Why PC gaming might suck

[The Wooster]

So I bought Thief II recently and after delving into it to be able to actually play it, I found that it was the glitchiest game I've ever played. You takes a step, the game freezes. You open the map, the game freezes. The problem might be with the fact that I'm playing it on mor recent computers, which lead me to conclude that PC games only have a short-term use. Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

Ever tried to run a nes cartridge on your Wii?

 

[Aries_Split]

So I bought Thief II recently and after delving into it to be able to actually play it, I found that it was the glitchiest game I've ever played. You takes a step, the game freezes. You open the map, the game freezes. The problem might be with the fact that I'm playing it on mor recent computers, which lead me to conclude that PC games only have a short-term use. Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

Sounds like a PEBKAC Error, or perhaps an I.D.10.T issue?

 

[gmer412]

But my Wii will play GCN games with no problem. PCs can't seem to play anything older than a few years.

No offense, but you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. I can go back and play Doom and Duke Nukem 3D on my PC. Games that came out in the SNES and N64 eras respectively.

How do you think people are still playing Counter-Strike and Starcraft? Those games are 10+ years old.

Yikes. I really stirred up the hive. Point taken. I just got a bit pissed over one instance of this, and wondered if anyone else shared my sentiments.

Edit:

So I bought Thief II recently and after delving into it to be able to actually play it, I found that it was the glitchiest game I've ever played. You takes a step, the game freezes. You open the map, the game freezes. The problem might be with the fact that I'm playing it on mor recent computers, which lead me to conclude that PC games only have a short-term use. Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

Ever tried to run a nes cartridge on your Wii?

Oddly enough, it didn't work too well.

 

[countrysteaksauce]

Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

I'm assuming you don't play too many old games.

 

[Mikaze]

Spoiler: snip

Copied from the 'other' whiny topic with a different name but same subject:

The old Thief games use the same engine as System Shock 2, another game notoriously hard to play on modern computers. Luckily there's actually a HUGE following for both the Thief and System Shock series which have figured out how to get the game running on most modern computers, something you'd know if you'd done more than just come here to complain about how glitchy? it is. (It isn't glitchy, glitches are built in malfunction or error. Thief is fairly glitch free, what it wasn't however was designed to run on computers from the future, go figure. I guess Looking Glass's time machine was broken.)

Here: http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75031

You're having the 'Multiprocessor/Hyperthreading Systems' problem because the game wasn't designed to run on multiple processors like modern gaming rigs have. The solution is here: http://www.thief-thecircle.com/guides/hyperthreading/

You can thank me later!

Solutions always exist. I believe the OP's point is that there shouldn't be problems to begin with.

Of course the game wasn't meant to run on computers from the future, but there's no reason computers can't run programs from the past.

Because in some cases the hardware/software/protocols that these games were designed with no longer exist. eg Starcraft uses IPX network protocols which are nigh in impossible to get for Vista.

 

[Kikosemmek]

Emulators like ScummVM and Dosbox exist so that you can play old games on your PC. Hell, there are emulators for most hand-helds out there to play corresponding games on the PC.

I will always favor the PC for being a complete machine- powerful and versatile. It also has the best controllers to date.

 

[Cxizent]

That'd be the equivalent of playing NES games on your PS3, something which you simply can't do.

I beg to differ. [http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation3/videos-using-snesgenesis-emulators-on-ps3-with-swap-magic/]

There's always solutions, on PC's they shouldn't be necessary. After all, they haven't released the PC2.

So I take it that you're postulating that a modern era computer is (for all intents and purposes) identical to an Apple IIc, or equivilent thereof?

 

[Jodah]

I look at it this way. The process to get old games to work on a PC separates the wheat from the chaff. Those that can figure it out and don't mind the extra work get the ability to play any PC game ever made. Those that don't get (almost) idiot proof consoles.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

I can't help but think TC has "PC gamed" for 10 minutes. I kinda stopped skimming through this thread after he said that PC's can't play a game for more than a few years while I have STARCRAFT AND FALLOUT on my computer.

 

[Abedeus]

Emulators like ScummVM and Dosbox exist so that you can play old games on your PC. Hell, there are emulators for most hand-helds out there to play corresponding games on the PC.

I will always favor the PC for being a complete machine- powerful and versatile. It also has the best controllers to date.

Yeah, but it requires a bit more knowledge than the average console user has.

That's why I'm enjoying old-time games from 1990, and they are stuck.

 

[KapnKerfuffle]

Microsoft purposely made it difficult to run old games on newer system to secretly train future IT nerds to troubleshoot computers. It's a well planned conspiracy. What else would motivate anyone to fiddle with this crap but video games.

 

[inkheart_artist]

I played Alice recently and had no problems.

