What is the point of consoles anymore?

[Sansha]

Well, there's the eternal plug & play thing PCs will never have. So if you're one of millions of people content with playing the games you listed, then there's a case to be made.

Of course, as a person who is not contented with what is offered on console and is helplessly attracted to a lot of the games on PC, it's a no-brainer for me.

I don't get plug-and-play. If you're so aggressively ADHD and can't function as a person because of having to wait for five minutes for an installation to complete, get a console.

There used to be the argument that they're for people who don't know computers well enough to install, but that's been pretty invalid for a few years. Steam even does it all for you.

 

[Sansha]

Consoles are good for people similar to my mate Steve who simply cannot understand how a PC works, no matter how hard one tries to explain or simplify; he just needs a box he can put a DVD in and turn it on. It's fine, if you want or need that sort of thing and don't mind the relevant mega-corp controlling every aspect of your system.

Introduce Steve to Steam.

 

[EstrogenicMuscle]

BlazBlue CT was on PC... though I don't think it sold well.

That's because it was Games for Windows Live exclusive.

The game would have sold so much more if it were on Steam.

Speaking of which, games like these are the point of consoles anymore. Well, maybe not Blazblue, but Japanese games like it. A lot of people talk about the PC in a naive fashion, like it would be easy for the entire industry to switch over to the PC. This completely ignores the fact that the PC market in Japan is far smaller and rockier than it is in the West.

PC gaming is a pretty Western thing right now. And for PCs to ever really become the norm, Japan would have to hop on that bandwagon, too. Since they're still one of the biggest producers of video games in the world. They're also still a huge market for video games. I can understand why many PC gamers may forget about Japan, because Japan was probably never relevant or interesting to many PC gamers.

But Japan is relevant to gaming. And getting them to put games on the PC is hard. Consoles are still very good for exclusives. Of about %90 of will be Japanese games. Games that these publishers wouldn't even think of putting on the PC.

There's another thing consoles still have going for them. Power that is easy to buy. A lot of people like plug and play. A lot of people don't want to build computers and shouldn't be expected to learn. A lot of people don't realize they want a desktop with a good graphics card. And certainly, even laptops today can play some pretty amazing games. I have a cheap laptop that can play most of my Steam library without problems if I turn the settings down. That being said, a cheap laptop like this isn't as powerful as a PlayStation 4. So at least for a time, it will seem more approachable to people for higher end gaming than PC gaming.

 

[Fappy]

-Snip-

And that's precisely why I am likely going to get a PS4. I still need a platform to play fighting and Atlus games!

 

[Baron_Rouge]

So happy to see so much common sense!

WE JUST WANT TO PLAY GAMES AS QUICKLY, EASILY, AND HASSLE FREE AS POSSIBLE.

The launch lineup is largely rehashes of previous titles, and MS's entire approach so obviously places the games last in all aspects of it, and that's just sickening.

Exclusives? they mean naff all - there was more than enough games on the 360 for me to avoid buying a PS4. The only slightly valid concern for me is......

1. I just prefer the atmosphere of being able to sit down on the couch and relax by playing a game. I never felt like that with a PC.

.......but then you wonder how much the Kenetic is going to be pushed, and how much that invalidates sitting down anyway?

It's also crazily contradictory that MS, EA and all these obsessively greedy bastards seem so passionately obsessed with snagging the casual audience, yet they choose to totally ignore local multiplayer as Aba1 says............

I'm actually not interested at all in motion controls, and that's why I won't be getting an Xbox One. The PS3 didn't force motion controls on anyone though, and I have no reason the PS4 will be any different. The PS4 announcement didn't even have motion controls, it was all about the games, and the games look damn good.

 

[The Enquirer]

So happy to see so much common sense!

WE JUST WANT TO PLAY GAMES AS QUICKLY, EASILY, AND HASSLE FREE AS POSSIBLE.

The launch lineup is largely rehashes of previous titles, and MS's entire approach so obviously places the games last in all aspects of it, and that's just sickening.

Exclusives? they mean naff all - there was more than enough games on the 360 for me to avoid buying a PS4. The only slightly valid concern for me is......

1. I just prefer the atmosphere of being able to sit down on the couch and relax by playing a game. I never felt like that with a PC.

