Batman is exactly why I don't PC game

[Emanuele Ciriachi]

So you will settle for a sub-par experience that costs more simply because you are not willing to learn how to maintain a PC in working order.
As long as it suits you...

I bet my PC is in better working order than yours and more efficient (literally the only thing in my system tray is my firewall). I'm a PC tech BTW.

Maybe, I won't rule that out. In my company one of the senior sysadmins also plays on consoles despite being probably better than me at keeping a machine well-oiled and running (I'm a software developer myself). Which puzzles me even more as to why people with good technical skills would prefer a console.

Perhaps after working with PCs all day you guys are tired of dealing with one more?

 

[Doom972]

being 3 meters away from the TV really broke immersion from me.

You really should let Windows update (Important updates only would suffice). Some games rely on those updates, but the developers sometimes neglect to mention specific needed updates. Registry edits can also have adverse effects you may have not taken into consideration.

Uhh... sit closer.

It's a living room, you get the idea. I wasn't going to move furniture in a friend's living room.

I play very few PC games. I don't update anything unless it's mandatory or something is not working. Updates have a habit of breaking more things than they fix. I only changed the look of Windows explorer with registry tweaks.

So you knowingly open yourself to the possibility of a game not working out of the box. Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive, so if you want things to run out of the box, you have to let it update automatically. Same goes for drivers as well. I'm sure that if you don't let your consoles update their firmware automatically, you'll find yourself staring at a download/installation screen when you try to run a recent game.

 

[DoPo]

Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive

"Hey! Hey! Hey, buddy! Hey, buddy! Hey! Fuck you, buddy, you must restart, tolololo".

Not intrusive? They are possibly the worst updates I've ever seen. Skype, I think, holds the first place, though...and that's also a Microsoft property. Why in the names of all the gods, would they force me to restart? Worse yet it keeps popping up that fucking reminder box. "Oh, you're doing something else? Screw that, imma take the focus off it. Oh, you were typing? Sure, not only would I take the focus away, but I'll interpret space as 'Press the button'." And yeah - the focused button is "restart now".

And worse yet it's not a straight restart either - sometimes you have to wait for the system to shut down because of the fucking updates. And sometimes you also need to wait on startup. Of course both aren't unusual either. And if you are installing a lot of updates, you may need to wait for your machine to shut down (installing updates...), start up (installing updates...), shutdown again (no - not doing anything, just restarts straight after installing updates...to install more updates), then start up (guess why! yes, to install more updates!!!).

If that's your definition of "not very intrusive", I really don't want to know what other update systems you've used. I can only imagine the patches are delivered on site by angry flaming venomous spiders with clown faces. Or something to that effect.

 

[Doom972]

Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive

"Hey! Hey! Hey, buddy! Hey, buddy! Hey! Fuck you, buddy, you must restart, tolololo".

Not intrusive? They are possibly the worst updates I've ever seen. Skype, I think, holds the first place, though...and that's also a Microsoft property. Why in the names of all the gods, would they force me to restart? Worse yet it keeps popping up that fucking reminder box. "Oh, you're doing something else? Screw that, imma take the focus off it. Oh, you were typing? Sure, not only would I take the focus away, but I'll interpret space as 'Press the button'." And yeah - the focused button is "restart now".

And worse yet it's not a straight restart either - sometimes you have to wait for the system to shut down because of the fucking updates. And sometimes you also need to wait on startup. Of course both aren't unusual either. And if you are installing a lot of updates, you may need to wait for your machine to shut down (installing updates...), start up (installing updates...), shutdown again (no - not doing anything, just restarts straight after installing updates...to install more updates), then start up (guess why! yes, to install more updates!!!).

If that's your definition of "not very intrusive", I really don't want to know what other update systems you've used. I can only imagine the patches are delivered on site by angry flaming venomous spiders with clown faces. Or something to that effect.

I said MOST of the time. Most updates install seamlessly. Some of those security updates are a completely different story.

