simple put in disk, patch, play very appealing. You don't have to worry about updating your graphics card for that new game, or the daunting prospect of building a custom PC if something terrible happens (My motherboard broke once, and I decided to build a custom PC. Took several weeks as it was my first time and had almost no idea what I was doing.) People talk about failure rates in consoles but I've only had 1 console break whereas I've had motherboard, hard drive twice, graphics card twice, disk drive twice, and audio cards all break. And trouble shooting to try and find out what actually broke takes time. Plus seeing as how everything but the disk drive is going for about the amount as a console if they're good parts it makes more sense to get a console.

I started out with counter strike lan parties at wizard of the coast on the weekends when I was 10 till I got my own PC and played diablo 2 all day. I'm not some console fan boy who thinks PCs are terrible, PCs are remarkably better at almost everything comparatively to consoles. However, I have never been more frustrated with technology than I have with trying to get my PC to work for what I need it to do. Or when I have to do all these redundant checks just to play my game. As a whole ease of use and time spent fighting the tech to work I have seen consoles come out on top from that perspective.

Sorry, but I don't have the issues you keep stating. Sure, the Mass Effect DLC was a little bit of a pain, but that is a rare case. Much of that is EA trying to control DLC's on PC so they can get more money instead of doing it through Steam. Games that allow DLC through Steam are a piece of cake. That will more than likely be cleared up through the use of Origin (of course that is another can of worms). We shall see. Other than that, I can't think of a single game I had to modify anything just to get it to work right. Most of the time it's simply keeping drivers up to date. I have messed around with some settings that are not in the settings menu, but that is more of a modification instead of getting a game to work.

As for building a gaming PC, I did it in about 3 hours with no issues the first time I tried. I have since modified that same one many times and built a second one and it's almost second nature now. Yet you don't have to build a gaming pc. Plenty of places are willing to do that for you, or buy from an OEM. If you buy from an OEM you don't need to figure out anything, just like a console.

Now to the whole updating graphics cards. This has been dealt with about 50 times already in this thread. If you have a mid range card from 5 years ago (like a 8800GT) you can play any game out there. That is the same lifespan of the current consoles.

Sorry, I simply do not see all the hoops you seem to encounter. Maybe because I screw around so much with overclocking and bench marking I keep everything up to date. I also have 70 or so PC games, so those hoops you had to jump through I already did long ago. My EA account goes back a ways, and that is all I had to use for ME2. Although I do agree, jumping out of the game for DLC is not the best, but for most games getting DLC is as simple as buying it through Steam.

 

[grumbel]

Then there are the console gamers that try to justify what they truly know to be an inferior system by spreading propaganda as to why a console is better when none of the reasons truly are console exclusive and cant be done on a PC.

Consoles are much easier to use, a PC can't replicate that and no amount of money will change that. A little fact that PC gamers like to ignore.

What self defense? you mean when PC gamers complain about the outdated console hardware that is the very reason the ports are so crappy?

And yet PC gamer having no problem proudly proclaiming how their PC will now last 4 year instead of 2, when the very reason why that is the case are crappy console ports. Without those ports they would be back to a 2 year upgrade cycle and all their arguments would break down. Also it seems to be hard for some people to understand, but some gamers play games because of games, not because of 1080p with anti-aliasing. So aside from graphical details, basically every multiplatform title has been exactly the same on console and PC.

Also the whole PC are more powerful then consoles is flat out bullshit. A PC isn't one thing, its hundreds of different potential configuration. Most PCs out there are stuck with integrated graphics card that are completely unusable for gaming. So an expensive gamer PC, sure will outperform a console any time, my four year old mid-range PC has trouble even running some modern games which my PS3 has no problem with.

You mean the legitimate complaints about ports having clunky controls that just shows poor design and we would like them to spend more than 1 shift setting up the controls?

While that is certainly a valid complaint, it's not the consoles peoples fault that their platform is much more user friendly and profitable for developers.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Is the small advantage that the keyboard+mouse provide worth diabetees, heart disease, spinal problems and even cancer?

Are you suggesting that if I was lying my fat ass down instead of sitting on it I'd be at less risk from diabetes, heart disease and cancer? Science please?

