Why don't you play games on PC?

[OmniscientOstrich]

Howdy, another lowly console-tard here. I don't really have anything other people won't have all ready said:

- In the grand scheme of things it's cheaper.

--No it's not, if you need more info, I'll gladly provide it.

Indulge me, kind sage. I'm pretty sure my 360 cost under £200 with peripherals, (I think that's like $350 or something) and have had it nearly 2 years without any real issues. And I believe it was like £350 ($500/600 or so?) upon release in 2006 so that's 5/6 years with one system still going strong, I don't think it will be for at least a couple of years yet before a new generation is brought forth. So forgoing maintenance issues, from where I stand it seems more cost effective, but like I said, I'm willing to hear your point out.

- It's less hassle/can just pick up and play, requires less maintenance/less likely to die on me.

--Wrong again, consoles are just as easily to die on you, and if you don't have warranty on it, you're screwed, unless you know what you're doing. PC parts (if you built it yourself), have warranties for up to 5 years or more, and most people never need to worry about it.

This is something I feel that's purely going to come down to your experiences though and in my experience PC's have always had a habit of fucking me over (granted I've never really had anything state of the line, but something that at least should have perfomed better than it did) while consoles by and large have proved a lot more reliable. Yeah, I've had a PS2 die on me in the past, but usually nothing so drastic. This is really just irrational anecdotal skepticism on my part, but I really just don't trust PC's not to fuck or just make things more difficult for me. Also, build it myself? No fucking way dude, too technologically maladroit and too lazy. XD Console gamers like convenience y'see. :3

- I already have a laptop and while she's not the most powerful, it does everything I need it to do, I don't need to piss away hundreds/thousands of pounds on a machine purely for gaming while my 360 isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

--Wrong yet again, gaming desktops don't cost $1,000 for gaming. I bought mines for $800, and that was without sales / rebates, and I could have saved another $100 if I didn't need Windows 7.

But if you're emphasisng the point of graphical quality later on I'm presuming you have some kind of either up to date or significantly modified/updated model? This presents two issues; the omnipresent concern that I'm thick and don't know the first thing about fixing hardware/getting hands on and shit, which also sounds like more effort than I'd like to go through just to play a game and the second that this just sounds like it'll cost more time and money to keep it up to date with the latest hardware and that even going by the PC alone I don't see that costing any less then what I would shell out for a console.

- To me, a controller will always be more intuitive than a mouse and keyboard (and let me pre-emptively state that I don't play MMO's or RTS's) which I suppose is just by osmosis; having been brought up on and accustomed to consoles it just feels more fluid and natural.

--You can plug in your controller to your computer.

It's Wireless.

- I don't really need THE absolute smexiest graphyx yo! That the current top of line set up may well have to offer. It looks fine on a console in HD. I'll live.

--That's what everyone says, but when you have it, you'll never go back. I mean if people had PS2 graphics to current gen graphics, I'm sure you wouldn't want the PS2 graphics.

I think you're being hyperbolic with that comparison. And if I got through the hideous (for this gen) looking DA: Origins on the 360 without being that fussed, I think that'll indicate that graphics aren't really the highest selling point with me. I remain unconvinced that these illustrious PC graphics are so good they will involuntarily provoke me into humping the screen with delight.

- As far as I'm aware the PC doesn't have any exclusives that I'm dying to have or anything.

--The PC world is much different than the console world, and a lot bigger. There's a ton of games just waiting for you.

Could be, though really as things stand I have quite a few things on the backlog I haven't got through; I've had to economise my time a bit more of late so I've kind of fallen behind the curve a bit, so I'm not really hurting for options at present for things I'd like to get on 360. Even on a more limited scope I'm not really hurting for choice. Not presently at least.

- I prefer the perspective of looking at a TV rather than a monitor. Just a predilection of mine.

--You can easily plug in your computer to your TV, it's the same wire after all. A lot of consoles users say this, but they have no idea what they're talking about.

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose a bit? If I'm still playing on a controller and with a TV, I might as well just be on my console right?

I've highlighted my responses in bold, I think I added a few points in Edit before you quoted me, specifically:

- I am soooo not remotely tech savvy in any sense beyond the fabled, sage words of 'have you tried turning it on and off again?' so I wouldn't no what the fuck I'm doing when it comes to more convoluted installations/maintenance/repairs/explosions/hedgehog infestations/what have you.
- My desk/workspace doesn't have the room necessary to accomadate one of those big whirring monoliths on top of a monitor and all those peripherals.

 

[Ashadowpie]

all the technology and money towards making and buying an up to date gaming computer is way too costly and confusing for me. i'd rather just buy a 360 hook it up to my TV and never worry about anything besides which game to play.

 

[Badassassin]

Because people are tards and love conveniance and frankly, I can't blame them for that.