 

[Joccaren]

The AC Unity and Skyrim issues were in the game on all platforms whereas the console version very rarely has more issues.

Whilst I have not personally played AC Unity to know, Skyrim issue was exclusive to PS3. The X360 didn't have the issue, and PCs were so far beyond not getting the issue it wasn't funny. Funnily enough, today, PC is the most stable build of Skyrim with most of the bugs fixed in unofficial patches. Neat huh?

As for consoles rarely having more issues... its why my PC has never had an issue, but my mate's Xbox RRODd. Or why my PC doesn't overheat, but playing my Playstation I have to save, turn it off for ten minutes, then try again every couple of hours because that shit can't handle being in a video cabinet whilst my PC can handle being buried under a pile of books, clothes and next to my heating vent without giving a shit.

I'll grant, PC gamers get more shit ports, but that's because there are more games that can be ported from Console to PC than the other way around. Tell Firaxis to port Civ V to the PS4 and see how well it works for you. Odds are, it'll be shit. But then, that's why I don't buy consoles [innocent face]

I never had a game not be playable. The issue that caused Skyrim's PS3 issues were on all platforms, it just occurred more on PS3. Plus, I don't buy Bethesda games because they can't write, which is rather important to freaking RPGs. I've never had a console game that I bought where I couldn't play it to a satisfactory degree.

The memory issue that caused the problems was on all platforms, yes, however the PS3 was the only one to actually get affected by it at all because it had the shittest memory. X360s memory was better allocated, and thus could handle it, whilst the PC had so much memory it didn't know what to do with, and thus laughed in the face of that problem until you installed 20 mods or so, where it started running out of memory - until you installed the 4Gb memory patch that let it use even more memory.
So glad PC games have more problems than consoles. It would be terrible if that were the other way around sometimes...

I've been on official message boards before just discussing the game and seen half the threads be about PC gamers literally not being able to play the game, like say Splinter Cell Blacklist.

An effect that is very easily explained by the fact that those that have a bad experience are more likely to comment online than those who have the game work fine. There's also the fact that people on the PC know if they ask for help, there's likely to be something they can do - which means more people comment - as opposed to consoles where if it doesn't work you know there's nothing you can do, and just go return it for a refund instead.
Funnily enough though, I've seen plenty of console players complain about unplayable games too. Like the new Mortal Combat X for instance...

Are those console specific issues or issues with the game? There's a difference between issues that happen on all platforms vs issues that only happen on one platform. The latter very rarely happens on consoles.

Keep kidding yourself with that mate. It was true in the 90s to early 2000s, because you couldn't patch a console game post launch and have it be fixed. It isn't anymore.

I've never had a game not play in a satisfactory manner. Plus, if there's an issue with a console game, it's usually an issue on all platforms, which is then a bug of the game, not the port. Prettier graphics doesn't make a game play better nor does it enhance my gaming experience, it's all about aesthetics, not graphic fidelity. It's like Fallout 4 is going to be all brown and grey regardless how high res the textures are or how many fps the game is running, you're just seeing more frames of brown and grey lol (yeah, I have no interest in Fallout 4).

As a PC player, I've never had a game not play in a satisfactory manner either. Hell, even without needing to install patches would you believe it! For me, they've all worked right out of the box - amazingly enough even 30 year old games if I followed the instructions for installation properly [DOSBox FTW].
Funny how the platform that ports to other platforms doesn't have the bugs from being ported too... Weird that. Don't change the fact that console games end up with plenty of bugs too though.
Funnily enough, Fallout 4 will only be all brown and grey on Console. On PC not only are the higher res textures likely to bring out more detail and potentially colour, but modders will too. Oh what a time to be alive, where I could get a rainbow Fallout 4. For examples, see Battlefield 3 where PC modders removed the Blue overlay filter shit to make the game more colourful, even though DICE was like "NO".