.......but then you wonder how much the Kenetic is going to be pushed, and how much that invalidates sitting down anyway?

It's also crazily contradictory that MS, EA and all these obsessively greedy bastards seem so passionately obsessed with snagging the casual audience, yet they choose to totally ignore local multiplayer as Aba1 says............

I'm actually not interested at all in motion controls, and that's why I won't be getting an Xbox One. The PS3 didn't force motion controls on anyone though, and I have no reason the PS4 will be any different. The PS4 announcement didn't even have motion controls, it was all about the games, and the games look damn good.

But it wasn't. They did quite a bit about stuff other than the games. I do admit that it was definitely better than the xbox reveal by a massive margin, especially since they actually seem to still want to make games.

 

[FalloutJack]

Consoles are machines whose functions are - at the core - for gaming. In order for a computer to do that, you have to slap down a fair amount of cash as well, especially if you're - for instance - a WoW fan (which I'm not, but you get the idea). The console is an easier device to work with, although a dedicated PC gamer can have trouble with the controls. (And why not? I have trouble with keyboard controls.)

But hey, you know what? Here's something about consoles. Uhhh...NO VIRUSES! I've never heard of a console getting crashed and burned by lulsec, say. (Attacks on Sony were on their computer systems to get security info.) Any console format virus that exists at all will be rare, thus any net-connected machine surfs with impunity, even though the browser is lacking.

Gaming PCs are nice. (I know because I have one.) However, they're not my go-to machine to spend hours fooling around in violent actions, say. I mainly game on my computer to be with my girlfriend, who can show love for either side as much as I do. I'm just a console jockey first, and that's how I'll remain.

 

[The Lugz]

I took a deep breath thinking this would be another of those PC Master Race threads. And I guess it is, up to a point. But OP makes a good in pointing out the prevalence of older consoles over new launches. That much I agree with. I'm still in love with my good old PS2.

I still have my ps2 around aswel, I never play it anymore, I realized I don't actually have anything with the appropriate leads anymore ha! but that thing gave me so much entertainment over the years and it crashed what.. once i believe? in all the time i had it

now THAT is a console. I miss those days. disk, play zero problems.

that's what a console should be, and youknow. frankly if you aren't obsessed with graphics
( I admit they make me happy, to no end ) but it's still actually got a massive list of hit titles to play that are genuinely good games despite their age

I should get some leads and see if it still fires up.

 

[MHR]

It's hilarious to be a PC master race member and seeing this console crash and burn. Even my buddy that has a Wii-u isn't that happy about it and he's not getting the Xbox1 even though he has a 360.

For me, PC gaming is even cheaper. I don't need to buy all the big titles at 60 dollars a pop. If I wait a while that stuff can get marked down bigtime on steam. I don't have to pay for some ripoff live service, and the upgrade costs aren't so bad considering that the PC is used for the important things other than gaming and since my PC is my only machine I save by not buying multiple consoles for the exclusives.

The huge library of indie and discounted games keeps me so occupied that I sometimes don't even care about new releases anymore. By the time I want to play them they've probably been on sale at some point.

I don't see any appeal from consoles anymore. Maybe I'm just lucky that I hate fighting games, don't care about racing games, and loathe all those stupid sports games. I don't even want most of the exclusives, and all the other stuff usually gets a PC release, even if it's slightly flawed. You can keep your Call of Battlefield VII. I played various Call of Duties during the free weekends on steam and I didn't much care for them to pay those prices and I like counter-strike and Team Fortress 2 better.

Consoles are much easier to use/learn, but once you take the plunge and learn the PC it's worth it.

Controllers are superior for fighting games, racing games, and some platformers, but the mouse and keyboard is better for everything else. You can just plug whatever controller you want to use into your PC of course and vice versa with mouse on a console.

Unless you got some awesome uber-nerd setup, you can't play PC mouse and keyboard from a couch, this is true. Big comfy office chair and desk is your best option. If however I had to game from a laptop I might consider killing myself or actually getting a console. I can't imagine getting a great experience from a laptop in that way.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I don't know where this "I'm not sure my PC will work at all" stuff comes from. Maybe stigmas from Windows 98 or something. In the last 10 or so years, I have never had a PC game refuse to run period no matter what I did. Maybe it's old as shit and needs a mod or DOSbox, or just get it from GOG and they take care of all that. Maybe it needs dependencies like DirectX APIs and C++/.NET but if you get your games through Steam it takes care of all that. Windows 7/8 finds new drivers for all your shit through the Windows Update built into the OS.

