PCs are better than consoles argument tree

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I'm bored of this and will get back to work. Maybe some of this will sink in. But it appears you're emotionally invested like I used to see people in Gamespot's System Wars a decade ago. Very sensitive, egos attached to the only console they could afford and willing to flame anyone and anything that may speak ill of their console children. It was tiring in 2005; I'm for damn sure not going to entertain it in 2015. So good luck with that.

Whoa there, buddy. Who's being sensitive here? Yes, I definitely think it's time you went back to work. You're straying dangerously close to ad hominem territory.

You are being naive if you think the public debate about PC vs. console centered only around the hardware. Maybe for you it is, but in general it envelops much more than that.
 
I think most people can acknowledge that owning a "gaming" PC has more OPTIONS, better performance, 500lbs of steel, laser EDM rave lights in your case, etc. Some people just don't like the hassle of tinkering with shit or installing external programs just to make their system run to their liking (such as using DS4Tool or whatever). Also, DF threads are always fun.

I can't believe there's so many pages of this lol. Also, I find it amusing that people are ignoring Tadie's response to his "I work on a PC all day, I play on couch" comment to further push their side.
 
This is such an amazing argument.

I sit at work for 8 hours in front of two 24" LCD monitors connected to a computer..

then I come home, fire up my computer connected to 55" plasma and play Witcher 3 for 3 hours from my couch in 1080p/60fps at ultra settings with amazing mods and loading times that take 5 seconds. Why wouldn't I ?

Maybe because you left out the path to that point?
 
Personally I don't want to be a PC gamer. While I do enjoy some PC games I have never been able to afford staying up to date with PC gaming. The argument "just get all the things you need for a comfy PC setup" isn't a very good argument either. My gaming budget is very limited and I am certainly not going to spend a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer.

I probably shouldn't have even commented but I am tired of people playing dumb about why someone wouldn't want to play games at a computer when they sit at a computer all day. if you don't get it, oh well.

Not playing dumb just saying you don't have to be at a computer setup you paid for to have in that manner. Don't want people to play dumb then don't act coy or ignorant about how your choices have led to you not even being able to get a setup you like but you somehow still have a pc setup.

Considering your first statement alone, would've been better to have said that and ended with that then useless comfy couch arguments which are factually wrong and imposed only by choice of the consumer.
 
This is such an amazing argument.

I sit at work for 8 hours in front of two 24" LCD monitors connected to a computer..

then I come home, fire up my computer connected to 55" plasma and play Witcher 3 for 3 hours from my couch in 1080p/60fps at ultra settings with amazing mods and loading times that take 5 seconds. Why wouldn't I ?

It's great but you don't need a "computer" to play Witcher 3.
You only need one to play the Witcher 3 1080p/60fps/ultra's version.
 
Personally I don't want to be a PC gamer. While I do enjoy some PC games I have never been able to afford staying up to date with PC gaming. The argument "just get all the things you need for a comfy PC setup" isn't a very good argument either. My gaming budget is very limited and I am certainly not going to spend a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer.

I probably shouldn't have even commented but I am tired of people playing dumb about why someone wouldn't want to play games at a computer when they sit at a computer all day. if you don't get it, oh well.

You dont need to pay a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer. You literally only need a 2$ HDMI-Cable.

Eshop retros?

Several have them built in

Nintendo and Sony have dont it several times

Several other platforms have had emulators built for them. Android/Apple etc...

Its not some exclusive perk of PCs. Many consoles have been "modified" in some way to allow emulators as well

Emulation is an enthusiast habit that doesnt begin and end in the PC space

So, your point is, that you can emulate a Nintendo games on a Nintendo Platform? Thats not even close to PC-Emulation.
 
The best argument for consoles is if you play FPS' and prefer a controller. You have to play on consoles otherwise you're at a disadvantage.

And don't gimme that "I go 60-0 all the time on PC with a controller." Look at competitive gaming. There is not one person in the scene winning against KBM with a controller.
 
All you need is an HDMI cable and a controller. It literally takes seconds.

I think you're assuming playing PC games on TV requires some complex complicated set-up

Biggest issue is that most people don't buy a PC with the intent of hooking it up to a TV. So they end up with some large LED laden mid/full tower sitting on the floor looking like an eye sore, definitely not GF/wifey approved.
 
