Is PC gaming really worth it?
- Thread starter Vault101
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Where are you doing your electronics shopping?! I don't live in Australia, but if you're paying £500 for a PS3 and £2000 for a PC then you're getting hosed.Player Two said:
I'm actually asking myself the same question lately. I love my PC, it's important for me not just for gaming. I've always been a PC gamer. Most of the games I have played throughout my life have been in PC centric genres. The ability to mod games is one I treasure highly and multitasking can really be helpful. On the other hand my experience with consoles is limited to playing with friends who own one. In the end I always walked away telling myself that consoles aren't made for me. Game pads for example confuse me greatly. I always feel like I can't even walk in a straight line with them in most games.
But then again, my current PC is nearly five years old and while I'm still able to play most games on reasonable settings, it will soon be time to buy a new graphics card. Now, as a student with a very limited disposable income, this could put a huge dent in my finances. For the price I pay for a good new graphics card, I could also nearly buy a PS3 or something. Together with the rise of console exclusives and more and more developers seeming to abandon PC gaming, this really makes me think about whether I shouldn't simply change sides.
I think I'll stay faithful for PC gaming for now, but I really can't guarantee for the future.
But then again, my current PC is nearly five years old and while I'm still able to play most games on reasonable settings, it will soon be time to buy a new graphics card. Now, as a student with a very limited disposable income, this could put a huge dent in my finances. For the price I pay for a good new graphics card, I could also nearly buy a PS3 or something. Together with the rise of console exclusives and more and more developers seeming to abandon PC gaming, this really makes me think about whether I shouldn't simply change sides.
I think I'll stay faithful for PC gaming for now, but I really can't guarantee for the future.
OP, is it worth it to go to a cinema to see a movie?
Depends. Do you want better quality? Do you appreciate movies? If yes, the higher quality of a real theater (or at least a very high end home theather), is totally worth it. If all you want is "purdy pic-tchures!" then the extra quality will be lost on you anyways, and it'll be a pointless investment.
Same applies to games and PCs. If you want proper quality, you get a PC.
As a gaming rig, yes you could have. 2xHD5870s are STILL a waste of money (except for cool points), and an i7 is hardly a necessity, as well as anything over 4/6 Gs of ram. If you factor in that you bought it a while ago, this could be an increasingly ridiculous expenditure, as price balloons out of reason the newer something is. The newest model will always be something like 2 or 3 times the price of the model just bellow it, while generally offering negligible performance increase.
You can build a working rig withing the 1000 bucks mark and it'll run anything on max.
Depends. Do you want better quality? Do you appreciate movies? If yes, the higher quality of a real theater (or at least a very high end home theather), is totally worth it. If all you want is "purdy pic-tchures!" then the extra quality will be lost on you anyways, and it'll be a pointless investment.
Same applies to games and PCs. If you want proper quality, you get a PC.
As a workstation, I don't know. That's a different matter entirely. Depends on your work.Fluffles said:
As a gaming rig, yes you could have. 2xHD5870s are STILL a waste of money (except for cool points), and an i7 is hardly a necessity, as well as anything over 4/6 Gs of ram. If you factor in that you bought it a while ago, this could be an increasingly ridiculous expenditure, as price balloons out of reason the newer something is. The newest model will always be something like 2 or 3 times the price of the model just bellow it, while generally offering negligible performance increase.
You can build a working rig withing the 1000 bucks mark and it'll run anything on max.
See, the thing is, besides PC Exclusives, I still feel as if a lot of the multiplatform games *should* be played on the PC because they just feel right. That's still my belief on most RPGs and FPSs, even though many are now designed first for consoles. It's really a controller thing, I guess. Then again, I haven't tried an AAA title on a console in... 10 years? Since Golden Eye.Marq said:
I also have a laptop that I play games on. I think of it less as a 'gaming laptop', but more as an all-in-one entertaintment/work station. Costs for all those usually separate electronics are all bundled together in one package that was about 1000 USD. Plus, portability. I just moved my 'home' again, the second time in 6 months, so for me that's a huge factor.
For me, the question is more "Is console gaming worth it?". And by "worth it" I mean "worth the money".
I already have a PC that's able to handle this gaming generation (also, it wasn't very expensive) and since PC games are unlikely to go ahead and outmatch console games in graphics (for purely financial reasons) I doubt I'll have to upgrade any time soon.
If I wanted to get into console gaming, it would mean buying a console (PS3 or 360, likely PS3), buying a new TV (I don't have a HDTV), buying all the extras (cables, controlers, etc etc.), all of which adds up to a dire amount of money. And for what? A few non-PC games.
Sure, I'd like to play Demon's Souls, Uncharted, Bayonetta and such, but I don't see it being worth close to $1k to get everything set up. A lot of RPGs that I'm interested in already come out on the PC, and the consoles are pretty much dead when it comes to the RTS and TBS genres.