Well, first of, your blood pressure is higher while sitting than while lying down, which can lead to heart disease. (this is common knowledge)

Secondly, long time sitting obviously leads to colon cancer.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303499204576387843134027056.html

Sitting and spinal injuries are linked a lot, this is also common knowledge.
http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_Chair_Sit2.htm

The link with diabeetes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0610-stand_up_for_your_health.htm

Can I get a touche? (I actually had to spend some time finding these links)

Oh I really wasn't taking the piss, I was genuinely interested as I'm already at high risk from diabetes and if sitting is really increasing that chance then I wanted to know >.> But I suppose if it'll make your day brighter, touché!

 

[Simeon Ivanov]

I feel like something went wrong with your first paragraph, did you mean to say that a PC game is much cheaper than a console one (plus pirating)? It doesn't make sense otherwise.

I meant that a PC game is cheaper that a console game, and that you can always pirate a game for free, if you wanna save money. I know that console game can be pirated too, but you need to hack your console, which can really bug it out (so I've heard).

 

[scott91575]

Then there are the console gamers that try to justify what they truly know to be an inferior system by spreading propaganda as to why a console is better when none of the reasons truly are console exclusive and cant be done on a PC.

Consoles are much easier to use, a PC can't replicate that and no amount of money will change that. A little fact that PC gamers like to ignore.

What self defense? you mean when PC gamers complain about the outdated console hardware that is the very reason the ports are so crappy?

And yet PC gamer having no problem proudly proclaiming how their PC will now last 4 year instead of 2, when the very reason why that is the case are crappy console ports. Without those ports they would be back to a 2 year upgrade cycle and all their arguments would break down. Also it seems to be hard for some people to understand, but some gamers play games because of games, not because of 1080p with anti-aliasing. So aside from graphical details, basically every multiplatform title has been exactly the same on console and PC.

Also the whole PC are more powerful then consoles is flat out bullshit. A PC isn't one thing, its hundreds of different potential configuration. Most PCs out there are stuck with integrated graphics card that are completely unusable for gaming. So an expensive gamer PC, sure will outperform a console any time, my four year old mid-range PC has trouble even running some modern games which my PS3 has no problem with.

You mean the legitimate complaints about ports having clunky controls that just shows poor design and we would like them to spend more than 1 shift setting up the controls?

While that is certainly a valid complaint, it's not the consoles peoples fault that their platform is much more user friendly and profitable for developers.

A four year old computer with a mid range CPU and GPU will be able to play even the most graphics intensive PC only games (not ports, but games like Metro 2033). You may not be able to play them at 1080P and above, but you will be able to play them (which is the same with consoles).

As for games your PS3 has no problem with, please let me know your components on your four year old mid range PC.

As to unusable integrated graphics, how about splurging for a $100 GPU which will be way more powerful than a console GPU? Of course, with the new integrated graphics entering the market, they are actually approaching the power of current consoles.

 

[Throwitawaynow]

Sorry, but I don't have the issues you keep stating. As for building a gaming PC, I did it in about 3 hours with no issues the first time I tried. Plenty of places are willing to do that for you, or buy from an OEM.

Now to the whole updating graphics cards. This has been dealt with about 50 times already in this thread. If you have a mid range card from 5 years ago (like a 8800GT) you can play any game out there. That is the same lifespan of the current consoles.

Sorry, I simply do not see all the hoops you seem to encounter. Maybe because I screw around so much with overclocking and bench marking I keep everything up to date. I also have 70 or so PC games, so those hoops you had to jump through I already did long ago. My EA account goes back a ways, and that is all I had to use for ME2. Although I do agree, jumping out of the game for DLC is not the best, but for most games getting DLC is as simple as buying it through Steam.

It's like the New Vegas bugs, I had 0 issues but everyone was saying that it was completely bugged for them. I've had to go in to multiple game files to change a variable or two after searching for hours on forums for a community fix.

I was so nervous when building the computer, it's why I took so long. Moved everything to separate room then halfway through building it the old RAM cards I had were too old and I had to go to a Fry's to get the new ones. (Fry's is like a huge warehouse that has everything computer related.) I would have gone to somewhere else to build it for me but I was really strapped for cash, I am definitely getting a comp build for me next time if I have to get a new computer.