That first link in the OP is a mess, terrible design.

Just my two cents on the PC vs Console debate, they're for different sets of people, both can exist, and both have their drawbacks and advantages.

For some, all they want, is to have a setup that takes as little time as possible to get from turning the device on, to getting into the game, traditionally this has been the console's domain. With steam big picture mode, that's slowly becoming less of a hard console-only thing, however, you still need to do a fair bit of setting up to get a machine / steam console to that state, so for some that's not even an option.

For myself, PC is clearly superior, but that's me, I've been using a desktop since I was 5, I code, make digital art, and do lots of other things, so the machine is truly a no brainer for me because I get so many different uses out of it.

Others don't want the hassle, or the potential to extremely fuck things up beyond their ability to fix, so they go for a console.
 
What's the latest on a $350 PC's performance versus a PS4? I remember back when the 750 ti came out it outclassed the Xbox One in Titanfall, but I haven't really followed any of the comparisons since. It wouldn't surprise me if you could really, really smoke a PS4 with 400-500 bucks, but I wonder how 350 would compare.
 
You dont need to pay a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer. You literally only need a 2$ HDMI-Cable.





So, your point is, that you can emulate a Nintendo games on a Nintendo Platform? Thats not even close to PC-Emulation.

You are painting a very rosy picture for PC emulation.
 
One of the best aspects of my gaming PC is that it runs programs such as 3DS Max, Zbrush and Photoshop flawlessly which i need for Uni, along with running modern games extremely well.

Great investment indeed.
 
If you have a lot of cash and don't care about any of the great console exclusives out there, then sure, PC's are better.

You don't need a lot of cash. My PC is a Dell refurb bought in 2009 and the only upgrade has been the GPU. I was playing Battlefront this past weekend @ 1200p/60, Ultra, locked. In fact every game is 1200p/60 at max or near max settings. Lifetime, I believe I've spent $750 on this PC in 6 years and that includes the purchase price. Which is considerably less than I spent on my XOne or PS4 with controllers, peripherals, and pay-to-play online taken into consideration. YMMV.

If you have a lot of cash and don't care about any of the great console exclusives out there, then sure, PC's are better.
A fairly specious argument. Choosing any single platform means you're going to miss out on all the great exclusives on all the other platforms.

Gaming only on a Nintendo console? You're missing all the PS, PC and Xbox exclusives.

Gaming on a One exclusively? You're missing all the PS, Nintendo and PC exclusives.

Gaming on a PS4 exclusively? You're missing all the Nintendo, Xbox and PC exclusives.

Why anyone would willingly miss out on PC, Nintendo, Xbox or PS exclusives is beyond me. Who wants to be that guy who without a PC that is missing out on CS:Go, the rebirth of Unreal Tournament, Overwatch, League of Legends, Dota 2, Civilization, Star Citizen, EVE Valkyrie, etc? That's as sad as missing out on Halo 5, Uncharted, The Last of Us and Gears Remastered.

I said I was getting back to work. Let me do that, people.
 
What's the latest on a $350 PC's performance versus a PS4? I remember back when the 750 ti came out it outclassed the Xbox One in Titanfall, but I haven't really followed any of the comparisons since. It wouldn't surprise me if you could really, really smoke a PS4 with 400-500 bucks, but I wonder how 350 would compare.

With 500 yes but not a lot has changed lately in general, CPU and GPU prices are relatively stable with only RAM getting noticeably cheaper. For example the GTX950 is out and faster than the 750Ti but also more expensive.
 
So nobody mentioned the console exclusives?

Halo, Forza, Uncharted, Mario, Zelda, GT and so on.....

So if you prefer these kind of games you need to buy a console, aren't you?
 
You don't need a lot of cash. My PC was a refurb bought in 2009 and the only upgrade has been the GPU. I was playing Battlefront this past weekend @ 1200p/60, Ultra, locked. In fact every game is 1200p/60 at max or near max settings. Lifetime, I believe I've spent $750 on this PC in 6 years. Which is considerably less than I spent on my XOne or PS4 with controllers, peripherals, and pay-to-play online taken into consideration. YMMV.


