What makes a PC port "crappy"?

[SecondPrize]

I think the worst pc ports are games that don't release on the pc. I actually play most non-shooter pc games I can with a controller so I can lean back comfortably with a gamepad in my lap. Basically, if it appears on pc then people smarter than I will release patches like the fps one for Dark Souls.
What's worse in my opinion than the physical porting are multiplatform games designed obviously with the console crowd in mind, like any shooter released with a match making system instead of dedicated servers.

Is using a controller with your PC really that bad?

I only use mouse and keyboard for shooters and mmos like EvE where you pretty much have to. Most other games don't even require the precision mice give so why lean forward with your arms raised up when you can sit back and be comfortable? There's a guy above who didn't want to play dark souls with a gamepad. That's up to you but give it a shot. You'll be able to play the game just fine and you won't even get cooties from the sub-race control system.

 

[direkiller]

I started doing PC gaming a couple of years ago and my steam collection is well over 100 games now so I like to think I'm familiar with PC gaming now. There is one thing that always bugs me though.

I frequently hear people say that a port of a game from console to PC is very bad and having played a few of those games myself (a newer one being Dark Souls) I don't really understand where the complaint is from.

Graphics: Sometimes I see people say that the PC port is bad because you can run it on the highest settings and it won't make your computer explode. I say is that such a big deal? Graphics aren't everything and I enjoy games just fine that don't push my (admittedly crappy) laptop to its limits. I run Skyrim on medium graphics, although I can run on ultra I just get a crapload of slowdown but its actually still reasonably playable. A game doesn't need amazing graphics to be good.

Controls: I see people say that if keyboard/mouse controls aren't perfect the port is bad, or if a controller is better suited to the game the port is bad. I don't see how. If a controller would work better, just use it. I've beaten Super Meat Boy and used a controller to do that, though when playing through XCOM: Enemy Unknown I haven't even ever thought of using my controller. In some games, like Borderlands, I've used both. I say, is the game still playable? If yes, move on.

I ask you, what do you say makes a PC port bad? Feel free to tell me I'm wrong as long as you tell me why and have a good reason. (I love a good debate)

For the most part when problems come up souly due to my platform of choice.

Few things.
1.Flat out broken controls. Not everyone has a gamepad you don't have to be the best for keybord but they should always be playable with one.

Saints row 2 for example using the keyboard it assumed you wanted to turn the wheels all the way to the left or right rather then drive like a normal car. The cars were simply un-driveable at full speed if you were using the keyboard.


GTA:SA
cammara controls don't work. It just stays faceing north. Mouse is shown on menus but will not work except for scrolling up and down.

2. New mechanics tell you to use x-box buttons when you are on the PC or just tell you to use the ability without telling you how to use it, when it tells you on the consoles. So you have to go and find out the keys, This breaks the game flow for me and is something I should not have to do.


3. Graphic artifacts- I agree that every game dose not need to be Crisis 3 in terms of graphics. but it should not have random frame rate drops or simply bad rendering of items/bad draw distance due to the way it was ported. I understand if it is the same draw distance as the consoles but I should not have worse simply because I play on the PC unless my computer is lacking.

4.Technical problems -Memory leaks, runs only on a single core of your CPU.
I should not have to bend over backwards to keep a game from crashing on me.

5. game is tied to the internet for single player when it is entirely pointless and only tied on the PC version.
like AC:II
extra points if it is cloud save only and your servers are junk.

 

[TheDoctor455]

No bugs, that's important.

Proper support for keyboard and mouse. That means adding support to re assign keys. An option which is left out in some games, I find.

Proper acknowledgement that PC gamers more or less use keyboard and mouse. Seriously, have you seen the UI of Skyrim and Assassin's Creed 3? Absolutely atrocious. Sure it works well with a controller, probably even marvelously but it's a complete chore navigating it with keyboard and mouse.

FOV slider. It's important. People play games to escape reality, not get sick. Motion sickness is a very real problem when the FOV scale is reeeeeeeeeally down.

To say nothing of the Pipboy in New Vegas and FO3. Ugh.

Anyway...

it has to be optimized for PC, has to run well, a decent number of options in the graphic menu so that those of us with lower rigs can adjust it to a level we can use...

and for fuck's sake don't make the game absolutely REQUIRE certain graphical features... because NOT everyone's rig can handle whatever extra special lighting features you think your game needs. I'm looking at you Alan Wake.

 

[Rylee Fox]

it has to be optimized for PC, has to run well, a decent number of options in the graphic menu so that those of us with lower rigs can adjust it to a level we can use...

and for fuck's sake don't make the game absolutely REQUIRE certain graphical features... because NOT everyone's rig can handle whatever extra special lighting features you think your game needs. I'm looking at you Alan Wake.

I see this being brought up a lot and agree 100% Games should have the ability to turn down the graphic settings because not everyone has a PC that can handle it. I very often have to turn down the graphics on games for that very reason.

 

[Callate]

I'd tend to go with the admittedly arbitrary "does it run/play worse than the console it was ported from"?