But, as I said, funnily enough, these are your personal experiences, and don't contribute to the PC vs Console war as a whole. Your personal preferences and experiences don't carry over to the masses, and really you can't make the claim that PCs are less stable and consoles more, purely based off your own ideology and anecdote. Funnily enough, when confronted with this, you just pull up more of your own ideology as defence, or say "Others had problems too...". Great. Doesn't help prove your point though.

 

[sagitel]

Can we get an estimate of number of console and pc games you have and played and also if there are new games in there or not?
My own example is skyrim. Me and my friend both bought it a week after launch. I got it on pc and he got it on 360. I didnt know about modding back then so i was running vanilla skyrim. The only bug i ran into in over 200 hours of play was the esbern bug (sound files missing. Downloaded some files it was fixed.) And getting stuck in a wall (used tcl to get out) while my friend got into a variety of bugs. From people vanishing to quests breaking etc. Now i know i was lucky i didnt run into them but its the same as your arguement op. It worked in a satisfactory manner for me. So thats why i dont use consoles.
(On the skyrim bit go to uesp.net and check some random quests for bugs. You will be surprised how many of them are console exclusive or are fixed by unofficial patches on pc)

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Didn't you read? He doesn't use Windows Media Player! This guy's a fucking PC genius. I've been trying for years to change my PC so I wouldn't have to use Media Player. I've tried everything. I've tried throwing rocks at it, I've tried jumping up and down on my chair screaming at it, I sacrificed my sister to the gods... Nothing worked.

He's even disabled automatic updates, which is great because, y'know, there's all those viruses Microsoft keep putting out. I've got their number. Sell me an OS and then give me viruses so I have to buy a new one. OP's one smart ************ avoiding all that.

SNIP

...

What the hell are you talking about?

I mean, I'm sorry I'm being rude but... what? Maybe try again, all I'm getting is that you got really angry because... you're headphones ran out of batteries (?) ... and somehow this stopped the air conditioning working (!?) ... and it's all your PC's fault, and PC gaming isn't as good as the 3DS because of that?

To use the valley girl vernacular, I don't even.

For someone who had just used sarcasm i'm surprised you didn't pick up on mine. Sorry for being British and having the higher level wit. Next time would you like me to post a picture of someone holding up a green sign to show i'm serious, and a red sign if not?

Spoiler

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

Rather than tell you the 800 other reasons why PC out-does console and how that makes your one point irrelevant, I'll stick to the one point you brought up.

1. It's a shitty dev/pub that causes this to happen.
2. You shouldn't be pre-ordering anyway (three cheers for Steam refunds btw).
3. It's still cheaper on PC in most places anyway.
4. Because that's never happened on console amiright? No. It's happened plenty of times on console, so saying you stick to console because of that is, well, a tad stupid.

There might be some small amount of reasons to take console over PC depending on the scenario, this is true, but you should stick to them instead of trying to flimsily argue that this is one of them.

The game plays the same on PC or console, prettier graphics don't enhance my gaming experience. I don't pre-order. It's cheaper on console because I can sell the game after I'm done, plus the console is cheaper.

You can't sit there and tell me a better looking game isn't better than a worse looking game, all other things equal.
You can buy and sell a physical copy of the PC version too, so your point is moot. And that version will STILL be cheaper to buy.
The console isn't cheaper. This: http://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/wiki/builds#wiki_the_next-gen_crusher out-does it slightly performance wise to my understanding (and carries all the advantages of a PC). Factor in the fact that console games tend to cost more, the controllers can cost god knows how much, paying for online each month to use your own internet, the fact that PC has abundant sales, the fact that PC has a metric fuckton of free games etc, etc, the even if the PC isn't cheaper in the short term (depending on what build you want), give it a year or so and you'll have saved more money than buying a console AND gotten a better experience.

 

[Steven Bogos]

It's not like console games don't launch completely broken - ac unity being one of the more high profile examples.

This. Just as many examples of shitty console releases as there are PC releases. It just seems like more on the PC because a lot more games are released on the PC...

 

[MercurySteam]

The Steam forums are like the 'Ask Yahoo' of the PC gaming world.