And that's before I get into the fact that games are just cheaper on the PC. They cost less by default, and when you factor in sales from digital distribution sites, it starts to add up quite fast.
Basically, from where I'm standing, console gaming isn't financialy viable just to gain access to the few games that are unavailable to me.
EDIT: Also, even if the generations were to jump forward again (which they won't for several years at least), I'd still be reluctant to switch to console gaming. I need to keep my PC more or less updated for work-related reasons and switching to the console would cut me off from some of my favourite genres (assorted strategy games).
Only way I see myself gaming on consoles is in addition to the PC if I ever manage to get enough extra income and nothing better to buy.
I already have a PC that's able to handle this gaming generation (also, it wasn't very expensive) and since PC games are unlikely to go ahead and outmatch console games in graphics (for purely financial reasons) I doubt I'll have to upgrade any time soon.
If I wanted to get into console gaming, it would mean buying a console (PS3 or 360, likely PS3), buying a new TV (I don't have a HDTV), buying all the extras (cables, controlers, etc etc.), all of which adds up to a dire amount of money. And for what? A few non-PC games.
Sure, I'd like to play Demon's Souls, Uncharted, Bayonetta and such, but I don't see it being worth close to $1k to get everything set up. A lot of RPGs that I'm interested in already come out on the PC, and the consoles are pretty much dead when it comes to the RTS and TBS genres.
And that's before I get into the fact that games are just cheaper on the PC. They cost less by default, and when you factor in sales from digital distribution sites, it starts to add up quite fast.
Basically, from where I'm standing, console gaming isn't financialy viable just to gain access to the few games that are unavailable to me.
EDIT: Also, even if the generations were to jump forward again (which they won't for several years at least), I'd still be reluctant to switch to console gaming. I need to keep my PC more or less updated for work-related reasons and switching to the console would cut me off from some of my favourite genres (assorted strategy games).
Only way I see myself gaming on consoles is in addition to the PC if I ever manage to get enough extra income and nothing better to buy.
You might think you are missing out on a lot of games by not owning a console but there is a multiplying effect of multiple console exclusives there and owning all of the consoles and buying all the exclusives is quite expensive. In reality I spend by far most of my gaming on PC and don't buy that many console games a year. Like, in the past two years I have bought Brutal Legend and Nier for my 360 and haven't really felt the need to get anything else.
For me, PC gaming is just too much hassle, and with my general lack of time for things like this, I'd rather just grab a controller, lounge back into my sofa and plug bullets into aliens for a few mindless hours.
Though in the future I see PC gaming and Console gaming pretty much becoming the same thing -- consoles get more and more like PCs with each generation, and I'm sure the next gen will feature web browsers, and once we've got to that stage, they are basically the same thing.
Later again, the future will definitely be in devices more like the iPad; with growing processing power consoles will shrink and shrink until the handheld reigns supreme.
Though in the future I see PC gaming and Console gaming pretty much becoming the same thing -- consoles get more and more like PCs with each generation, and I'm sure the next gen will feature web browsers, and once we've got to that stage, they are basically the same thing.
Later again, the future will definitely be in devices more like the iPad; with growing processing power consoles will shrink and shrink until the handheld reigns supreme.
the only real problem i have with a laptop, for gaming, is that it isnt future proof. you cant upgrade a laptop to the extent you can upgrade a desktop. that means that in a few years, you will likely start finding games that your laptop cannot run well. its convenient to be able to have that kind of mobility while gaming, but it comes at a priceVault101 said:
now on to the main argument. when i read the subject, i was ready to yell at you. however, you actually make a valid point. it is hard to walk into a store and leave with a pc game. the selection for pc games, in most game stores, is very small, when compared to console games. at my local gamestop, there is a bigger selection of gamecube games, than pc games. i will always be a pc gamer at heart but i will still see my console, on the side. but there are some things a mouse and keyboard just work much better for. rts and fps, of course, but also mmos and rpgs in general, i find usually work better on a pc (im not saying rpgs dont work on console controls, i just like the pc controls better). i have been a pc gamer since the days of windows 95 and im confident it will make a comeback, as it seems to do every several years. but currently, i think youre right. if i was just getting in to gaming now and wanted to choose between a console or pc gaming, i would probably pick the console.
Meh... Their prices are about on par with pc case gear. Bit cheaper on some stuff, bit more expensive on others. I also found MSY's range more limited (yes, I get very picky about specific components).Gordon_4 said:
Well it's become a niche thing, if you use your PC purely for gaming it is not worth it at all.