Just this weekend I had to help a friend (or acquainted tard) who had problems with his spanking new computer. The problem? He had bought the wrong kind of cables and therefore connected them incorrectly, so the screen wouldn't show him any pretty pictures.

Also, a good PC is damn expensive. I got my Xbox for 100 ? and Gears of War 3 looks and runs damn sweet on it. I definitely see why the common man sees a console as more than enough.

Yes. Because if people aren't as good with computers as you are then they are tards.

 

[monkeymo4d]

I think this has already turned into a flame war but sure let me post something.

1) As a student in my situation it was generally easier and cheaper for me to buy a computer which would perform the most basic of university work without the extra hassle of trying to find a rig which would run the games I wanted to play when I have a perfectly functioning xbox.

2)Its much more convenient, especially if my little brother wants to borrow the laptop while I play games on the xbox.Plus always liked the controller better than mouse and keypad setup.

3) Highly doubt I'm in a position to make a purchase like a gaming pc without a guarantee that I'll at least spend most of my time on games.

The main point being its really more convinient for a person in my position to have both a pc for work and a console for gaming.

 

[sabercrusader]

Current PC isn't good enough to run a 2005 game. Not enough money to get into PC Gaming, and almost none of my friends really play games on the PC. Plus, I prefer consoles anyway. Not saying PC is bad or anything, but it just costs WAY too much money to get into. That's my main problem with it.

 

[The Pinray]

I used to be a PC gamer, but all the hardware and updates and graphics cards and settings and crossing your fingers that a game can run and the tweaking and crashing and yadda yadda yadda just put me off after awhile. Console gaming is just easier and far FAR less complicated.

Gaming is just a pass time to me, something to waste away some time when I'm not working or going out or sleeping. It's not my life. I prefer to just turn on a console and play. Simple as that.

I'm just too busy these days to deal with all the PC crap. Plus, a lot of PC gamers are just complete snobby losers. It's very pathetic some of these kids. They take PLAYING video GAMES far too seriously. Xbox LIVE players tend to be far more down to earth.

 

[Suicidejim]

Because none of the supposed benefits of PC gaming really interest me, with the possible exception of mods for Bethesda games. I genuinely can't see any other convincing reasons.

 

[Balobo]

Wait, you guys actually have to get up and switch the games? For me it just takes a couple of clicks. You guys are also having trouble setting up controllers? Hmm... it took me a few minutes to initially set up my PS3 controller and now takes a few seconds to actually start using it. What are you doing?

I prefer the console experience.

Jaggies?

 

[JasonKaotic]

Because I have perfectly good consoles to play them on, my PC can barely even run DOS games without lagging, PCs are unreliable, consoles are more comfortable to play and don't destroy my wrist after half an hour of playing, you don't have to install games to a console therefore there's no limit on how many games you're able to play, I don't have to worry about shit EA and Activision and such put PC gamers through, laying in my comfy bed with a controller in my hands is more comfortable than sitting in an uncomfortable chair with my hands stretched out in front of me, I don't have to constantly dish out money to update my hardware to keep up with game requirements, I find it a lot harder to immerse when PC gaming, console games are much easier to find copies of (I really don't like digital distribution, I like to have a solid copy of my games, it feels more like I own it and I don't have to put up with EA's bullshit that they're only 'licensing' it to me), I don't have to wait for ages for my consoles to start up, then wait for ages for the game to load, then wait 5 - 10 minutes for console to shut down like I do with my PC, staring at the monitor hurts my eyes fairly quickly whereas staring at a TV only starts to slightly ache after several hours, you get the idea.
Also how batshit PC fanatics get about it gives me more fuel to ignore PC games as much as possible.

 

[Risingblade]

I prefer using my wireless controller, and the keyboard and mouse set up is murder on my wrists. The game selection is pretty much the same and none of the PC exclusives interest me enough to bother getting a PC that can play games decently. Beside I can't single task on a computer.

 

[dyre]

There's no need to be pretentious. I haven't touched a console in years, but I've got nothing against people who prefer it over the glorious PC.

Gaming PCs do cost more than consoles, especially if you don't build them yourself, and it's not like you can expect the average person who doesn't know what a CPU is to take the time to figure out how to build a computer.

If people want to play on their couch, it's pretty inconvenient to plug your PC into a TV in your living room every time you want to play video games, especially if you only own one computer and use it to do work, so it's in your office / study room.

Also, I'm pretty sure people don't claim that every input device is the same in terms of effectiveness. It doesn't change the fact that it's a matter of preference though. Unless you play competitively, who cares if you sacrifice effectiveness for comfort and preference? Btw, do you have links to any of the dozens of scientific studies on the superiority of (presumably mouse as the best pointing device) in gaming? I'm shocked so many people bothered to do studies on that subject...in fact, I only recall one article on the topic, and it was more anecdotal than scientific.