Brujo! My 8800GT is what just broke two weeks ago. I replaced it with a GTX 560 Ti which then made me buy a new power supply because my old one didn't provide enough power(I then fucked up plugging the damn thing in and sent it to best buy to fix it for me. Took them 7 days to unplug everything then plug it back in.) I got the 8800GT because my radeon wouldn't run conan. I've never overclocked or bench marked, too scared of screwing up lol. I also only have about 20 PC games. Most of them do not use steam however which is probably why I have so many problems = D.

If it's not PC exclusive I usually just get it for console, I have a lot of friends on xbox that I play with if I'm not playing an exclusive game. Having that group of people that always get the newest games and always having someone on that you can play with is a major draw.

 

[scott91575]

Sorry, but I don't have the issues you keep stating. As for building a gaming PC, I did it in about 3 hours with no issues the first time I tried. Plenty of places are willing to do that for you, or buy from an OEM.

Now to the whole updating graphics cards. This has been dealt with about 50 times already in this thread. If you have a mid range card from 5 years ago (like a 8800GT) you can play any game out there. That is the same lifespan of the current consoles.

Sorry, I simply do not see all the hoops you seem to encounter. Maybe because I screw around so much with overclocking and bench marking I keep everything up to date. I also have 70 or so PC games, so those hoops you had to jump through I already did long ago. My EA account goes back a ways, and that is all I had to use for ME2. Although I do agree, jumping out of the game for DLC is not the best, but for most games getting DLC is as simple as buying it through Steam.

It's like the New Vegas bugs, I had 0 issues but everyone was saying that it was completely bugged for them. I've had to go in to multiple game files to change a variable or two after searching for hours on forums for a community fix.

I was so nervous when building the computer, it's why I took so long. Moved everything to separate room then halfway through building it the old RAM cards I had were too old and I had to go to a Fry's to get the new ones. (Fry's is like a huge warehouse that has everything computer related.) I would have gone to somewhere else to build it for me but I was really strapped for cash, I am definitely getting a comp build for me next time if I have to get a new computer.

Brujo! My 8800GT is what just broke two weeks ago. I replaced it with a GTX 560 Ti which then made me buy a new power supply because my old one didn't provide enough power(I then fucked up plugging the damn thing in and sent it to best buy to fix it for me. Took them 7 days to unplug everything then plug it back in.) I got the 8800GT because my radeon wouldn't run conan. I've never overclocked or bench marked, too scared of screwing up lol. I also only have about 20 PC games. Most of them do not use steam however which is probably why I have so many problems = D.

If it's not PC exclusive I usually just get it for console, I have a lot of friends on xbox that I play with if I'm not playing an exclusive game. Having that group of people that always get the newest games and always having someone on that you can play with is a major draw.

Fallout NV was just as buggy on consoles. Of course I have very few issues compared to others (although it was poorly optimized at launch so I could not use max settings right away).

As for your 8800GT that just broke, every GPU I have bought has a lifetime warranty. You won't find that with consoles. Sadly lifetime warranties on motherboards are a rarity now, but warranties for PC components are as good and most of the time better than consoles. Besides, the GPU's on consoles are not anything special. Designed by either ATI or NVidia and made by the same manufacturer (the reference boards are all made in the same places no matter the brand).

As for the community, that one I won't fight you on. If you have a bunch of friends that use an XBox then that is a strong reason for using that most of the time.

 

[Throwitawaynow]

Well, first of, your blood pressure is higher while sitting than while lying down, which can lead to heart disease. (this is common knowledge)

Secondly, long time sitting obviously leads to colon cancer.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303499204576387843134027056.html

Sitting and spinal injuries are linked a lot, this is also common knowledge.
http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_Chair_Sit2.htm

The link with diabeetes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0610-stand_up_for_your_health.htm

Can I get a touche? (I actually had to spend some time finding these links)

What if you lay down while using a keyboard and mouse? My bed is next to my computer, and with a pillow like this:

Spoiler: pillow

I can lay down and use keyboard/mouse.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

PC - better for FPS and RTS
Console - Better for sport, racing, hack'n'slash games

 

[Throwitawaynow]

Fallout NV was just as buggy on consoles. Of course I have very few issues compared to others (although it was poorly optimized at launch so I could not use max settings right away).