 

[rekabdarb]

I think PC gaming is better or even the same as console. Consoles get technology advanced and you have to keep replacing the console to play new games. And you can download old games off online stores like the marketplace on the xbox or the virtual console.

But my Wii will play GCN games with no problem. PCs can't seem to play anything older than a few years.

What the hell are you talking about, my pc can play FF7 and that was made for the computer in like 98?
it plays D1, before 1998
it plays D2, 00 or 99
and i JUST bought this computer about 2 weeks ago

And this thread is quickly going to turn into a dickwaving fanboy console war

 

[defcon 1]

So I bought Thief II recently and after delving into it to be able to actually play it, I found that it was the glitchiest game I've ever played. You takes a step, the game freezes. You open the map, the game freezes. The problem might be with the fact that I'm playing it on mor recent computers, which lead me to conclude that PC games only have a short-term use. Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

No!

 

[Abedeus]

I think PC gaming is better or even the same as console. Consoles get technology advanced and you have to keep replacing the console to play new games. And you can download old games off online stores like the marketplace on the xbox or the virtual console.

But my Wii will play GCN games with no problem. PCs can't seem to play anything older than a few years.

What the hell are you talking about, my pc can play FF7 and that was made for the computer in like 98?
it plays D1, before 1998
it plays D2, 00 or 99
and i JUST bought this computer about 2 weeks ago

And this thread is quickly going to turn into a dickwaving fanboy console war

*swing, swing*

You were saying?

Okay, not all games from Pre-XP have problems on modern computers. But some of them no longer have updates released to fix those problems.

Diablo 2 had a lot of updates during all those years (and it came out in 2000 - 9 years of support is great), I don't think System Shock 2 had them.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

So I bought Thief II recently and after delving into it to be able to actually play it, I found that it was the glitchiest game I've ever played. You takes a step, the game freezes. You open the map, the game freezes. The problem might be with the fact that I'm playing it on mor recent computers, which lead me to conclude that PC games only have a short-term use. Once technology gets too advanced, they're unplayable unless something like steam picks them up and lets you download them. What do you think?

You forgot the other, more obvious conclusion:

That Thief II was bugged to hell anyway? I wish I was kidding, even after the patches it had a few game-killers.

 

[skutbag]

Consoles are only just beginning to deal with backward compatibility- at least PC gamers are used to dealing with a system whose main strength and pain in the ass is its fragmented hardware.

Yes you can play GC games on a Wii- but it's not just plug and play. Unless I'm vastly mistaken, you HAVE to buy a different controller AND a different memory card. And we all know the shenanigans caused by the X360 and PS3 'you can play some of them but not others' approach.

I've played many an old PC game and struggled my way through getting them to work- it's usually worth it if you can find a good guide online. Ideas like Good old games and Steam are obviously the best way forward- and they'll no doubt be rewarded by people who want to pay for the convenience of having a 'straight out of the box' experience.

Whats the conclusion then? You pay more for convenience? What a breakthrough!

 

[teh_gunslinger]

Microsoft purposely made it difficult to run old games on newer system to secretly train future IT nerds to troubleshoot computers. It's a well planned conspiracy. What else would motivate anyone to fiddle with this crap but video games.

This actually has a ring of truth to it. /paranoia on

On topic:
Well, I never had any problems with Thief 2, but if I had, they would be solved. Google is your friend, as have been said. Technical problems are sure as hell not going to prevent me from playing a good game.
On my PS2 and PS3 I'm fucked if the game don't start. I have no way of dealing with it.

Actually, I always feel incredibly constrained on the PS3. It feels tantalizingly close to being a PC, but still it insists on denying me to see the file structure and change anything. I get so frustrater that I can't browse my files and organize them.
I got a new gaming rig last week and it has been heaven. (The old one died 8 months ago). Finally I can breathe freely again without the retardation that consoles force on me.

 

[JediMB]

Last time I checked, I could still play Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D on my PC.

Yeah, that's almost 20 years.

Really, there are to my knowledge two primary reasons for an old game not working on a modern PC:

1) Sloppy programming. Whether it's a case of the programmers simply not giving a shit, or an attempt to optimize the code so well for the hardware of the time that it somehow clashes with modern hardware.

2) Abandoned standards. The previously mentioned IPX/SPX networking protocol, for example, is not used anymore as it hasn't served a purpose for about 10 years. No network cards support it anymore, just like no current graphics cards support 3dfx OpenGL.

 

[out0v0rder]

I think PC gaming is better or even the same as console. Consoles get technology advanced and you have to keep replacing the console to play new games. And you can download old games off online stores like the marketplace on the xbox or the virtual console.

But my Wii will play GCN games with no problem. PCs can't seem to play anything older than a few years.

On the other side of that coin, a PC from the year 2003 can play all the games found in the orange box. There is no console released 6 years ago that can do that.