What's the big deal about PC games?

[TheNarrator]

I always thought mouse and keyboard controls are so vastly superior to banana controllers that it went without saying. They're better for literally everything apart from hack 'n' slash or sports games, and I don't particularly like these genres anyway. The only hack 'n' slash (if it can be called that) I really enjoy is Mount&Blade: Warband, which is heavily mouse-based.

Apart from that, PC simply has the better games. Whenever a proper indie game is made, there's a reasonable chance that it will be released on your console, but PC still has the highest chance of at least being one of the platforms where it's released on. And indie games or small-scale creative productions are really the only games worth playing these days in my opinion, with only a few notable exceptions (which are all available for the PC). PC's can also handle more genres (real-time strategy, for example, is just irritating to play on a console) and are more mod-friendly. Consoles of course have their own 'exclusive' games, but I find none of them interesting. It's generally limited to just another shooter or hack 'n' slash.

 

[Reshkar]

Hmmm Starcraft, The Witcher 1 & 2(soon), Diablo 3(I heard they might port it to console tho, which is good thinking of more people get to experience the diablo awesomeness), Rift.. not available on console.

 

[tzimize]

Just a little thing I want to ask any PC gamers about. What's the appeal in playing on a PC over a console?

1: Controls. Some games are simply better with keyboard+mouse. (Some games are better with a gamepad, but you asked for PCs this time)

2: Customization. MODS! What would pc gaming be without counter strike, action half life, home made quake 2 mods, tampering with sound files and ammo stats in duke nukem 3d...this is impossible on consoles.

3: Versatility. I use my PC for EVERYTHING. While this is a bit off topic, I use my PC for watching TV-series, movies, reading books in PDF format for my RPG sessions, listening to music, reading news, reading the escapist , ETC!

4: Communication. I still use MSN, mIRC, forums, skype etc. My friends are usually online, so I feel connected.

5: Hardware. PCs are better. As long as you can cough up the money. The hardware is newer and better and you can upgrade EXACTLY as you see fit.

Consoles are for kids. Real men play on PCs.

Disclaimer I own a PS3 and love it (although not as much as my PC ...or girlfriend for that matter...heh)

 

[Mortons4ck]

OP:
-Mods and custom fixes

-Backwards compatibility

- I like using a PlayStation 2 Dual Shock controller for some games (GTA series) and PC's give you flexibility to use either controllers or keyboard/mouse.

- If something goes wrong with my system, I can usually fix it myself without having to fuss around and send it back to the manufacturer like one would a console.

If you like using consoles, that's fine. I'm not here to judge.

 

[5t3v0]

One thing that annoys me about people that call us PC gamers eltists (im not saying they dont exist, but Im saying we are not all like that simply because we are that arrogant) don't realise that PC gaming is more of a hobby than a pass-time like it tends to be with consoles.

The personalisation (hardware wise) for PC's often gives many-a-gamers the feeling of satisfaction that they have built their very own gaming platform with their own two hands and, if searched for properly with the aforementioned understanding that modern gaming doesn't have to be maxing out the graphics settings, can be done for a few hundred dollars.

The thing is though, thanks to the advent of the modern console, we are losing many of our favourite titles. Look at CoD. It started out as a humble spiritual follow up to Medal of honour: Allied assault, then got massive popularity when CoD4: MW came out. Now look at it. around the release of Modern warefare 2, we felt we had been abandoned. But this has been happening for years. The last Halo didnt even release on PC, whereas the first two did after a while.

I guess what I am saying is, we may be hostile, but we are trying to defend our favourite Gaming platform. The message gets lost along the way, but we are trying to dispel any ignorance in the gaming community about us, but I guess after a while we just lose our selves and our sense of others, which tends to do over the internet.

tl; dr

 

[Chaos Marine]

Just a little thing I want to ask any PC gamers about. What's the appeal in playing on a PC over a console?

It used to be a case of PC games tended to be more complex, bigger, better looking with multiplayer and the ability for the average user to make mods to prolong the life of the better PC games. Unfortunately, consoles started to join the PC in regards to graphics and multiplayer and little else, bringing the majority of gaming to focus on the lowest common denominator which tend to be console gamers. 360 gamers to be more specific.

 

[RA92]

This thread is redundant. All the superior aspects of PC gaming put forward here have been pointed out endlessly in the forums, rendering OP's question almost rhetorical. This feels like one of those 'Convince me...' threads. Don't delude yourself, you're not going to be convince anybody.

 

[herpaderphurr]

Better PC-exclusives than consoles, in my opinion
RTS games
Mods, downloadable stuff, patches
Can lurk the internets also, including the Escapist, watch videos, and do work
Steam offers cheaper games
Better graphics with a high-end PC
I prefer mouse and keyboard over a console controller joystick thing
More backwards compatibility
Free games

And hell I can even get emulators for consoles, even if it's probably not legal and probably doesn't work without a major investment of time.