It's just so damn frustrating constantly hearing this stuff, especially when I'm sitting in front of a TV using a controller to browse from out of bed and a keyboard for typing since it's more comfortable...

I don't really have anything against people using consoles per se, but all the misinformation pisses me off, PCs are superior machines in about every way, there's other arguments for consoles but there's no way around that...

You'd also be surprised as to what some people claim, I definitely heard that Controllers are supposedly just as good as a Mouse in gaming or even better in more than one of these threads...

As for the studies, I already posted one further up, but here are some:
A paper from the University of George Washington dedicated to measuring input duration or length needed to complete certain tasks: http://gradworks.umi.com/14/67/1467132.html (figures page 34)
There's also been several military studies, for instance: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a531532.pdf (there are some charts and stuff after page 80)

And there's more, I just can't be bothered to look for it right now, but Google will be helpful, it's just objectively false that controllers are better at these tasks xD

Honestly, I mostly only hear that sort of misinformation when console users are defending their choice of platform against PC users, who mostly seem to think that console users are less intelligent.

I'd say at the very least consoles are easier to use and are better for split-screen multiplayer
Also, they have some pretty cool exclusives.

 

[C2Ultima]

I like to play games online with my friends, and none of them play on PC.

 

[Sight Unseen]

consoles are more comfortable to playand don't destroy my wrist after half an hour of playing,

you can play a PC exactly like a console if you wish to, or the standard mouse and keyboard

you don't have to install games to a console therefore there's no limit on how many games you're able to play,

I got a 1.5TB hard driv for like $100 and I wont need to worry about space for years and years

I don't have to worry about shit EA and Activision and such put PC gamers through
fair point

laying in my comfy bed with a controller in my hands is more comfortable than sitting in an uncomfortable chair with my hands stretched out in front of me,

see above

I don't have to constantly dish out money to update my hardware to keep up with game requirements

unless you really built a terrible pc this shouldnt be much of a problem for at least the duration of a console generation.

console games are much easier to find copies of (I really don't like digital distribution, I like to have a solid copy of my games, it feels more like I own it and I don't have to put up with EA's bullshit that they're only 'licensing' it to me),

hate to break it to you but even if you own a physical copy, the companies are still only licensing it to you.

I don't have to wait for ages for my consoles to start up, then wait for ages for the game to load, then wait 5 - 10 minutes for console to shut down like I do with my PC,

good PCs dont have this problem

staring at the monitor hurts my eyes fairly quickly whereas staring at a TV only starts to slightly ache after several hours, you get the idea.

a better monitor would help with that probably

 

[CCountZero]

Wow, a number of my fellow PC gamers are being right asses to the console-exclusive gamers. Really guys? Is it really that important that you prove them wrong? Man, I don't understand why so many people have a stick up their butt about this...

I'm primarily a PCGamer, but I do own an X360, originally intended for the Halo series, but later also for RDR and Rock Band.

But despite having caved and bought said console, I also believe that consoles cause a stagnation in the further development of video games.

You don't improve the tech on consoles, 'cus there's nothing new to work with.

Maybe optimization gets a little boost here and there, but improvements made by virtue of the PC gamers basically counts every damn thing you could think of, and I shiver at the thought of how much faster we could be improving our tech if all the Console gamers would switch over

Not to mention what effect that would have on what's possible in videogames today.

Now, I know many people would say things like "Yeah, but do we really need that?" or "Meh, it looks fine as it is", but I can only ask, what if we'd said the same thing ten, or even just five years ago? Where would we be?

To me, looking at consoles and saying "Yeah, I'm satisfied" is to look at horse-drawn carriages and go "Meh, why did we ever invent the car?"

(Or to look at Earth and go "Meh, we don't need no Spacemen.")

 

[Ophiuchus]

Gaming is just a pass time to me, something to waste away some time when I'm not working or going out or sleeping. It's not my life. I prefer to just turn on a console and play. Simple as that.

Yeah, pretty much this. I accept that it's possible to get a better experience on a capable gaming rig, but I don't have anything that even resembles a capable gaming rig (I can just about get away with World of Warcraft on medium settings, anything current is a big no) so right now I'm much better off to just throw a disc in one of the consoles and get going. Also, my internet connection is pretty shoddy, always slow and drops out whenever it feels like it, so downloading games is a pain at the best of times.

Having said that: this computer has developed a horrible rattling noise which occasionally gets so loud that it needs a good hard slap to make it stop, so I'm thinking it won't be too long before I need to get a new one. If someone could give us some pointers towards building a reasonably capable machine for somewhere in the region of £500-600 (which, according to PC enthusiasts every single time this topic comes up, is absolutely possible), it'd be appreciated.

 

[Riki Darnell]

I prefer having a controller.

I can easily start a game without having to wait for my console to start up everything.

On a console I can't die because my virus scanner opened and decided to minimise my game.