Now, I'm not terribly demanding. I don't demand 60 fps (though I'd really, really appreciate not dipping below 30.) I don't need the cross-over from console controller to mouse to be perfect, though I'd like it if it actually worked (the screw-ups with selecting menu options in Skyrim aren't game-breaking, but they're annoying in that it feels like they could have been avoided with a little more work). And I'm apparently the only one for whom the PC port of Saints Row 2, at least post-patches, wasn't a complete disaster.

But I was pretty damn annoyed that Bully freaked out to discover it was running on a 64-bit operating system with more than 2 GB of RAM. (C'mon, Rockstar- welcome to the twenty-first century!) And now that even many consoles are using hard drives, expecting players to accept a solely checkpoint-based save system seems ridiculously antiquated. And just as some consoles are struggling with the idea of making text readable on SD televisions, one should also never have to squint and bring one's face half an inch from the monitor because the developers never considered the game being played at a resolution higher than 1080p.

 

[A_Parked_Car]

For me, a PC port is bad if:

A: The controls are bad enough that they become distracting.

and/or

B: The game is so poorly optimized that I'm having performance problems when I shouldn't be.

and/or

C: There are tons of bugs/crashes that make the game difficult to play.

and/or

D: The game has some kind of irritating DRM scheme. In other words, I will only buy a game if it is on Steam or has no DRM at all.

Other than that, I don't really care if a port makes use of the shiniest graphics available or anything like that.

 

[mParadox]

what do you mean skyrim has crappy UI? im not being sarcastic seriously the UI in skyUI is really bad in my opinion.
i myself never had problem with the UI.

To each his own.

It's not an absolute that Skyrim has a crappy UI, although my wording might implicate that. It's just more streamlined for controllers than mouse. SkyUI is all clicking. Having a fast mouse helps in navigating it. And, I don't know about other people but I really do dislike scrolling. Especially in game. I'd rather assign weapons/viagrapotions/bombs to the numbers keys.

AND the vanilla UI of Skyrim plays out like a list. A big, huge font list. The font size isn't even necessary since I don't recall PCs being played from a few feet away.

ALSO, SkyUI has some neat features like Weight:Value ratio, a search bar to quickly seek out the things you want/ or want to sell. Hell, the latest update added another little thing which lets you search for areas on the Map [http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/images/3863-1-1362921275.jpg]. Better than going all over the map looking for it.

 

[veloper]

Bugs
Slow texture popins
Native resolutions not being supported (rez scaling)
Low framerates on fast machines or even locked fps(at 30)

 

[Zelda_Lover26]

Not being able to read the text on the start up menu of the game, and some screens being completely black, a problem I've been having with Bioshock Infinite. I go into more detail, but this isn't the right thread for that. On a side note, does anyone remember how to create a new thread. I haven't been on this site in forever, and I forgot how to make a new thread.

 

[Agayek]

I started doing PC gaming a couple of years ago and my steam collection is well over 100 games now so I like to think I'm familiar with PC gaming now. There is one thing that always bugs me though.

I frequently hear people say that a port of a game from console to PC is very bad and having played a few of those games myself (a newer one being Dark Souls) I don't really understand where the complaint is from.

Generally, this complaint boils down to two things.

1) Shitty controls.

2) Poorly optimized software.

#1 should be fairly obvious. If the mouse and keyboard controls are a colossal pain in the ass to use properly (for example, moving with asfd, sprinting with left control, and jumping with shift in a game meant for rapid, 3D platforming), people will generally call it a shitty port. The developers designed it to work around the controller inputs and put no effort or testing into the PC version's controls, so they end up being utter shit.

#2 is a bit more nebulous. Most of the time, if the game runs on most systems and looks comparable to the console version, most people will accept it as a decent port. If the game crashes a lot, has all kinds of ridiculous upscaling on the textures, etc etc, then people will call it out on being shitty.

 

[DoPo]

Most other games don't even require the precision mice give so why lean forward with your arms raised up when you can sit back and be comfortable?

See, this argument would be valid if it was true. At home, I have an armchair in front of the PC. It's really comfy to just sink into it. And if needed, I can sit back, too - keyboard has a long cable, so does the mouse - the arm rest is enough for the mouse to operate on (and there is also my leg, if really needed). But at the place I live now, I don't have a desk, so I just have my laptop propped on a chair and I sit on my bed. Actually, I'm currently lying on the bed. Again - mouse and keyboard cables are long so whatever.

 

[SecondPrize]

Most other games don't even require the precision mice give so why lean forward with your arms raised up when you can sit back and be comfortable?

See, this argument would be valid if it was true. At home, I have an armchair in front of the PC. It's really comfy to just sink into it. And if needed, I can sit back, too - keyboard has a long cable, so does the mouse - the arm rest is enough for the mouse to operate on (and there is also my leg, if really needed). But at the place I live now, I don't have a desk, so I just have my laptop propped on a chair and I sit on my bed. Actually, I'm currently lying on the bed. Again - mouse and keyboard cables are long so whatever.

So what you're saying is that because of your personal set up, a mouse and keyboard must be as comfortable as kicking back with a gamepad for everyone?

