PC vs. Consoles

[Spoo]

First and foremost, I'm not trying to stir up arguments, nor am I trying to support PC elitism; this is purely an issue of entertainment value. Now, on to the topic at hand.

I've been more or less a console gamer for all my life. Save for the occasional F2P FPS out there and any RTS gaming, I almost always bought my games on console, and that's always been fine for me; console gaming has always provided me with an adequate amount of fun.

Recently, however, I've been having a little bit of a slump in gaming, a time where I just can't seem to enjoy myself as much as I used to.To mix things up a bit, I picked up Terraria off of Steam and loved it to pieces. I got a guest pass to Killing Floor, and I played the heck out of it for the two days it was available. It seems like PC gaming is my next calling, but I'm not so sure.

I've tried weighing my options quite a bit. There's the pros and cons of PC gaming:

Pros

Better graphics
Cheaper games
Extra content (mods, custom maps, etc.)

Cons

Potential lag
Higher hardware cost
Less user-friendly

Despite my going over this several times, I can't decide which way I want to go. I'm enlisting HBG for help on this one.

My potential gaming future is in your hands.

 

[bacon]

there are a ton of more games for the PC but I dont have a really super high system to really run them so a lot of the newer games I have to avoid for the PC. Also, controllers can be problematic. I know you can get a gamepad but for whatever reason the computer isn't recognizing USB drivers (oh dear) and likes to be a total bitch. With a console, I really dont have to deal with all of the computer drama.

But, I think that with a gamepad and a nice computer, PC games give console games a good run for their money. Look at Oblivion. Playing it on the console meant that I didn't get access to all of the cool mods that came out with it.

And yes, it is easier to find cheaper games on the PC.

Of course, console games have their perks as well. Things such as Nintendo aren't accessible on the PC (which is a huge deal for me x. I mean, unless you want to do a bunch of illegal stuff, but even then Im pretty sure the software for running wii games on PC is total shit.

Also, sitting in front of a computer screen playing games is kind of straining sometimes. If you have a really good laptop or something, then this isn't really a huge issue. Also, Im pretty sure that you can hook a computer up to the TV (but again more prep work)

 

[DeM0nFiRe]

Honestly, the only reason console games have been anywhere near PC games for the last several years has been lazy developers. The power of the PC is pretty incredible, but no one will use it properly. Just take a look at the Thunder Run video for Battlefield 3, that's just some of what the PC can do. If you look at the recommended specs, they are quite modest considering.

The fact of the matter is that when you don't factor in things like cost (The fact that a professional basketball player costs more than a high schooler doesn't make the high schooler better :D I understand cost is a factor in what you use, but it has nothing to do with gaming per se) PCs are better for most "hardcore" types of games. Besides the things like power and extra content, the controls are just flat out better on PC.

A keyboard and mouse is better for FPS. That's not even really an opinion thing. A mouse is directly pointing where you want to go, where as a control stick is pushing it in the direction you want it to go. It's like the difference between dragging a penny around a table with your finger or pushing that penny with another penny. It would be a little exaggerated, but it would be a similar effect. Racing/Flying games are better with a control stick because you don't want to point your throttle etc., you want to push and hold it, just like you push the gas pedal in your car and hold it. Of course, in truth, you can do mouse and keyboard on consoles and sticks on PC. If your computer is broken, that's another story, that's not PC gaming's fault :D

In general, the things that are actually better on console aren't on PS3 and Xbox 360, which is funny because most people who call themselves hardcore gamers are playing on those two. For reasons above, console games are by nature dumbed down compared to PC games. The exceptions to that are basically all on the nintendo consoles :P. Basically, the kind of games that you want to play with people who are in the same room, on the same screen. Mario Party, Mario Kart, things like that. In the case of the Nintendo Wii, you've got those games that make you get up and move as well. Those kinds of things don't lend themselves to a monitor :P

 

[Fusty]

I'm having the exact same problem, I own an Xbox 360 and I love the system but lately PC gaming has been getting more and more attractive to me.
The only reasons why I haven't switched yet is what you've mentioned in your first post: The costs, it would cost me quite a bit of money to get my system up to "hardcore gaming" standards.
I can run most new games fine but a faster processor wouldn't hurt.
And the second reason is that I actually prefer console controls over PC games most of the time.

As for which one you should pick, I guesss it's up to what kind of games you play, as mentioned above FPS'es just play so much better on a PC but if you're more of an adventure game player then I would stick to consoles if I were you.

 

[Spoo]

I've found a custom gaming build that is fairly cheap and apparently has the capacity to run most newer games on decent settings. I'm not very savvy on PC specs and quality of parts, though, so I think it'd be a good idea to let a few of you see it first. It's the first build on the page.

LINK

 

[Jason]

To be honest I think you should fork out an extra $20 and get this;

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 3&csid=_23

Instead of the CPU on that list, it's pretty much just a slight upgrade with a higher clockspeed, but apparently the 965 is great for overclocking if that's what you're planning on doing sometime...

As far as I can tell, everything else seems fine and is very similar to what I'll be having in my computer which I'm planning on ordering everything tomorrow, minus the graphics card since I can't afford it just yet and I already have one here with me to put me on...

