PC Gaming: Why I'll Never Console Myself with Second Best

[Kyuu]

Who else believes that the demo of the radiant A.I that was shown at the E3 was nothing but a big scriptfest ? I mean, seriously...Compare that to the actual AI in Oblivion.

I think it's fairly obvious that's the case, and that claims to the contrary are just feeble protests. You had to tone down your AI because it was too good? Because people were killing each other constantly? Are you listening to yourself? Gimme a break.

Perhaps they originally did think they could deliver on the AI, but didn't have it worked out in time, and so just used scripts to try and show what it's supposed to look like for the demos. Of course, if that's the case, it's pretty obvious that they never actually got the system worked out.

 

[Paladin Solo]

Time again for Dark Legacy's amazing simplification skills:

PC Gaming - "I want to have fun alone."
Console Gaming - "I want to have fun with, or entertain my friends."

Because you can't play with friends on a PC? Flawedlogickaythnxbai.

 

[Kan-Kerai]

It's funny, I'm usually on a console when I want to play alone and on the PC when I want multiplayer.

He is right though, the average person isn't like that. To them consoles are for parties and multiplayer, and PCs are for the internet and casual single player games (Popcap, Pogo, etc. etc.).

It used to be exactly the opposite, bemusedly.

As their their original mission statement has evolved into "PC Lite", the XBox and PS3 have also absorbed the mission of arcades- get the highest score, trash talk, etc...

I don't mean that in an insulting way at all, as most people don't have the patience to fuck around with configuration settings for an hour, a day, a week... They just want to play.

Hence consoles: Pick up and play. Now, though, you're increasingly seeing console games requiring not only internet connectivity, but patches, peripherals, activation... basically, they're becoming PC games.

You're also seeing the same type of casual game networks springing up on Consoles that have previously only existed on the PC.

"Indie" games are still the domain of the PC, though Microsoft has been trying to change that with XNA. It's just not working very well since you're still having to work on the PC in the first place. If there were a way to program directly on the 360, that might be different.

And then you have the Wii, which has broken the modern trend toward "PC-Lite" by going back to what consoles were in the first place, adding a "party atmosphere" and a natural feeling of control to it. That's a good thing, in my opinion. Consoles weren't meant to be the PC's little brother.

They were meant to do things differently, things that the PC couldn't really get away with doing, not to do the same things in an inferior way.

Ultimately, I think we're heading for a blending between the current concept of "console" and the general concept of "personal computer". The boundaries are definitely blurring.

Just as Nintendo's rewriting the handheld landscape with the DS, so will the concept of "console" in the future be more like the Wii.

Laugh at me now, pretend you never disagreed in the first place later.

Edit: I start a post and type an article. Every time.

 

[Makagulfazel]

Who else believes that the demo of the radiant A.I that was shown at the E3 was nothing but a big scriptfest ? I mean, seriously...Compare that to the actual AI in Oblivion.

After watching that video, you're definitely right. I remember watching Bioshock's gameplay video and saying, "Wow, that's actually dynamic AI." After watching Oblivion's video, it just seems like it's all scripted. I mean, come on, people drinking potions because they suck at practicing archery? My ass. That was scripted.

 

[Dracon M'Alkir]

Time again for Dark Legacy's amazing simplification skills:

PC Gaming - "I want to have fun alone."
Console Gaming - "I want to have fun with, or entertain my friends."

Because you can't play with friends on a PC? Flawedlogickaythnxbai.

Neg.

A computer can only entertain one person at a time. You need one machine per player. With a console, you can have up to 4 or more players at one time. Here's an easier example: You have three friends over. You've only got one PC in your house, and no consoles. How are you going to play video games with all four people at once; and ensure that they are not bored?

As for what you were talking about: Yes you can play with friends on a PC, but once again - only one player per machine. They would have to bring their own machines, and hook them up to your LAN to be able to play at the same time as well.

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

I'm moving away from pc gaming because of the availability. I've said it before I have no credit card or bank account which rules out online ordering for me. Putting me in the same position as most teens. That limits me to buying what's currently topping the charts or really old stock in the bargin bins. Because most stores, even the speciality gaming stores stock little other than the chart releases. Even pc world had sod all in it's selection of pc games.

Another thing is choice, a 360 gaming rag I read listed approximately 90 games coming out this year, the last issue of PC Zone I read listed only 30 pc games due out. Okay some of those games have slipped, but so have some of the pc games. And out of the 30 pc games over half are already out or due out on the 360 as well. If I'm going to buy a game that has been released cross platform it seems I'll be better off getting it for the platform it was primarily designed for. It would be a different matter if more games were developed separately for each platform like GRAW 2 but that was the exception to the rule.