A fairly specious argument. Choosing any single platform means you're going to miss out on all the great exclusives on all the other platforms.

Gaming only on a Nintendo console? You're missing all the PS, PC and Xbox exclusives.

Gaming on a One exclusively? You're missing all the PS, Nintendo and PC exclusives.

Gaming on a PS4 exclusively? You're missing all the Nintendo, Xbox and PC exclusives.

Why anyone would willingly miss out on PC, Nintendo, Xbox or PS exclusives is beyond me. Who wants to be that guy who without a PC that is missing out on CS:Go, the rebirth of Unreal Tournament, Overwatch, League of Legends, Dota 2, Civilization, Star Citizen, EVE Valkyrie, etc? That's as sad as missing out on Halo 5, Uncharted, The Last of Us and Gears Remastered.

At least in the case of PC's... Most people likely own one regardless. Whether or not the investment was made to make it game worthy is another thing altogether

I really dont think you can go "wrong" if you are satisfied with what you end up investing in.
 
You're assuming that I haven't played any or many PC exclusives, and you are wrong.

The argument you seem to be suggesting here—that maybe I only prefer my favorite console games because I haven't been exposed to the superior PC games out there—is exactly the kind of annoying shit I'm talking about.

It's hard to tell at times though, plenty of console-only gamers act like undiscovered peoples when confronted by things outside of their context. Using a Mii as your avatar is a perfect example:

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is this irony, or a happy coincidence that your subjective desire to express identity and aesthetics line up with the stunted homunculi of Nintenworld?

I've always found higher resolutions and especially higher framerates disorienting and uncanny. They do not provide an objectively better experience for me.

Same, I'll often eschew my prescription glasses to avoid feeling disorientated. I'll sometimes where active-shutter 3D glasses to cut down on effective frame rate IRL too, things just feels better that way ;-)

When people are leaning hard against the notion that objective things are objectively better, it suggests cognitive dissonance to me. Most console gamers will be all over that improved hardware performance, on the proviso that their vendor of choice has made it available to them. "Cerny! Dat GDDR5! More power for Naughty Gods!"

Do you think more than 1% of console-only gamers are like you: actively avoiding games with anti-aliased edges, well-filtered textures and smooth framerates?
 
You dont need to pay a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer. You literally only need a 2$ HDMI-Cable.

If you use an HDMI cable, you also need your PC to be in the same place as your TV. If you're a kid or a student, you probably have everything in one room already, so that's not an issue. But if you're an adult and your TV is in your living room, that becomes far more complicated to pull off... especially if you are married.
 
Personally I don't want to be a PC gamer. While I do enjoy some PC games I have never been able to afford staying up to date with PC gaming. The argument "just get all the things you need for a comfy PC setup" isn't a very good argument either. My gaming budget is very limited and I am certainly not going to spend a ridiculous amount of money to become a comfy couch PC gamer.

I probably shouldn't have even commented but I am tired of people playing dumb about why someone wouldn't want to play games at a computer when they sit at a computer all day. if you don't get it, oh well.



I never said it was that way for every PC user. Just like all you comfy couch PC gamers shouldn't make the same assumption. That's all.

I just made a post explaining it in more details but I think something people often miss when assessing whether they are financially comfortable switching to PC gaming is the savings.

People see the upfront cost and get scared off. Completely forgetting or not realizing the long term savings.

Truth is I have spent around $1400 or so since 2012 on hardware. It sounds like a lot but I currently have a 970, an i7 and plenty of ram and storage. I will theoretically be good til the end of this gen. Maybe upgrade the GPU once more after selling my 970 and thus spending a couple hundred more dollars. But that's not necessary. So $1600 for a gen and a half.

But the savings I've realized in software has probably offset most of the additional costs Of a PC setup vs console. 20-30% off day one games. Huge markdowns during steam sales or Amazon sales. Free online.

So in the long run the cost for me hasn't been that bad.
 
And the PC master race circle jerk continues on...

I also love all the contradictory statements.

Like, arguing in one breadth that you can easily build a PC for cheap (which is true) - but also run the latest games at 4k and 100 fps.

Or arguing that all console games can be played on PC via emulation - but also arguing that piracy isn't an issue for PC.