Really, I honestly don't know why this sticks around. Maybe it'll run like ass or something because you're on an old laptop, but then you can just lower your settings to "low" or even "very low" to make it run smoother. You don't need to know what AA, Anisotropic Filtering, Ambient Occlusion, Depth of Field, or any of that shit is because every game has a slider ranging from "my computer's old, make it run" to "My computer's Godly, make it look sexual". But I digress.

 

[Bitcoon]

Because they're (supposed to be) cheaper than going out and buying a decent gaming PC, because y'know not everyone can just go and pick one up. Also you don't have to be sat at your desk all the time. Also fighting games look wank on PC monitors. Also they make money.

Also exclusives. All the exclusives.

Basically, I can't play my BlazBlue on a PC dammit. And DON'T you tell me about handhelds. I hate those things.

I'm only interested in the PS4 after that absolutely hilarious Xbox One reveal event. Oh man, there are even MORE hilarious reaction videos coming up in my Youtube subs. #1 free advertising for Sony there Microsoft. Well done.

Can you explain what you mean by fighting games looking bad on PC monitors? I'm really confused by that statement.
Far as I know, a monitor and a TV are basically identical, except that monitors might be more crisp and clear I guess, and normally you sit closer to it. (though I must stress, that's not always the case. It IS possible to lounge about with a controller and play PC games on a couch if you so desire. It's just not established very well yet as a way to game on PC)

Anyway DON'T you dis handhelds. The DS is my favorite video game system of all time (due almost entirely to its insanely impressive library) and the only thing currently on track to maybe change that is the 3DS.
I mean, I can understand the format being just too difficult for you to get comfortable with and enjoy, but the games are amazing.

Actually the only handheld I liked is the DS, pretty much just because it has the Ace Attorney series on it. I fucking LOVE those games. I'm not really interested in a 3DS just because AA5 is coming out on it though. I'll check some reviews to see if it captures the godliness of the first trilogy decently before I even think of buying a 3DS. Yes, I was one of those who wasn't particularly impressed by Apollo Justice

I mean fighting games just play and feel better when you actually have room or whatever. Imagine trying to do all the precise stick movements when you're sat at your desk with your monitor only inches from your face. I dunno, it just seems better to have room to breathe when it comes to fighting games. At least for the REALLY fast paced stuff like P4A and BB. Everything moves so fast and ooh shiny colours sitting that close would definitely give me a migraine.

I mean what if you're a member of the I Bought A Fight Stick Master Race? My desk would be too cluttered for that to go anywhere and i'd wager the same goes for god knows how many other people.

Eh, personal preference, I suppose. I feel like what a lot of it boils down to is what gamers are comfortable with.

Me? I can take anything. Give me a sideways Wii remote and I'll find a way to kick ass in Smash Bros with it. I've played SNES emulators using an upside-down 360 controller so I could use the ABXY buttons as a D-pad. I've played through most of Boktai sitting awkwardly in the sun, barely able to see the screen at all. HD was never a concern of mine, and though it's a convenience now, I'll take what I can get. I enjoy gaming, no matter what silly limitations or inconveniences are placed on me.

Personally, and this is just my way of thinking, but I see adaptability as the true mark of a good gamer. If you can find a way to play with one hand because the other's incapacitated at the moment, if you can learn to aim with the PSP's analog nub using the face buttons to move, those sorts of things show an ability to change based on the situation, which is an important skill in gaming.

 

[afroebob]

OK, serious question here, what is the point of consoles?

Now stick with me a for a second before you start writing about exclusives or controllers or whatever your about to do, and just hear me out. Also, we aren't talking about the companies and how it benefits them, just about how it benefits gamers.

OK, so recently I have been trying to figure out, on the consumers end, why have consoles? From what I can see, all consoles do is divide the player base, make developers spend money on making their games widespread on all systems, hold off exclusive games to those who can't (or simply wont) put out the money to buy all of the consoles, and now it seems like just another potential to add DRM, not to mention charge for the use of internet (although this only counts for Microsoft).