1) if you dont count the TV into the Xbrick price, you shouldnt count that screen in the PC price. 1500$ is a stupid amount pulled out of your ass. unless you strictly shop at HP or Dell ofc. (and yeah, i can watch tv on my pc...)

As for the tv argument, most people already have a television those who do already have a pc are unlikely to have one that'll play the latest games unless they are already a gamer. It's only the really dedicated gamer that'll pay out for a new tv to match their new console. People who don't have a television for whatever reason are unlikely to splash out on a console in the first place. On the other hand if you are building or buying a pc rig specifically to play games you will be more likely to be purchasing a decent monitor.

Yes console games are more expensive, and that varies from place to place. Certainly in my part of the UK the games that are 33% dearer than the pc version are in a small minority, for most games it's a fiver difference if that. BioShock was the same price for both formats, pc games do come down in price quicker and the budget re-releases are more plentiful but console games have a better trade in value. Though I see Woolworths have stopped their trade in service.

Not that I think console games are better, certainly they are oversimplified and rely on repetitive gameplay too much. If you could save where and when you wanted in most recent releases would you really get 20 hours of gameplay out of them? Though I do hope console developers will take note of BioShock's save system, next gen doesn't just mean better graphics and online but also hard drives.

Let's face it pc's are better, more powerful and versatile but unless you are a technophile or need your pc for work (and I'm not talking doing your accounts) do you really need all that power? I mean for most of us what do we need, email, web browsing, video/dvd and music player, and games. Even exclusive pc games are getting dumbed down, where are the pc games that challenge your system other than in the graphics department? For me the biggest problem with pc gaming is the lack of a standard requirement, with so many different set ups and different manufacturers this would be pretty hard to do but it's so annoying when on paper your machine will run a game but in reality it doesn't like your graphics card, or your processor etc. I can see the appeal to game's developers for having to only worry about two platforms rather than all this minimum and maximum requirements.

Ultimately, I think we're heading for a blending between the current concept of "console" and the general concept of "personal computer". The boundaries are definitely blurring.

I was reading this article on gaming laptops about how they are getting less portable as they get more powerful, but are becoming used as replacements for desktops. I'd like to see a blurring of consoles and pc's a machine that could be plugged into a tv and used as a console with a wireless controller, or used as a laptop/desktop with the keyboard and mouse. Something I can play games on without the compatability hassles of a pc, something that will let me get my email, watch dvds, listen to music, surf the web and do my accounts on. A machine I can pick up and take to any room in the house or out into the garden (on those few sunny days) or round to a friends for a lan party.

PC gaming isn't dead but it is living in the dark dank bedroom of life.

 

[Kyuu]

Something I can play games on without the compatability hassles of a pc, something that will let me get my email, watch dvds, listen to music, surf the web and do my accounts on. A machine I can pick up and take to any room in the house or out into the garden (on those few sunny days) or round to a friends for a lan party.

I don't believe consoles will ever be a viable mechanism for surfing the web (though I already use my XBox as my main DVD player... it'd be perfect if the stupid thing could play DVDs in 480p). They've tried many times, starting with the Dreamcast, I believe (loved that console, btw), but it never took off. Controllers and TVs just aren't good for that sort of activity. 'Course, with wireless mice and keyboards, that could change somewhat, along with HD TVs that can actually output decent resolutions so text doesn't have to be 78 pt. to be readable. But still, where are you going to put your mouse when you're sitting on the couch? Lounging on the couch and looking at a TV from across the room, while great for watching TV or movies, just turns out not to be a comfortable way to browse the internet or type things up.

PC gaming isn't dead but it is living in the dark dank bedroom of life.

PCs have always been in dank dark bedrooms or basements. Nothing new about that.

 

[SuAside]

As for the tv argument, most people already have a television those who do already have a pc are unlikely to have one that'll play the latest games unless they are already a gamer. It's only the really dedicated gamer that'll pay out for a new tv to match their new console. People who don't have a television for whatever reason are unlikely to splash out on a console in the first place. On the other hand if you are building or buying a pc rig specifically to play games you will be more likely to be purchasing a decent monitor.

if you already have a normal pc, it is unlikely that you'll "need" to buy a new monitor. even the crappest pc monitor usually has a higher resolution than your average console btw.

and if you already have a pc, you usually dont need an entire new rig to make it game worthy. you can UPGRADE most of the time. (and i'm not talking about paying through the ass to have a new harddrive in my bling bling console)

Yes console games are more expensive, and that varies from place to place. Certainly in my part of the UK the games that are 33% dearer than the pc version are in a small minority, for most games it's a fiver difference if that. BioShock was the same price for both formats, pc games do come down in price quicker and the budget re-releases are more plentiful but console games have a better trade in value. Though I see Woolworths have stopped their trade in service.

right... UK's nr 1 online store Play.com:
- Bioshock for PC: 38 euros incl mailing
- Bioshock for console: 61 euros incl mailing

if you "cant find stores where that is the case", it's just your own fault...

minimum and maximum requirements.

there is no such thing as a maximum requirement, but i understand what you're trying to say.

