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[Deleted member 125677]

I have a big gaming pc, frankly a bit too noisy and firmly in the red zone when it comes to w.a.f. as living room decor

 

[sajj316]

3 reasons ..

Child who's 5
Child who's 4
Child who's 2

 

[railGUN]

I used to, but I prefer a desk for my PC, since not everything can be played with a controller, and I couldn't find a comfortable way to play with kb/m.

 

[Corine]

Have mine hooked up to 2 tvs and my monitor. Such an awesome experience. Even more money saved by not needing blu ray players. Couldn't be easier switching between them all. About 10 seconds total.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

It's a pain in the ass to have a PC hooked up to a monitor and a TV and to just switch between the two. And if you're trying to do web browsing/office stuff... well, obviously it's shitty to do that on a TV.

I'm planning to just put together a second gaming PC for the TV, because it's pretty rad to play PC games on a TV and because it's good for BDs, music, and cable, but it's the sort of thing that you really need a dedicated computer for for the experience to be enjoyable.

 

[ComputerMKII]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife_acceptance_factor

 

[Celegus]

Because I rarely play stuff that a controller would work for, my PC is nowhere near my TV and have no intention of moving it, running a cable isn't feasible either, and I like my standing desk better than the TV anyway.

 

[Pila]

My PC monitor is better than the living room TV, I don't mind sitting on my chair. To be honest, I also play console games on my monitor.

 

[DodgyGeezerFella]

Im also slightly worried that, with more people being so vocal about wanting gamepad support for PC games so they can play on their HDTV's, that this will effect even PC exclusive titles, in a way that they are designed for that thumbstick experience.

Valve push for the living room is something that adds credit to this. But this is probably just me being worried over nothing. Most of Valve's games are not exactly massively hardcore to the point where a gamepad couldn't play it with ease, and they are still doing things like CS:GO (They were happy enough to completely change the menu's to be more PC centric, breaking gamepad support for them) and DOTA 2. So again, I may be fearing over nothing and probably am.

Although I yearn for more PC only M&KB developed FPS' that are built around being up close to a monitor (something I think many people forget what they are like).

 

[ItsTheNew]

Build a PC, put it behind your tv, get a wireless keyboard and mouse and a 360 wireless dongle. Bam, out of sight, no wires, no hassle, only comfy couch browsing and gaming

 

[kizito]

Don't like this thread title coz'... I did it, and many friends did.
Nothing matches the computer on a big size tv, with home cinema surroung, I could not go back to using a monitor.
1080p 60 fps since many years, don't feel like I need a "next-gen" console.

 

[Samus4145]

I actually have the PC in the office hooked up to HDMI going from the office to the living room TV. With the help of a USB extender, I can use my DS4 hooked up to the USB bluetooth adapter to play any games that supports it.

I haven't found a good bluetooth mouse and keyboard that I enjoy yet.

 

[dragonlife]

My monitor is 1080p while my TV is older and only 720p. Plus, I actually like gaming at my desk; I can play my consoles through my PC as well, if the mood strikes.

And, you know, family, etc.

 

[Why would you do that?]

I have done it. It's so great that I've long ago planned my next PC build to be small, semi-portable, and maybe with a wi-fi antenna just so I can bring it to the living room sometimes. It'll be especially great for emulating PS2, Gamecube, and Wii games.

Because the OS is garbage to use from the couch.

Life saver. (Well, until the mouse buttons on mine broke. At least I can now spring for the updated version of it...)

With a combo of that, a PS3 controller, and this non-MotionJoy driver, I pretty much was in heaven.

 

[Iorv3th]

Because I like using the keyboard and mouse and prefer my monitor over the TV for pc gaming.

Also my wife is usually watching TV during the evening and would be a hassle to not be able to use it then.

 

[Atomski]

Because I dont want to. Living room gaming is way overblown.. I much prefer sitting in a comfortable chair at my desk with some good earphones on. It lets me zone out and focus much more on the game. Where as I feel like the living room is full of distractions, people talking, the dog/cats running around and so on.

Hell even when I did play consoles I just plugged them into my monitor..

 

[justjustin]

I only have one PC for work and play, so it stays at a desk. If a game uses keyboard and mouse I prefer to sit up straight and close to the screen; the size of the game's UI typically reflects a desk environment. I hate using keyboard and mouse on a lap table.

If a game uses a controller on PC I'll actually bring the monitor forward to the edge of my desk and pull up a comfy chair so I can sit and play relaxed like a slob.

 

[doniewhalberg]

I actually have my monitor in one corner of the living room, living room tv in the other, pc hooked up to both....I almost always chose the monitor/desk option. No idea why. I figured when I got my build, I'd play on the tv 90% of the time, but almost never. Guess it's jsut a preference, I have the PS4 hooked up to both too, and again, usually play on the monitor/desk corner.