OMG I can't how many times that happened when I used to play WoW. Or something that stupid "gunna restart in 10 min" thing would pop up, but because I was playing full screen it wouldn't flash or make a noise.

 

[JasonKaotic]

you can play a PC exactly like a console if you wish to, or the standard mouse and keyboard

Maybe, but there's the issue that my computer is just pretty shit.

I got a 1.5TB hard driv for like $100 and I wont need to worry about space for years and years

I'm 17 dude, I don't have $100.

see above

My computer and bed are on opposite corners of the room.

unless you really built a terrible pc this shouldnt be much of a problem for at least the duration of a console generation.

I do though, heh. I didn't build it, my mum's ex did.

hate to break it to you but even if you own a physical copy, the companies are still only licensing it to you.

That was a minor point, my main point is I like to have physical copies I can hold instead of just an icon I click on. Feels more gratifying.

good PCs dont have this problem

Bad PCs do.

a better monitor would help with that probably

That would involve using money when I can stick with my TV and console (;

 

[TorqueConverter]

Is this come sort of joke thread? Every reason listed in this thread for why these people do not game on a PC has either been outright lies, half-truths or pure fiction with the exception of price. PC are expensive.

I know your Xbox and Play Station only came with one control type, but why in the hell do you people think the PC is only able to use keyboard and mouse? Who told you that? It's a control neutral platform.

You can plug a PC into a television. You can pug it into your home theater system. You can put netflicks on the damn thing. Local multilayer? Create a sever with a password and give the password to your friends. Split screen? That's legit. Very few games on PC are split screen.

Have to upgrade every year? Lets not confuse "have to" with "are able to". Just because the the consoles are a closed platform with no ability to upgrade doesn't mean they do not age. It' absolutely mindboggling how ignorant some of you console gamers are to the PC platform. How are you getting these ideas in your heads? Whoever is telling you things needs a good beating.

Just say it. "I don't game on PC because I don't know any better, have no idea how PC gaming works and have no desire to learn." There is nothing wrong with being content with the only platform you have.

The reasons you people have come up with are just plain wrong.

 

[Sight Unseen]

Gaming is just a pass time to me, something to waste away some time when I'm not working or going out or sleeping. It's not my life. I prefer to just turn on a console and play. Simple as that.

Yeah, pretty much this. I accept that it's possible to get a better experience on a capable gaming rig, but I don't have anything that even resembles a capable gaming rig (I can just about get away with World of Warcraft on medium settings, anything current is a big no) so right now I'm much better off to just throw a disc in one of the consoles and get going. Also, my internet connection is pretty shoddy, always slow and drops out whenever it feels like it, so downloading games is a pain at the best of times.

Having said that: this computer has developed a horrible rattling noise which occasionally gets so loud that it needs a good hard slap to make it stop, so I'm thinking it won't be too long before I need to get a new one. If someone could give us some pointers towards building a reasonably capable machine for somewhere in the region of £500-600 (which, according to PC enthusiasts every single time this topic comes up, is absolutely possible), it'd be appreciated.

I used mostly this site, it helped a lot and I'm very happy with the result I got from it. They even have recommended builds for several price ranges.

http://www.build-gaming-computers.com/

 

[BreakfastMan]

Wow, a number of my fellow PC gamers are being right asses to the console-exclusive gamers. Really guys? Is it really that important that you prove them wrong? Man, I don't understand why so many people have a stick up their butt about this...

I'm primarily a PCGamer, but I do own an X360, originally intended for the Halo series, but later also for RDR and Rock Band.

But despite having caved and bought said console, I also believe that consoles cause a stagnation in the further development of video games.

You don't improve the tech on consoles, 'cus there's nothing new to work with.

Maybe optimization gets a little boost here and there, but improvements made by virtue of the PC gamers basically counts every damn thing you could think of, and I shiver at the thought of how much faster we could be improving our tech if all the Console gamers would switch over

Not to mention what effect that would have on what's possible in videogames today.

Now, I know many people would say things like "Yeah, but do we really need that?" or "Meh, it looks fine as it is", but I can only ask, what if we'd said the same thing ten, or even just five years ago? Where would we be?

To me, looking at consoles and saying "Yeah, I'm satisfied" is to look at horse-drawn carriages and go "Meh, why did we ever invent the car?"

(Or to look at Earth and go "Meh, we don't need no Spacemen.")

I disagree with your entire premise. If consoles cause stagnation, the entire game industry should have ground to a halt by now, since A: consoles have been around nearly as long as video games have and B: ever since the NES have been the main place where most people play their games. And there have been many great games that have used their limited tech to great effect. Ever wondered why the Silent Hill devs choose to use so much fog? It is because the PSX had a crappy draw-distance. Seriously, that idea only makes sense if you are talking about graphics tech, the increase cost of which has not exactly been kind to the market.