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

I don't believe consoles will ever be a viable mechanism for surfing the web (though I already use my XBox as my main DVD player... it'd be perfect if the stupid thing could play DVDs in 480p).

Which is why I said I want a machine that can be used as a console or laptop. If they can just bring the prices down on these gaming laptops to meet desktop prices (for the same specs) add a hdmi port or dvi output and an inbuilt wireless connection to a controller and mouse. Though really the real hurdle is the compatability, being able to just pick a game up off the shelf and place it in the drive without worrying about requirements. What I'm saying is what's really needed is a system that has the versatility of one and the convenience of the other.

But still, where are you going to put your mouse when you're sitting on the couch?

Wireless gaming trackballs, that's what we need.

PCs have always been in dank dark bedrooms or basements. Nothing new about that.

Nothing new, but few things other than fungi grow in the dark with shit heaped upon them.

if you already have a normal pc, it is unlikely that you'll "need" to buy a new monitor. even the crappest pc monitor usually has a higher resolution than your average console btw.

and if you already have a pc, you usually dont need an entire new rig to make it game worthy. you can UPGRADE most of the time. (and i'm not talking about paying through the ass to have a new harddrive in my bling bling console)

It's likely if a household has a normal pc that it's mum or dad's machine and they're unlikely to let little jimmy or jenny start upgrading it. But the number of people who have a normal off the shelf pc who might take up gaming is probably a lot lot less than the number of people who have a telly and might buy a console.

if you "cant find stores where that is the case", it's just your own fault...

Sorry do what? It's my fault that I don't have a credit card? Well actually it is somewhat but that's a whole different story. Actually going into a store and buying the game off the shelf and both versions are £35.

there is no such thing as a maximum requirement, but i understand what you're trying to say.

Yeah I meant recommended, but I woke up a 3am and couldn't get back to sleep. I mean that's what puts a lot of people who do have a pc off of pc gaming. The system requirements are getting so complicated, what with different requirements for xp and vista or dual and quad cores etc. Plus drivers, it hasn't happened often but there has been once or twice I've upgrading to the latest drivers to play a new game and had older games crash me to desktop until I've rolled the drivers back. It's alright for those of you into the technology, but many people just want to play games without the hassle.

 

[Meh]

We're living in a kind of an European medieval dark ages of gaming. People are blindly following the authorities (the marketing department in this case, and some famous gaming personalities and companies like Sid Meier and Blizzard) and seek to extinguish all diversity (turn-based being old for 10 years, 3d over 2d, internet access required) into one blob (shadow-emo-ninja-pseudo-stealth-game-where-you-actually-just-hack-your-way-on-with-big-sword-for-online-ladder-ranking).
What we need is an reformist, being that an person, press or company, to question and kick out the inbreeding (games going to devolve into real-time 3rd or 1st person, no matter what the genre is), greediness and corruption (mainstreaming, activations, previews). Only then we will start to see some hope in the gaming industry. Top that with one or more awesome eye-opener games or game developers and we'll descent into glorious renaissance and revive our past. People start again to see the gaming world in the original view, and more importantly absorb the influence of the classical era - when console games were easy entertainment for children and PC gaming offered all the diversity and class.
Currently we are suffering the plague (consoles being the rats). Not the most pleasant condition, and even the most foolish ones consider it as an bliss, only to find out they end up as an decaying walking corpses. While we have forgotten our past and only few daredevils seek to it - only finding out they're collectively punished (like what fanbois, press and the ignorant ones does to NMA), there is one faction keeping the culture and innovativeness up - gaming world muslims - the Eastern Europeans!
Wii is considered as the clergymen who still preserve and do research of the old information in the monasteries, although for the wrong reasons. While basically they're just misguided idiots aswell, they're doing a favor for the gaming world.
Hardcore PC gamers are the jews across Europe - they're persecuted (lol they are living on the past, let's make an article of it in this fad site) and forcefully converted (Bioshock controversy for example).
Fallout communities are somewhere in the Lebanon, with the safety of the muslims but also with their moderate people. Meanwhile near in the region, the greedy gaming industry, which blindly think they're on a good quest, continues on their crusades on the keepers of the PC gaming, most likely to increase their market share, although they of course not mention it to their followers.
When the age of enlightenment arrives, the ancient classics, like Fallout, will be finally beaten in terms of gameplay and story.