Also having a console and playing online with it would require another internet plug...

 

[magicaxis]

Mouse control. For aiming, rotating quickly, or rotating precisely, a mouse is superior to a thumbstick. The thumbstick is better for curves, racing, and moving in several directions quickly. Horses for courses.

 

[SoulSalmon]

I won't list any reasons because (probably) all my reasons have been stated (they're summed up as more games, multitasking, mmorpgs, cheaper and customization)
But I'd like to point out that asking "PC or Consoles" on the internet where 90% of people are currently using a PC is a dumb idea... it's like asking the same question in an online lobby on *Generic console game here*

 

[mrhateful]

Just a little thing I want to ask any PC gamers about. What's the appeal in playing on a PC over a console?

Console games are mostly just button mashing, while pc is has more skilled based games like for instance starcraft.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Consoles are great if and when their controls suit the game.
Rock Band 3? I have this here plastic guitar. Gran Turismo 5? Check out this sweet wheel. Super Street Fighter 4? I have an arcade stick.

See, those are the BEST control schemes for the game.
Which is why, even though my PC is 15 times more powerful than a PS3, the experience of playing those games on one vs the other (assuming the same game and peripheral) is similar.
Oh wait .. those games aren't even on PC.
So ... despite extremely fast loading, consistent >200 frames per second on just about anything (except Saints Row 2, you worst port in gaming history you), and superior textures (assuming the developers aren't lazy) ... those things are just bells and whistles.
Bells and whistles can't take the place of having a good game, with the BEST CONTROL SCHEME, on an inferior platform.

Now, the best control scheme for shooters .. mouse and keyboard.
Ok, not necessarily so ... 'cos dual analog sticks CAN be both sensitive and precise.
Anyone play those games in the arcade where you control your mecha with two gigantic joysticks?
Well, maybe it's not an ideal solution, but their very existence says something: analog sticks don't have to be rubbish.
After all, if the controls aren't bad, you wouldn't be PATRONISED by aim assistance.

I mean look .. if they're making a multi-platform game already, they've already made a UI for PC. You know the game's engine can handle mouselook.
Or ... just ... any other peripheral made specifically for shooters that are better than the default.

Ok, fine ... some people are going to say the very existence of precise controls means NEW players are going to struggle online.
Well, NEWSFLASH, competitive games have a matchmaking system ...
The "oh hay look, I shot 77 baby buffaloes today" COD videos on youtube are the OPPOSITE of competitive multiplayer.

THAT'S why I have no respect for console shooters ... it's an inferior product that has no reason to be.
You hear me? NO REASON.

Sure, I like the PS3. It does its job well and is a lot of fun.
I am, however, PUNCHY .. if people talk about console and PC shooters as if they're the same game.
NO.
The AE85 and AE86 aren't the same car.
They are both named "Toyota Corolla Levin" but they're NOT THE SAME CAR.
They were both produced from 1983-1987 but they're NOT THE SAME CAR.
They have the exact same body but they're NOT THE SAME CAR.

 

[mrhateful]

consoles are waaaay simplier. pop in the disc and play. presss like 2 buttons and your online.
computers are fun in the way you can make mods and have hundreds of games on demand on your hdd.

the thing i hate about computers is the cryptic error messages and the fact sometimes games wont work for any reason at all

i think consoles are a lot more fun for lan parties and i think game console controllers require a lot more skill in shooters than on pc shooters

pc has a 100% edge on RTS games tho

i prefer console gaming over pc. i find it less of a hassle just to play a game

Lol, i never have problems getting my games to work on my pc, also it might be funnier to play "console games" on lan but that is more likely because console games are boring to begin with.

Also I brought an xbox360 never used it and ended up giving it to my brother.

 

[mrhateful]

Just a little thing I want to ask any PC gamers about. What's the appeal in playing on a PC over a console?

Console games are mostly just button mashing, while pc is has more skilled based games like for instance starcraft.

what consoles games have you played
you make it seem like console games only release tekken and marvel vs capcom
and sniping in halo 2 or call of duty requires a lot more skill than pc

I have actually played halo and I hated it, first of I almost only play real RPGs like baldurs gate 1/2, nwn 1/2, mass effect 1/2(pretty much all bioware) etc.. However I sometime also play fps'es like crysis and dead space. However I am getting off on a tangent to go back to halo first of the story was awful(not very interesting), gameplay was okay(nothing special/interesting), however the worst was controls those xbox controllers are not meant for fps'es and they feel like playing a shooter on pc with mouse speed set to low.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Just a little thing I want to ask any PC gamers about. What's the appeal in playing on a PC over a console?

I might as well just ask what's the appeal in playing on a console rather than a PC. I have a PC that can play games and this, as a result, gives me access to games I could not otherwise play. Moreover, it allows me to consume a variety of mods for any number of popular games that extend the experience further.