Or arguing that consoles have limited life-cycles - while building a new PC every ~3 years.

It just gets old. There are different things for different people. It's like arguing a sportscar is objectively better than a SUV. Or that a tablet is objectively better than a laptop. It's dumb. Stop it.
But there's literally zero people that actually made those statements. You're making shit up.

-Nobody is saying that you can play all ganes at 4K at Humongous framerate on a cheap build. I challenge yoh to find even one person that actually claims that.

-Piracy and emulation have nothing to do with each other, so I dont see what is your point here exactly

- Nobody builds a new PC every three years, unless their initial build had several issues that couldnt be fixed somehow. People will maybe upgrade a component or two, not make an entire new build. And thats for enthusiastics who like to always keep up with the tech. Just because those people like to upgrade their equipment doesn't mean it's a requirement. You can play many games at console-like settings and performance , and in some cases even better, with mid-tier specs from 5 years ago.
 
You are painting a very rosy picture for PC emulation.

PC emulators are generally pretty rosy. It depends on what kind of enthusiast you are, though: if you're a bit more discerning and need the best experience, you'll probably prefer real consoles hooked up to a standard definition CRT display, but PC emulation with a gsync display is pretty crazy close, and PC emulation on "normal" displays does a good enough job for most people for just about every console up to the Playstation.

It also does a serviceable-but-inconsistent job of Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, and Wii emulation. And with these more recent 3D platforms, sometimes emulating these can give a better experience than using the original hardware. Sometimes.

And speaking as a dude that owns a million consoles, there's no point in arguing that using 8-20 real consoles is easier than using a bunch of PC emulators. Trust me on this.
 
Maybe because you left out the path to that point?

Huh ? You mean connecting PC to TV via HDMI cable and connecting 360 controller? Or what path do you mean, I don't understand.

It's great but you don't need a "computer" to play Witcher 3.
You only need one to play the Witcher 3 1080p/60fps/ultra's version.

I mean, yes, obviously to get Witcher 3 running that well, you need a nice PC with GTX 970.
So if I can afford it and want that quality level of experience, I am going to go for it. And the fact that I work on a computer at work is irrelevant to what I play my games on. Quality of experience matters to me.
 
If you have a lot of cash and don't care about any of the great PC exclusives out there, then sure, console's are better.

Argument works both ways.

It works abit better for the PC imo because theres no real limit to your hardware if we are talking about alot of cash.

Even then argument with alot of cash doesnt hold true either way because you can just buy every plattform you want if thats the case.
 
Biggest issue is that most people don't buy a PC with the intent of hooking it up to a TV. So they end up with some large LED laden mid/full tower sitting on the floor looking like an eye sore, definitely not GF/wifey approved.

As a console guy who wants the benefits of PC gaming, this is where I am leaning:

Alienware-Alpha.jpg


Alienware_Controller_front_03.0.0.png


The lines are being blurred more and more.
 
I really dont think you can go "wrong" if you are satisfied with what you end up investing in.

I agree with that, absolutely. But whether you're enjoying what you have is a different discussion than whether a platform itself at its core could be better.

I expect that everyone is enjoying every platform they own. I enjoy my PC, XOne, PS4, PS3 and Vita. I have a WiiU but haven't hooked it up for years. But all of the above were not created equal and I have no problem admitting that and talking about that.

I can enjoy my consoles and their games while simultaneously acknowledging that they provide me a marginally inferior experience while costing me the same amount or more than a PC over time. That's just the reality of the business model and locked a locked hardware/software system. I'm not going to lose any sleep about it as I play Halo 5 or TLOU or Metroid Prime 4 (please make this, Nintendo). But recognizing the weaknesses allows me to better understand where improvements could be realized and what I'd like to see other platforms adopt. But I don't have my self-esteem attached to any gaming platforms, so maybe that's why it's easier for us to talk freely.
 
PC emulators are generally pretty rosy. It depends on what kind of enthusiast you are, though.

If you're a bit more discerning you'll get a better experience with an expensive variable refresh monitor or the real consoles hooked up to a standard definition CRT display, but PC emulation on "normal" displays does a good enough job for the vast majority of people for everything up to the Playstation.

It also does a serviceable-but-inconsistent job of Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, and Wii emulation. Sometimes emulating these platforms can give a better experience than using the original hardware.