 

[SuAside]

if you "cant find stores where that is the case", it's just your own fault...

Sorry do what? It's my fault that I don't have a credit card? Well actually it is somewhat but that's a whole different story. Actually going into a store and buying the game off the shelf and both versions are £35.

euhm. pretty much any kind of bankcard allows you to buy from play.com (any selfrespecting bank will have Maestro on their cards, and in the UK Delta or Solo as well).

you dont even need to go into the more expensive cards (mastercard or visa).

so unless you dont have a bankaccount (other than a savings account), it is rather unlikely that you'll be unable to pay...

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

We're living in a kind of an European medieval dark ages of gaming.

I would liken it more to the early years of the film industry, we've gone from the early days of the industry pioneers working with improvised equipment and are currently in the middle of the studio system years.

so unless you dont have a bankaccount (other than a savings account), it is rather unlikely that you'll be unable to pay...

Which I don't, and have mentioned before. Other than the fact I have plenty of savings I'm in the same boat as the target teen audience for most publishers.

 

[SuAside]

so unless you dont have a bankaccount (other than a savings account), it is rather unlikely that you'll be unable to pay...

Which I don't, and have mentioned before. Other than the fact I have plenty of savings I'm in the same boat as the target teen audience for most publishers.

you're a weirdo... i've had a Maestro capable bankcard since i was 14yo.

as for the audience younger than though... well, rather normal you cant buy stuff online like that. not to mention a lot of games are age restricted.

 

[Morbus]

Time again for Dark Legacy's amazing simplification skills:

PC Gaming - "I want to have fun alone."
Console Gaming - "I want to have fun with, or entertain my friends."

Because you can't play with friends on a PC? Flawedlogickaythnxbai.

You're all seeing it the wrong way. It should be like this:
PC Gaming - "I want to have fun" OR "I want to be impressed by shinny things and pay a crapload of money"
Console Gaming - "I want to be impressed by shinny things"

:EDIT:

BTW... NOTHING beats some Rainbow Six 3 LAN or Worms Armageddon 1PC only

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

you're a weirdo... i've had a Maestro capable bankcard since i was 14yo.

Not wierd just credit challenged. Okay so you can get a card much younger these days, that doesn't stop the fact that most casual gamers will make impulse buys or buy what's hot in the chart. And shops have a greater selection of console games on the shelves than pc games, even the speciality shops (in the UK).

 

[SuAside]

credit challenged? debit cards dont imply credit

 

[Seraphim Pwns U]

Wait when did the console win against the PC?

Last time I checked every genre that isn't Street Fighter / Mortal Combat / Tekken / Whatever-Beat'em Ups is hands down better on the PC than on a console.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Pft... I *have* to disagree with you. One Must Fall: 2097 is better than any other console fighter of its age.

One more notch for the PC.

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

credit challenged? debit cards dont imply credit

Credit as in credit rating, not credit cards.

 

[Kyuu]

Nothing new, but few things other than fungi grow in the dark with shit heaped upon them.

Good sir, are you implying I'm a fungi? Why thank you! (Fungi, fun guy... oh nevermind.)

Anyways, while it is true that a person/family is more likely to already possess a TV (which have nearly 100% market penetration), it's also true that quality PC monitors are much cheaper than quality TVs. For example, I can get a very nice widescreen, 20" LCD monitor with great contrast and quick response time for around $200. The absolute cheapest 23" (closest standard TV size, and plus it needs to be little bigger since you'll be sitting across the room) LCD TV with 780p is $300. And I wouldn't buy that TV, because TVs aren't something where I go with a cheapy brand (and the response time is slower, which is bad for games).

It's alright for those of you into the technology, but many people just want to play games without the hassle.

Yes, there's no denying that PCs require more work hassle to get running, but there's also no denying that PCs are a more powerful platform in pretty much every sense. Like I said though, I like consoles too, so I'm not sure why I'm defending PCs so heavily. I started out in this thread complaining about console bashing. o_0

 

[requiem_for_a_starfury]

Anyways, while it is true that a person/family is more likely to already possess a TV (which have nearly 100% market penetration), it's also true that quality PC monitors are much cheaper than quality TVs.

Except those who are going to upgrade their tv for or after buying a console are going to be in a minority. I use an old 21" Philips, the picture is fine.

Yes, there's no denying that PCs require more work hassle to get running, but there's also no denying that PCs are a more powerful platform in pretty much every sense.

But as I said do you really need all that power? It would be interesting to do a poll on how many people use their pcs for other than gaming, dvds/music, the internet and email or as a pumped up word processor/calculator.