 

[DoPo]

Most other games don't even require the precision mice give so why lean forward with your arms raised up when you can sit back and be comfortable?

See, this argument would be valid if it was true. At home, I have an armchair in front of the PC. It's really comfy to just sink into it. And if needed, I can sit back, too - keyboard has a long cable, so does the mouse - the arm rest is enough for the mouse to operate on (and there is also my leg, if really needed). But at the place I live now, I don't have a desk, so I just have my laptop propped on a chair and I sit on my bed. Actually, I'm currently lying on the bed. Again - mouse and keyboard cables are long so whatever.

So what you're saying is that because of your personal set up, a mouse and keyboard must be as comfortable as kicking back with a gamepad for everyone?

No, what I'm saying is that M+K don't need to mean "leaning forward with your arms raised up". Which is what you seem to be saying is the only way to go.

 

[Rblade]

not changing the menus and other controlls in a way that makes sense. Not that stupid item and spell selection wheel, and for f's sake hotkeys. Any rpg that lacks hotkeys is per defenition a bad port, or alternativly a horribly designed pc game.

 

[SecondPrize]

Most other games don't even require the precision mice give so why lean forward with your arms raised up when you can sit back and be comfortable?

See, this argument would be valid if it was true. At home, I have an armchair in front of the PC. It's really comfy to just sink into it. And if needed, I can sit back, too - keyboard has a long cable, so does the mouse - the arm rest is enough for the mouse to operate on (and there is also my leg, if really needed). But at the place I live now, I don't have a desk, so I just have my laptop propped on a chair and I sit on my bed. Actually, I'm currently lying on the bed. Again - mouse and keyboard cables are long so whatever.

So what you're saying is that because of your personal set up, a mouse and keyboard must be as comfortable as kicking back with a gamepad for everyone?

No, what I'm saying is that M+K don't need to mean "leaning forward with your arms raised up". Which is what you seem to be saying is the only way to go.

Well, allow me to clarify. A controller in my lap is more comfortable for me than using a mouse and keyboard, due to a number of reasons. I will allow that other people may be able to sit back and be comfortable with a mouse and keyboard. However, if they are unable to do so, I recommend a controller for comfort.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Sluggish controls, obviously console-focused menu layouts, auto aim, crap graphics, bad optimisation for PC hardware and bugs up the butt.

I think I've covered it all, for the record, a game doesn't have to have all of those things to be considered "crap", one or more will do.


Oh and if in a PC game I'm told to "open the inventory with L2" or whatever, it's a justified immediate 1/10 on Metacritic/Amazon.

 

[Woodsey]

If I look in the options menu and there's only an option to change gamma and resolution, we have a problem. There should be a full fucking suite of adjustables. FOV adjustment and stuff like that are must-haves.

Of course, if it's running poorly comparative to your hardware then that's a sign.

Proper mouse support is also vital. I can't believe games even get through testing when mouse-smoothing is forced. I don't like pads at all, and they aren't the main control scheme for the system, so I don't expect to be told to just one instead.

 

[The White Hunter]

No bugs, that's important.

Proper support for keyboard and mouse. That means adding support to re assign keys. An option which is left out in some games, I find.

Proper acknowledgement that PC gamers more or less use keyboard and mouse. Seriously, have you seen the UI of Skyrim and Assassin's Creed 3? Absolutely atrocious. Sure it works well with a controller, probably even marvelously but it's a complete chore navigating it with keyboard and mouse.

Skyrims UI could work with a mouse if you ask me but it's just so badly set out and thought through it doesn't work. You really should be able to just click through the entire interface, it seems like it would be perfectly possible to do that, maybe pushing E or something now and then but no, you need to mash all kinds of keys and use the mouse too an dit's poorly thought out. I usually find the mouse and keyboard controls for recent bethesda games a bit lacking though.

 

[William Dickbringer]

controls mainly for me. if you are going to take the time to port a game to pc or any other platform at least have the respect to give it decent base line controls which in the pc's case is keyboard and mouse controls, assignable keys and a simple toolbar sorts most issues

yes this please I never noticed how much I would miss rebindable controls till I played mass effect 3 multiplayer

 

[Not Lord Atkin]

Here's a prime example of a truly crappy PC port: Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening SE

First of all, the game is quite old but you still can't get a solid performance out of it on a lower-end machine. Even on the lowest setting. Which is quite a dealbreaker with a game reliant on split-second timing and a solid framerate such as Devil May Cry.

Second, The keyboard controls are atrocious and the game lacked any controller support. They had to patch it in. Which took a few months after the game's release. And even with the patch and the controller utility, good luck using a 360 controller with it.

So the game is borderline unplayable. Not because it's a bad game. It ran beautifully on the consoles. It's just a really shitty port.

So in general, what I'm expecting from a console port is: A> hardware requirements proportional to the game's graphics quality; B> a level of optimisation to the game's engine that makes for a smooth performance once you meet the minimal hardware requirements; C> a certain level of acknowledgment of the PC's unique needs and features; a proper graphics options screen is always a plus; D> either a proper mouse and keyboard setup or at the very least good controller support. The ability to reassign keys is a must.