 

[Doctoglethorpe]

I have. In fact, I rarely ever use my desk anymore even when I'm not gaming. I'm typing this post right now while my keyboard is in my lap as I sit on a couch.

I got an older pc running linux on my desk, but I rarely actually use it.

 

[mclem]

Well, one major reason is that I play a lot of WoW in a shared house and monopolising the television for entire evenings would not go down well.

That said, I'm most of the way there. I've got a laptop which stays in the lounge when I'm not travelling, and that's hooked up to the telly almost all of the time - but it's not really powerful enough for bleeding-edge games. The Steam Streaming beta is particularly exciting in that regard, because if it gets to a stage where it's robust enough that I can just keep my desktop in my bedroom upgrading it as required, but playing downstairs via my laptop, that'd be perfect.

 

[Phades]

3 reasons ..

Child who's 5
Child who's 4
Child who's 2

Oh look, the glowy UPS button. Lets see what it does! Power goes on, power goes off, power goes on, power goes off... YAY!

Well, that's how my son sees it anyhow.

 

[antibolo]

I already have consoles in the living room. With better, more mature living room oriented user interfaces.

Once SteamOS reaches a less experimental stage I'll probably start caring about PC in the living room. But for now it is not a really compelling argument, when consoles are just less hassle, and have more exclusives I care about than PC. And most PC exclusives are better suited to a desk interface (mouse and keyboard) anyway.

 

[Wiktor]

I'm curious as to why you can't see yourself making that leap

Because majority of games I like play better on mouse and KB and I prefer the monitor plus desk set up for most games. It's more immpersive and it makes concentrating easier too.

 

[Hoo-doo]

I have done it. It's so great that I've long ago planned my next PC build to be small, semi-portable, and maybe with a wi-fi antenna just so I can bring it to the living room sometimes. It'll be especially great for emulating PS2, Gamecube, and Wii games.

Life saver. (Well, until the mosue buttons on mine broke. At least I can now spring for the updated version of it...)

With a combo of that, a PS3 controller, and this non-MotionJoy driver, I pretty much was in heaven.

That still doesn't make the OS comfortable to use sitting on the couch. It's simply not designed to be viewed from six feet away from the screen.

And even then, all it would be good for is playing videogames and only the controller-supported ones.
A desk-based PC offers way more than just that.

 

[FuKuy]

Three main reasons:

1.- I prefer to play with keyboard and mouse, so the desk is more comfortable.
2.- Once you are used to have 2 screens is very difficult to go back. One screen to play while in the other you have twitter or whatever... very convenient.
3.- The living room is not only for me, is for the whole family os I can not play whenever I want. Instead the desk and the PC is just for myself. I can use it at any time.

 

[hemtae]

KB/m is more comfortable at the desk, KB/m is better for most genres than a controller, it's hard to use office on the TV and the TV is in a different room then my PC.

I tried, it wasn't for me and would take some furniture rearranging to make it work.

 

[Nzyme32]

I will be as soon as the Valve prototype Steam Machine case CAD is released. My main system is always a single card solution, and since I travel and move often, it's the perfect form factor for me.

I also intend to have a streaming machine for other rooms

 

[mclem]

All these people that play with M&KB on the couch though - how?! Where do you put them?

Keyboard on my lap, mouse on the couch surface beside me. It's effective enough. May be dependent on couch.

 

[cyberheater]

Nothing beats PC gaming on a 100 inch projector screen with a decent 5.1 surround sound system. It's awesome.

 

[Ricerocket]

I've tried this and felt it didn't really belong there. Had a wireless keyboard and mouse on the coffee table and tried gaming and it just didn't feel right at all. It was a bad experience from the way you sit, the height and location of couch + coffee table and looking at the screen far away.

 

[BigDug13]

I think phrasing it as "living room" in the OP was a mistake. Anyone that has a family pretty much doesn't do that.

But a bedroom TV or something also applies and that's where I PC game on a larger HDTV in my bedroom with a controller.

But I can see why PC gamers stick to the desk for the most part. They're already going to have a desk for PC stuff so why not expand on space you've already dedicated to your PC to also facilitate gaming?

Some games simply require a controller for me though. Could not imaging playing Dark souls with a mouse and keyboard. But you can still controller game at the desk.

 

[grosvenor_92]

Not enough space

 

[antibolo]

KB/m is better for most genres than a controller

Only if all you play are first person shooters, and/or games designed around using a mouse cursor.

 

[Qwell]

I like being close to the TV while I'm playing games, so I hardly play in my living room anyways. Luckily I have a gaming room with a big desk, PC, PS4 and a 28" monitor for games that I use a KBM and then a 32" HDTV right next to it for PS4 and PC games I use a controller on. I just change my primary monitor, change my sound to a different set of speakers and sit back and play on the 32" since I want to be close anyways.