But yeah those specs will let you run most new games with nice settings, my friend has a very similar set up (Everything is near enough the same except he has an Intel CPU) and can run, for example, Dirt 3 with everything on max and still achieve 50-60FPS, which is pretty good if you ask me.

 

[Venetia]

i think i am biased b/c i've been building PCs since I was 6 but PC > console all the time, day or night, rain or shine, idc what arguments you put out there.

they are things that are open and fully customizable and upgradable and the games are moddable and even if you can't buy the rig of your dreams today, you can upgrade parts of it to make it better over time.

when the PS3 is replaced by the PS4? you have to buy a new PS4.

when you feel like your PC's video card needs an upgrade? you buy a new video card--not a whole new machine.

and if you go top-of-the-line-ish on your PC hardware purchases, you won't even have to worry about upgrades for like 4-6 years b/c it takes roughly that long for game devs to catch up to new tech.

plus, shouldn't even have to mention: PCs = things OTHER than games as well.

no brainer IMO

 

[Mega Flare]

but pc gaming sucks D: cept for RTS games.. those suck on consoles.. also the home pc is dead :p plus all the best games are console only

 

[Spoo]

but pc gaming sucks D: cept for RTS games.. those suck on consoles.. also the home pc is dead :p plus all the best games are console only

where are you gathering this from? tbqh I've had more fun on all pc games recently than I have playing console shooters in a few years. there's just so much less frustration involved.

 

[Jason]

He's gathering it from him not having a gaming PC, lol.

 

[Daxis]

Only argument for consoles is that there are lots of great exclusive games for consoles. Which, in all honesty, is very much true.

 

[Venetia]

Not ... Really. I can name just as many PC-exclusive game titles as I can console-exclusive ones.

And actually, if you consider ROMs, I can name WAY more PC-exclusive game titles than the other way around.

Platformers are more fun to play with a controller, but here's a fun fact: You can use controllers with your computer, too.
Dun dun dunnn.

 

[bacon]

One thing that I dont like are the controls. I mean, I can use the mouse just fine and dandy, its the keyboard that kills me. x:

There are a lot of PC exclusive games as well
i mean everything has exclusives

 

[Jason]

Not ... Really. I can name just as many PC-exclusive game titles as I can console-exclusive ones.

And actually, if you consider ROMs, I can name WAY more PC-exclusive game titles than the other way around.

Platformers are more fun to play with a controller, but here's a fun fact: You can use controllers with your computer, too.
Dun dun dunnn.

Yeah but ROM's aren't exclusive since they're just emulated games from past consoles in which they WERE exclusives, lol... so that doesn't count... not to mention they're illegal anyway, but who really cares about that.

Personally I think that consoles have more games that cater to me, especially in the exclusives department, however, there are some PC games that I really enjoy, and there are those multiplatform games that control better on a PC (For example... every FPS ever), whereas some control better on a console (For example... fighting/racing games). And yeah we COULD use a controller with a computer too, but then that's adding even more onto the price...

PC gaming, despite what people say, is more expensive than console gaming, especially if you're going for the highest graphics and framerate possible... there's graphics cards and processors alone that cost more than PS3's and 360's (Atleast here in the UK), and you obviously need other components to make a functioning gaming PC, and then there's extra for peripherals to make games control better (Well, just a controller I suppose, but it's still extra), so yeah... if you're a graphics whore then PC gaming really is expensive, whereas if you don't mind if your games play around 30FPS on normal settings (Just like console games...) then it isn't quite as bad since it wouldn't be too expensive.

 

[Ellie]

Games just always seem to run better on a console even with a wry high end pc. That said I prefer pcs because in a numpty.

 

[StrawberrySmiles]

I prefer consoles for the big screen and controllers.

But I like my share of PC games, as well. Now I wish I had more, since the TV is ALWAYS being used. All I've got Might and Magic VII and Baldur's Gate. D=

 

[DeM0nFiRe]

Games just always seem to run better on a console even with a wry high end pc.

That would be because game developers these days are unbelievably lazy. They make the stuff for the weaker platform first, and then do a half-assed (if that) port to PC. In fact, games on consoles are limited to ~30FPS because of the way NTSC/PAL works, so console games are always choppy. When a game doesn't run well on a decent PC, it's always the developer's fault. That ends up being the case with a lot of games, especially ones coming out of studios owned by EA or Activision. Luckily, however, EA seems to be getting things a little better, because the next battlefield game by DICE will be developed for PC first, then ported to console. That should make things much smoother on PC.

 

[LaDestitute]

I prefer consoles myself, but I have a very above-decent PC and like PC gaming quite abit.

 

[Jason]

Games just always seem to run better on a console even with a wry high end pc.

That would be because game developers these days are unbelievably lazy. They make the stuff for the weaker platform first, and then do a half-assed (if that) port to PC. In fact, games on consoles are limited to ~30FPS because of the way NTSC/PAL works, so console games are always choppy. When a game doesn't run well on a decent PC, it's always the developer's fault. That ends up being the case with a lot of games, especially ones coming out of studios owned by EA or Activision. Luckily, however, EA seems to be getting things a little better, because the next battlefield game by DICE will be developed for PC first, then ported to console. That should make things much smoother on PC.

Bullshit. There's TONS of games that break this and go up to 60FPS...

 

[DeM0nFiRe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTSC#Lines ... fresh_rate