"Ask Yahoo" being a popular site that is comprised of a large body of users.

Were you trying to agree with me? Because you seem to be making my point for me.

Steam forums are often the first port of call for people when thing's are broke and they don't know why, that doesn't mean it's the best place. Better to go to the official game forums and report to the mods rather than moping around on Steam forums. Point is now moot, as they've suspended sales of the game on Steam. PC version was just not ready, reinforcing my point to be wary of day one releases of AAA games.

 

[mad825]

Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive

"Hey! Hey! Hey, buddy! Hey, buddy! Hey! Fuck you, buddy, you must restart, tolololo".

Not intrusive? They are possibly the worst updates I've ever seen. Skype, I think, holds the first place, though...and that's also a Microsoft property. Why in the names of all the gods, would they force me to restart? Worse yet it keeps popping up that fucking reminder box. "Oh, you're doing something else? Screw that, imma take the focus off it. Oh, you were typing? Sure, not only would I take the focus away, but I'll interpret space as 'Press the button'." And yeah - the focused button is "restart now".

Pro tip; don't update till you go to bed or finished with the PC. You should be able to let download only then press the shutdown button within the start menu. It will update when shutting down and booting if necessary.

A good majority of the time it won't kill you if the updates are left for one day longer.

 

[BadNewDingus]

This is why I went VR.

*dies from bad games ... and stairs.*

 

[RedDeadFred]

See, as a PC gamer, I would wait for Batman to have a future sale (if I was interested in it that is) before buying it anyway. This usually gets around any kind of major issues that plague ports at launch. I haven't bought a game at launch in quite some time. For me, the great sales are part of the reason to do PC gaming. Depending on how many games you want, you end up saving money in the long run.

 

[Metalmacher]

Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive

"Hey! Hey! Hey, buddy! Hey, buddy! Hey! Fuck you, buddy, you must restart, tolololo".

Not intrusive? They are possibly the worst updates I've ever seen. Skype, I think, holds the first place, though...and that's also a Microsoft property. Why in the names of all the gods, would they force me to restart? Worse yet it keeps popping up that fucking reminder box. "Oh, you're doing something else? Screw that, imma take the focus off it. Oh, you were typing? Sure, not only would I take the focus away, but I'll interpret space as 'Press the button'." And yeah - the focused button is "restart now".

Pro tip; don't update till you go to bed or finished with the PC. You should be able to let download only then press the shutdown button within the start menu. It will update when shutting down and booting if necessary.

A good majority of the time it won't kill you if the updates are left for one day longer.

I think the problem has more to do with the principle of Microsoft taking away control from you. There are moments when it's necessary like when there's a BSOD, but just like that when the OS is running fine is kinda shitty.

Anyway, on topic, I game on a laptop, cuz I'm at college and I need to move between places on weekly basis, plus I use it during my classes as well. That's a comfort that no console (other than portables) can give me. So yeah, until the day I'll be able to place my roots, I'm gaming on a laptop exclusively.

 

[DoPo]

I said MOST of the time. Most updates install seamlessly. Some of those security updates are a completely different story.

Even then, they're not really a very big problem if you just dont leave your computer on 24/7.

Pro tip; don't update till you go to bed or finished with the PC. You should be able to let download only then press the shutdown button within the start menu. It will update when shutting down and booting if necessary.

A good majority of the time it won't kill you if the updates are left for one day longer.

I leave my PC on 24/7. I boot it approximately once a month...because of updates.

Even then, my situation doesn't change the fact the recommended settings automatically download and install updates. The one and only time I forgot to change that, it not only installed the updates, at one point it popped up a prompt that said "I'll restart in 15 seconds, if you don't stop me". I did stop it. The first time around. At some point I went to fetch a drink and WHAM, Windows improved my experience by restarting and thus nuking the entire session in my absence. I quickly amended that since.

The updates are far from being fine "most of the time", considering that you are forced to restart at least every few weeks. They are far from non-intrusive if they could even say "Fuck you" and just restart anyway. They are far from either if that's the default behaviour.