Many people would argue that if we had only consoles their would less push for technological improvements. That isn't really true, Intel and AMD aren't just making new chips for gamers, they are making them for everyone, not to mention if PCs themselves became the dedicated gaming platform it would encourage them to increase their technological improvements due to PCs being upgradeable whereas consoles are not.

Another argument is that having multiple consoles promotes competition, but Yatzhee said it best when he said "the current console situation isn't competitive in the ideal sense. It's not referred to as the "console competition", it's a "war". And I would love competition. It would suit me down to the ground if the companies would start treating it like a competition rather than a war. The difference being that, in a competition, if you start supporting a different side it's accepted that this is because the other side suits your needs better. Whereas, in a war, if you start supporting the other side, you get fucking murdered". So, more or less, their really isn't any console competition, and loyalty to one console over the other is USUALLY less about quality of the system and more about people only being able to afford one, so they will fight to the death the convince themselves that without doubt they chose the right one and it just escalates from there.

So really, if all consoles do is divide the community and create barriers to what games you can and can't play, or make you arbitrarily spend hundreds of dollars to be able to buy 3 computers with similar hardware but different operating systems, along with a plethora of other faults, what is the point?

 

[Requia]

Well, up until recently Consoles had sane DRM schemes that didn't interfere with the end user's ability to sell/lend games. And Consoles will still put the breaks on hardware demands.

There's also the issue that a most people own either laptops or desktops that don't support even mid range graphics hardware, which means consoles are cheaper for the vast majority of people.

Edit: Oh, and Consoles are better for local multiplayer.

 

[shrekfan246]

So really, if all consoles do is divide the community

Really, I'd pin that more on the community than the consoles. If it weren't for the mindset of "I/My parents spent X amount of dollars on this, I refuse to believe I got the 'wrong' system!", there wouldn't be some childish 'console war' raging between fanbases. Granted, back in the day Nintendo and Sega didn't help matters with their advertising campaigns, but the Xbox 360 and PS3 didn't really take the same potshots and low blows at each other that "Sega does what Nintendon't" did, or those hilarious "I'm a PC; And I'm a Mac" commercials did.

More OT, consoles have a lower barrier for entry into gaming than PCs do. That's liable to change when the next Sony/Microsoft consoles come out, but it's generally cheaper and easier to pick up a console and find some games that interest you. And Nintendo? They practically justify the existence of consoles by themselves, since they're the only company that appears to remember that something should actually distinguish your console from a computer.

One thing I appreciate about consoles since this generation is that they've slowed down the hardware requirement rush in PCs. There's been something like six or seven generations of new processors and graphics cards since the PS3 originally launched back in 2006, but most games today will still run relatively well on hardware from 2008. Before this generation, there wasn't really a 'standard' for game development, since many, many games were not multi-platform, and if they were PC and console it was usually only PC and Xbox because the Xbox was basically just a closed-platform PC. So PC games had their own hardware standard, and while it didn't climb any ridiculous amount, graphics today are far and away better than they were a decade ago, and if everything pushed the envelope like Crysis because they didn't have to worry about scaling back for weaker hardware...

Though admittedly we might have gotten games with far better scalability and optimization if there still hadn't been a 'standard' for them to conform with.

I'm rambling now.

 

[Baldr]

Gamers love them because of accessibility and convenience, they don't require a lot of tech knowledge, you put the game in and play. Developers love it because there is only one spec to develop for. PC are not standard, there a huge range of specs and equipment you have to support if you release a game for them, only to have usually (50+%)rate of piracy.

 

[skywolfblue]

So really, if all consoles do is divide the community and create barriers to what games you can and can't play, or make you arbitrarily spend hundreds of dollars to be able to buy 3 computers with similar hardware but different operating systems, along with a plethora of other faults, what is the point?

PCs have barriers between what you can and cannot play. Not everyone can afford the latest and greatest hardware (a high end graphics card alone can cost as much as a console).

Why consoles? Ease of use. Many people out there aren't looking to spend the time researching and building a powerful gaming rig, and then have to deal with software updates, hardware updates, the bugs and all the other hassles that can come with a PC (PCs have faults too). They just want something that plays games, and plays them well.

 

[BearShark]

They're cheaper than PCs. That's really all I can come up with.