Only have an Xbox One in the living room on a 60" and even on that, I bring a chair out maybe 4 feet in front of the TV when I'm playing on it. I used to have a 50" plasma in my gaming room as well that I would play PC games on, again sitting maybe a few feet away from it, but its in our loft now. Once our roommate moves out in a few months and I get more room to myself in our gaming room I'll probably move it back in along with a full surround sound.

Ultimately, I don't like to distract others with my gaming, and I like to be able to check stuff on the web or perhaps have a movie playing if I'm farming in a game or something so I like being at my computer desk and just switch between control methods and stuff.

 

[Zia]

I have no place to put a gigantic PC tower, plus I can't use a keyboard and mouse from the couch.

 

[aeolist]

i don't have a tv and would rather dump more money into getting a better monitor

 

[Rocky]

To be honest, I've never really been in my living room. All my gaming is done in my bedroom. I have a better TV in my bedroom too.

 

[Haines]

Desk with pc right beside TV. Best of all worlds no con's.

 

[MutFox]

Have a few PC's...
One on a desk that use for work/gaming. (Hooked to a secondary 50" TV too)
Another to store all my media, it's also is used as an HTPC for my 64" TV.
Then I have another that is a gaming HTPC that sits with all my consoles hooked to a projector with a 120" screen.

Yes I have controllers for the PC, multiple in fact.
Ones for fighting games, steering wheels for driving, etc...
(You can use anything you want on a PC.)

So yeah, PC's can do everything.
Though I guess most console only gamers on this forum won't understand this post anyways...

Don't get me wrong, I love consoles, but PC's are the ultimate gaming device.
They do everything a console can do (you can set it up anyway you like) and more.
You just have to have an open mind and not want to stay ignorant.

Oh, and I built my HTPC's for cheap... ;P
Much cheaper than it would be getting a console,
and their over priced games and accessories.

 

[dark10x]

I've been doing this since 2003. It's the only way I really game on a PC.

 

[kartu]

PC games assume you are sitting next to your monitor.

Playing Dragon Age : Origins on 46" screen from couple of meters distance was still too much strain on my eyes.

It could probably work with other kind of games, but doesn't work with games I play.

 

[AlexBasch]

I have a comfy chair where I play my videogames at my room.

That's why. Why would I leave my bedroom?

 

[flyinpiranha]

I do. My cave consists of my PC and HDTV with a 30' HDMI. I have a BT Keyboard and Mouse for use with it. I still prefer the PS4 though. Turning on the PC, switching the profile for video and sound, then starting up the game and making sure it uses the correct screen when I maximize is just a few extra seconds I don't want to waste. First World Problems for sure, but it's not my preferred method.

Because my monitor is 1080p and my tv is not. What kind of savage do you take me for?

The kind of savage that doesn't have a 1080p TV!

 

[chrominance]

I'm actually totally fine with gaming at my desk. Gaming at my TV has just enough startup friction ("I gotta get up and turn on the TV, wait for the console to boot, maybe swap a disc, etc.") that I prefer gaming at the computer that's always on. Of course, I could always just leave a gaming PC always turned on and connected to a TV, but I play games with enough different control methods (wheel, joystick, mouse/keyboard, controller) that it's not possible to bring all the various methods over to the couch anyways. And besides, I do enough stuff on the computer that even if I DID manage to get all that stuff connected, I'd still have to think "oh, time to get up from the computer and move to the couch." And frankly, why bother when the experience won't really be any different?

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Haven't done it because it's hard to find a case that is nice and small, as well as a setup that allows me to operate the machine without ever having to use more than a controller. Love the idea of a gaming PC in the living room, but it just works better in computer room for now.

 

[Ceebs]

I prefer playing games at my desk.
My monitor is 1440p, my TV is only 1080p.
Computer chair is comfier than my comfy couch.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I prefer gaming at a desk, and play my console games on my PC monitor at my desk.

Also it is a household thing. I don't live alone and therefore I'd rather be in "my space" when it is my downtime.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

In Australia I do, but in Florida we only have crappy TVs and my wife and I don't want to buy new ones when we're not staying in the US. I mostly switch between a 1080p monitor and my Nvidia Shield at the moment.

 

[RMI]

Keyboard on my lap, mouse on the couch surface beside me. It's effective enough. May be dependent on couch.

I do this too, it works great.

The only thing that sucks about couch PC gaming is UI scaling or lack thereof. When it's real bad I just push the coffee table up and sit on the floor so I can read on-screen text with my crummy near sighted eyeballs.

 

[jetjevons]

Comfy Couch PC gaming is a myth. Like bigfoot.

Spoiler

I don't have a game worthy PC right now.