As for your 8800GT that just broke, every GPU I have bought has a lifetime warranty. You won't find that with consoles. Sadly lifetime warranties on motherboards are a rarity now, but warranties for PC components are as good and most of the time better than consoles. Besides, the GPU's on consoles are not anything special. Designed by either ATI or NVidia and made by the same manufacturer (the reference boards are all made in the same places no matter the brand).

As for the community, that one I won't fight you on. If you have a bunch of friends that use an XBox then that is a strong reason for using that most of the time.

lol thing is, I played Fallout NV on console.

For warranties mine only had a few years for the GPU. My new motherboards warranty has already expired, it was only for 2 years. But yes, PC warranties > console warranties. The one console that did break was because of the video input and since it wasn't a red ring of death and I had that console for several years it wasn't covered. I got an arcade version for a $100 and plugged in the old hard drive.

 

[Murmur95]

PC - better for FPS and RTS
Console - Better for sport, racing, hack'n'slash games

Diablo / oblivion > PC than consoles (which can be considered hack'n'slash

IMO only games that are good on consoles than pc are platform games like god of war and shadows of the colossus where you need to jump on things and are not stuck on the ground, this is because controllers are touch sensitive and can be precise.

and for people saying that gaming PC are too much money they have to think that they are not just gaming machines like a console, they have no "end of life", they are upgradable, they can do other things like go download movies or sites (much more effectively because you actually have a mouse and keyboard) you are able to buy a cheap computer and turn down the graphics on most games making it affordable.

There are a LOT LOT LOT more games for PC then there is for any certain one console. I can still play games back from dos and emulate games all the way up to ps2...and how many good ps3/xbox 360 games are there?

I will stick to my PC...oh look at that, my ps3 controller works with it, how about that.

PC ∞
Consoles 0

 

[Treblaine]

Consoles are much easier to use, a PC can't replicate that and no amount of money will change that. A little fact that PC gamers like to ignore.

Bicycles are much easier to use, a Car can't replicate that and no amount of money will change that. A little fact that car-drivers like to ignore.

But I have nothing against bikes(consoles), it was what I first learned the principals of using-a-vehicle(gaming) when I was a little kid on a bike(console). I can certainly ride(game) on a bicycle(console) if there REALLY is no other alternative, and you have to appreciate their family appeal as the whole family can join in... even if I might prefer to be racing(gaming) with high performance Race-car(Gaming PC).

But really, a Car(PC) is a proper mode-of-transport(gaming-platform).

Then there of course those grown men who take cycling(console-gaming) a bit too seriously considering it is supposed to be as basic a mode-of-transport(gaming-platform) and seem to act like it is the ultimate in personal-transport(gaming):

PS: Segway is the iPhone of gaming

 

[Hagi]

Seeing as how you can hook any modern television to a PC and there's plenty of controllers with USB-ports that work for PCs I think the only advantage consoles have is silly platform specific titles.

 

[Vault101]

having experienced both I will say this

PC gaming is better IF you can invest in it (I have however lived in sin and gamed on a laptop...SHUTUP I know its not right)

HOWEVER quite franly I really dont see it as that much better in todays current situation, DRM shitty console ports and slightly less games coming out for it....especially exclusives, makes me wonder

it definetly depends on what games oyu like however

anyway keyboard and mouse is better...BAM

 

[Blackpapa]

For starters, they're machines designed to play all sorts of games and whatnot. And these games that go multi-platform to the PC community, typically look as good, or almost as good as PC games, without the need to buy some new high performance parts every couple of years.

Actually you're wrong.

Ever since consoles and the idea of multiplatform games popped up the system requirements for PC games haven't increased at all. Crysis 2 runs perfectly well on Crysis 1-era hardware.

The idea is that only big companies with lots of money can utilize modern hardware. And since virtually all of those companies don't like the idea of doing big budget PC exclusives instead opting for multiplatform development all those games will still have very reasonable system requirements and look/play/feel acceptably on dated hardware.

Multiplatform development, while otherwise being not being very beneficial, did result in one great thing: mad optimization. Since console hardware is so limited developers have to optimize their games like mad, not being able to rely on people buying better hardware later on. This has resulted in good looking PC games that run on very unimpressive hardware.

Of course PC games have the option to increase details - or they should anyway. If you enjoy your Crysis 2 on your PS3 then fine, but once PS4 comes out don't expect to be able to turn up the view distance, texture resolution, turn up the AA or get more frames per second.