 

[Mike Richards]

Speaking of AC: Unity - did they ever fix it? I have it installed to my Xbox One since it came with it, but I didn't play it because I heard it was broken as hell.

Can't personally speak to the One but I just ended up getting the PC version on the steam summer sale cause it was basically free with Rogue, and in the three or so hours I've spent with it I've actually had fewer glitches then I have with the three or so hours I've spent with its compatriot. I can get a solid mid-30s on full settings which admittedly isn't great, but it'll average mid-50s with a few small tweeks that actually don't degrade the image too much for me, and both visually and input-wise it still manages to wear a slightly sub-optimal FPS very well. Maybe one or two good instances of pop-in that I've noticed and that's it.

So far it might actually be turning into one of my favorite entries in the series. Believe me, no one is more surprised then I am.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

No, the console version will just run like crap forever and it and it's tons of DLC will be priced higher for years to come.

Console games run perfectly fine. There's barely any DLC even worth purchasing.

Perhaps after working with PCs all day you guys are tired of dealing with one more?

It's all about time for me. I'm able to spend more of my gaming time actually gaming on a console vs PC.

So you knowingly open yourself to the possibility of a game not working out of the box. Windows updates are seamless and most of the time not very intrusive, so if you want things to run out of the box, you have to let it update automatically. Same goes for drivers as well. I'm sure that if you don't let your consoles update their firmware automatically, you'll find yourself staring at a download/installation screen when you try to run a recent game.

Shouldn't the game come with the software it needs to play? If you bought a physical copy of a PC game because you don't have internet, you should be able to play the game. Like console games that require a certain firmware version or higher come with that firmware on the disc. You very rarely have to update the firmware of a console to play a game (if you do, it's on the disc) unless you want to play online, you don't have to download and update the firmware even if you're prompted to. And what DoPo said about Windows Updates, I hate them, I don't need them so what's the point of potentially messing up my system? I literally don't have anything automatically update from my computer to my console to my phone.

Whilst I have not personally played AC Unity to know, Skyrim issue was exclusive to PS3. The X360 didn't have the issue, and PCs were so far beyond not getting the issue it wasn't funny. Funnily enough, today, PC is the most stable build of Skyrim with most of the bugs fixed in unofficial patches. Neat huh?

As for consoles rarely having more issues... its why my PC has never had an issue, but my mate's Xbox RRODd. Or why my PC doesn't overheat, but playing my Playstation I have to save, turn it off for ten minutes, then try again every couple of hours because that shit can't handle being in a video cabinet whilst my PC can handle being buried under a pile of books, clothes and next to my heating vent without giving a shit.

I'll grant, PC gamers get more shit ports, but that's because there are more games that can be ported from Console to PC than the other way around. Tell Firaxis to port Civ V to the PS4 and see how well it works for you. Odds are, it'll be shit. But then, that's why I don't buy consoles [innocent face]

The Skyrim issue is in all platforms. My friends played Skyrim on PS3 and only had quest problems I believe.

Last-gen consoles had issues because they had to use lead free solder for stupid reasons. Anyways, we're talking about software, not hardware. And last-gen was the only time my console ever broke from NES to PS4 now.

It's not even about shit ports, it's about games not working satisfactory or working at all. Bayonetta on PS3 is a shit-port but it still works and is very playable.

An effect that is very easily explained by the fact that those that have a bad experience are more likely to comment online than those who have the game work fine. There's also the fact that people on the PC know if they ask for help, there's likely to be something they can do - which means more people comment - as opposed to consoles where if it doesn't work you know there's nothing you can do, and just go return it for a refund instead.
Funnily enough though, I've seen plenty of console players complain about unplayable games too. Like the new Mortal Combat X for instance...

A good percentage of PC gamers literally couldn't play Splinter Cell Blacklist. MKX seems to have had server issues (from quickly Googling) on consoles and the PC version had more issues like lots of gamers not being able to play it and low FPS. It's rather funny your game example only ended being another point in my favor.