I however use it for everything outside the physical realm (yes even magix!), and I like the fact you have full control over everything you put on it:
- Please insert cd/dvd to play the game! ... how about you eat a d*ck, google *game name*+"no-cd crack" and the turbo jet engine dvd can stay quiet and saves tons of disc hassle
- Please connect to the internet to play the game! ... there is a fix for you too buddy
- want the game balanced - get a mod, game too encumbering - get cheats, add more guns/cars/models/textures/sounds/levels, ...
All sorts of things that can be done on the PC, but it itsn't your standard instant consumer hit platform.
I however use it for everything outside the physical realm (yes even magix!), and I like the fact you have full control over everything you put on it:
- Please insert cd/dvd to play the game! ... how about you eat a d*ck, google *game name*+"no-cd crack" and the turbo jet engine dvd can stay quiet and saves tons of disc hassle
- Please connect to the internet to play the game! ... there is a fix for you too buddy
- want the game balanced - get a mod, game too encumbering - get cheats, add more guns/cars/models/textures/sounds/levels, ...
All sorts of things that can be done on the PC, but it itsn't your standard instant consumer hit platform.
If you're thinking of what I'm thinking, then I'm going to have to point out that website seems to be mostly focused on console games.obscurumlux01 said:
I'll trot out my line that approximately 0.1% of completed downloads (which are usually not the same as the "number of downloads" listed on torrents and stuff) should be treated as lost sales, because pirates pirate because it costs them £0.00. Nothing more, nothing less.obscurumlux01 said:
Besides, consoles can't run pirated games? Right? Riiiiiiiight? (Before you answer, yes they can. All of them, with some tinkering. Although the PS3 may not just yet, I haven't checked. Wait, PS3Jailbreak exists. So, yeah. All of them, with some tinkering.)obscurumlux01 said:
Let's say that your occupation involves a bit of travel:
Do you pack up the TV, the console, your stack of games, your controller, and toss them in the back seat of the car? In your 2nd checked luggage bag?
Though I'm fairly content with the PC titles coming out nowadays, there's not even really an option for me.
Do you pack up the TV, the console, your stack of games, your controller
Though I'm fairly content with the PC titles coming out nowadays, there's not even really an option for me.
I have spent nearly $2000 on my pc.
It has an hd lcd screen, 6gb ddr3 ram, core i7 950 and radeon hd 5870 overclocked edition along with a great mouse, keyboard and chassis.
Was it worth it?
Meh...
Pc gaming sucks, at least right now it does. I'm saving for a Ps3.
World of warcraft has managed to take combat and make it feel nerdy instead of exciting.
Bioware games have all the same plot.
Pc titles keep getting pushed back whilst getting early releases on consoles.
Drm is getting worse.
Lan is dying because certain anti social retards just want to play online in their own home to prove they are better than others and to insult them.
Rts games lack the feeling of adventure.
Some pc games can't even be played on max settings with $2000 equipment because of absurd hardware requirements (i'm looking at you, metro).
Viruses.
Maintenance.
First person shooters are all the same bland crap.
Games aren't even trying to be about playing games anymore, it's all just story and graphics now.
Windows 8 (really microsoft? another one?)
Microsoft (you used to care about pc games!)
And while you have been reading this, DRM has been getting a little worse again.
Bugger this, i'm getting a ps3 and i'm gonna play 3d dot game heroes and shadow of the colossus and japanese rpgs and other games that are fun.
I was a hardcore pc gamer but I had more fun playing chess titans than pc games.
2011 looks more promising though; tera online, swtor,portal 2, and guild wars 2 are games i'm gonna buy.
It has an hd lcd screen, 6gb ddr3 ram, core i7 950 and radeon hd 5870 overclocked edition along with a great mouse, keyboard and chassis.
Was it worth it?
Meh...
Pc gaming sucks, at least right now it does. I'm saving for a Ps3.
World of warcraft has managed to take combat and make it feel nerdy instead of exciting.
Bioware games have all the same plot.
Pc titles keep getting pushed back whilst getting early releases on consoles.
Drm is getting worse.
Lan is dying because certain anti social retards just want to play online in their own home to prove they are better than others and to insult them.
Rts games lack the feeling of adventure.
Some pc games can't even be played on max settings with $2000 equipment because of absurd hardware requirements (i'm looking at you, metro).
Viruses.
Maintenance.
First person shooters are all the same bland crap.
Games aren't even trying to be about playing games anymore, it's all just story and graphics now.
Windows 8 (really microsoft? another one?)
Microsoft (you used to care about pc games!)
And while you have been reading this, DRM has been getting a little worse again.
Bugger this, i'm getting a ps3 and i'm gonna play 3d dot game heroes and shadow of the colossus and japanese rpgs and other games that are fun.
I was a hardcore pc gamer but I had more fun playing chess titans than pc games.
2011 looks more promising though; tera online, swtor,portal 2, and guild wars 2 are games i'm gonna buy.