Consoles (to me) are preferred because they tend to be cheaper to start, and don't need to be upgraded constantly. It takes about 6 years, give or take, before a new generation of consoles is released and takes over the current gen.

Sure, that's the idea of consoles. Prepackaged hardware for users with no technical knowledge.

Also, and this is where I'll probably lose most people, I think controllers are more natural feeling than a mouse an keyboard.

It's probably because I grew up with controllers as opposed to mouse and keyboard, but still.

At the end of the day, though, we're all gamers doing what we love, so does it matter which console is your preference? I personally think that cross-platform multiplayer would be pretty cool. But it won't happen if we keep bickering about whose machine does what better.

Okay, I'm done spewing my scattered thoughts on the subject, feel free to discuss. That's what these threads are for.

You're wrong again. There have been studies done on this very topic. Microsoft tested this idea and got less than promising results.

http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-against-pc.html

Console players got raped. They were beaten into submission, humiliated and utterly decimated by PC players time and time again to the point it was deemed impossible. They tried buffing console players but even that didn't result in an even score.

Console players could offset their limited mobility and aiming skills by better tactics and teamplay - but as the study showed PC players are in general better at tactics and teamplay than console players.

So there's no way this could possibly work on a level playing field. But there are other ways it could - with intentionally asymetric conflict sides. Think console zerg vs PC protoss.

 

[Vakz]

I just timed it and booting up my xbox 360, and getting in game to a Black Ops ground war took 1 minute and 34 seconds. Booting my computer and then getting in game to WoW took 2 minutes and 26 seconds. Booting my computer and then getting in game to LoL took 5 minutes and 53 seconds. Everything took longer than the console equivalent.

The issue here is that you're timing different games. I'm not expecting you to own the game on both console and PC, but WoW is a HUGE game. There is no WoW for console, so please, don't compare WoW to BlOps, they are very different games. At the very least, compare a console MMO.. if such a thing even exists, I haven't looked into it.

Someone mentioned HoN, it also requires login and it's not the queues that kill u, it's the loading screen where you wait for others.

Same thing here as above, you're comparing different games. Besides, we are talking seconds here, unless you're unlucky enough to end up with someone on a really bad computer.

I didn't back up my files and that was terrible of me. I've recently remedied this. However backing up files does not help the actual time it takes to get back the downloads and installations of games even if they were backed up. Because you end up having to download it back when restoring.

Don't install other things than Windows on your C:\-drive. Had your xbox-HDD crashed, would you not be in the same position?

People were also misconstruing my point of loading. I never meant the loading screens in game where you have to load up a new instance, or the loading screen in Fallout NV when you leave a building. I meant the time it takes to start a game and then start playing it. Hope this was edited correctly and I responded to those I quoted adequately.

Again we're talking seconds. I have my favorite games on my SSD, and I assure you, pick any game, and it will load faster than it does on your xbox.

Looking up 5TB hard drive only came up with this massive external thing for $875.

I said I had 5TB of storage, not that it was a single drive. To be precise I have one 2TB-drive and two 1,5TB-drives. Along with this I also have another 1TB-drive for backup. Remember though that I also use my drives for other things than games. Had I used my computer purely as a gaming-machine, I probably wouldn't have needed more than a single TB drive, which would cost about about 50 bucks (mind that I'm swedish, so that number is converted, but also included Swedish taxes, and we have somewhat high taxes on electronics. It would be much cheaper if bought in the US).

 

[Vault101]

PC - better for FPS and RTS
Console - Better for sport, racing, hack'n'slash games

except for racing Ive always found key board and mouse perfectly fine for action/platforming games...just as comfortable as a gamepad (mabye more so depending on that your used to)

Seeing as how you can hook any modern television to a PC and there's plenty of controllers with USB-ports that work for PCs I think the only advantage consoles have is silly platform specific titles.

some of those "silly" platform specific titles are pretty good, and rather attractive if your not a fan of MMO's or RTS's

also DRM....fucking DRM

anyway I just wish there was some way I could FUCKING AIM properly with a gamepad..Im getting used to it actually, and mabye its sharpened my skills....as I loaded up Deadspace 2 on the PC just recently and was like "whooaaa PRECISION!! OH HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU!!"