Again, it simply comes down to this: Will I be able to play a console game? Yes. Will I be able to play a PC game? Probably, but maybe not.

You can't sit there and tell me a better looking game isn't better than a worse looking game, all other things equal.
You can buy and sell a physical copy of the PC version too, so your point is moot. And that version will STILL be cheaper to buy.
The console isn't cheaper. This: http://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/wiki/builds#wiki_the_next-gen_crusher out-does it slightly performance wise to my understanding (and carries all the advantages of a PC). Factor in the fact that console games tend to cost more, the controllers can cost god knows how much, paying for online each month to use your own internet, the fact that PC has abundant sales, the fact that PC has a metric fuckton of free games etc, etc, the even if the PC isn't cheaper in the short term (depending on what build you want), give it a year or so and you'll have saved more money than buying a console AND gotten a better experience.

Sure a game looking better is good but it ever so slightly increases my enjoyment of the game. I bought the Team ICO PS3 HD collection and it was nice having better graphics for those games but I'd maybe rate the HD versions like 0.1 higher than the PS2 versions if I was scoring each version, they were still the same games.

How can you sell a copy of a PC game that comes with an activation code like say GTAV? Note: I'm not sure if a majority of PC games have activation codes or not.

That PC you linked to is more expensive, comes with a Sapphire video card (which I wouldn't buy), and doesn't come with an OS (which costs money) nor a DVD drive (to say play a physical copy of a PC game...). Console games cost me at most $20 assuming I bought it on release or very soon after, and obviously less if I wait to play it later (which is mainly I don't have time to play it then vs actually waiting for a price drop). You can get controllers pretty cheap every Black Friday, even the most basic keyboard/mouse costs about $20 (most PC gamers buy more expensive versions) and I'm guessing PC controllers aren't super cheap (they're probably cheaper than a PS4/Xbone controller but a PC needs a KB/M and if you want a controller, as some games play better with a controller, then that's at least another $20 so at least $40 right there on controllers for PC). And, that build you posted doesn't even include a keyboard/mouse whereas consoles come with a controller and usually a game for the base price of $400. Your computer build is way over $500 at this point. PS+ only makes gaming cheaper, I've been a PS+ member probably like 5 years now and I even kept it when unemployeed because gaming was cheaper with it. I agree it's bullshit to have to have it to play online but for me, PS+ is something I'd have regardless. PSN is pretty good at times with sales, a digital marketplace is sorta new to consoles, things will improve just like it did with Steam.

 

[CaitSeith]

If I buy a game for a console, it's going to fucking work.

Unless you buy it in Day One. Then maybe it'll work, or maybe it will be Assassin's Creed: Unity, Halo: Master Chief Collection, The Crew, Little Big Planet 3 or Tetris Ultimate. How the heck can someone screw up Tetris on the PS4!?

 

[Morgoth780]

If I buy a game for a console, it's going to fucking work.

Unless you buy it in Day One. Then maybe it'll work, or maybe it will be Assassin's Creed: Unity, Halo: Master Chief Collection, The Crew, Little Big Planet 3 or Tetris Ultimate. How the heck can someone screw up Tetris on the PS4!?

Ah, I forgot about Tetris.

There's no guarantee that something will work on day one or for some period of time after. Later on, I could probably agree that you're more likely to run into issues on PC than on a console, but even then, I'd still think they're relatively rare.

 

[14341210]

PC gaming is great, especially for strategy games. I love it. Sadly you are right, it's not as accessible as consoles, and when a game doesn't support your PC, you're gonna have to find a way around it yourself.

What PC gamers can't realize is that PC gaming is expensive, WAY more expensive than console's, in most of the countries in the world. That's because hardware stores in say, small European countries, Middle East, South and South East Asia and elsewhere, usually find no real competition like the one found in the USA or bigger European countries, and start charging for more, sometimes, a lot more. That's why a unified price tag on a console makes its entry-barrier much easier.