Agreed

I just rememebr the mountians of time I spent configuring around N64 compatibility, trying to find stable framrate settings for certain games in PCSX2... etc..

Im not saying it isnt great. Trying to argue it as a reason to pick PC over console? Misleading unless we are trying to convert another enthusiast
 
All you need is an HDMI cable and controller

That's it. Why are you assuming it requires a ridiculous amount of money?

Well, I have actually done this and yes, technically you are right. But to be able to play modern games would require a full PC upgrade as I would need a new graphics card and my current PC can't be upgraded any further.

Basically to be able to game in a way that is relaxing and enjoyable like my consoles it would require a significant investment. Its funny to me how many people don't understand this reasoning.

I have gone and gotten myself involved in an argument that I don't really care to continue in though. Sorry folks.

I just made a post explaining it in more details but I think something people often miss when assessing whether they are financially comfortable switching to PC gaming is the savings.

People see the upfront cost and get scared off. Completely forgetting or not realizing the long term savings.

Truth is I have spent around $1400 or so since 2012 on hardware. It sounds like a lot but I currently have a 970, an i7 and plenty of ram and storage. I will theoretically be good til the end of this gen. Maybe upgrade the GPU once more after selling my 970 and thus spending a couple hundred more dollars. But that's not necessary. So $1600 for a gen and a half.

But the savings I've realized in software has probably offset most of the additional costs Of a PC setup vs console. 20-30% off day one games. Huge markdowns during steam sales or Amazon sales. Free online.

So in the long run the cost for me hasn't been that bad.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply! I have probably spent the same amount in hardware because I have bought a PS4, xbone and Wii U all during that same time span. I guess for me the plug and play aspects of consoles are very appealing as well. I remember trying to figure out how to setup voice chat so that I could talk to a friend while playing something (can't remember now) and how convoluted it all was.

That is just one anecdotal experience of many that explain my personal disdain for PC gaming. I also have much less stable experiences with PC games because my computers have never been cutting edge.

Cost is a big factor but that coupled with the amount of time investment I just prefer my consoles. If I ever win the lottery you can bet that my gaming setup will ALWAYS include a top notch gaming rig but until that day (or I just get rich through hard work, HA!) I just don't have the time, money or energy to jump in.
 
Threads like this make me wish NeoGAF had a separate section for PC gaming.
I don't need to be constantly evangelized.
Console gaming has many benefits.
Physical game ownership: You can lend or sell games, or even give them away.
Unified hardware (great for developers). No compatibility issues. No need to upgrade until the next cycle.
You buy a console and you get everything you need to start playing right away (including controller) for a cheap price. You don't need to install any hardware components or an OS etc. They are easy to use and hassle-free. Every console game will always play in the exact same manner on every console it's designed for (allowing for competition). Cheating is harder/impossible.
You get access to lots of new and exclusive content that would not exist if not for consoles.
 
Biggest issue is that most people don't buy a PC with the intent of hooking it up to a TV. So they end up with some large LED laden mid/full tower sitting on the floor looking like an eye sore, definitely not GF/wifey approved.

Well, this is mine:

20150625_192759_zpszpssanuc.jpg


The Couchmaster can quite easily be packed away when not in use.
 
It works abit better for the PC imo because theres no real limit to your hardware if we are talking about alot of cash.

Even then argument with alot of cash doesnt hold true either way because you can just buy every plattform you want if thats the case.

I just think the common perception of required money for PC gaming is grossly exaggerated. I think the upfront costs may be higher, but taking library as a factor - which it should be - I feel the disparity between the two is much less than people give credit to.
 
All you need is an HDMI cable and controller

That's it. Why are you assuming it requires a ridiculous amount of money?

Well not really. I've been playing and enjoying PC couch gaming for a while now, and there are a lot of things to consider.
You cannot play any multiplayer games if there is a mouse and keyboard option. That's the biggest thing to consider. If you want to play a multiplayer shooter, you just cannot do that on a couch with a controller on a PC.
Some games also don't have controller options (Diablo 3 etc).
You need to have a PC for you alone, you just cannot use the family PC for this or prepare for a lot of non gaming. ;)
Tweaking is also a thing, some people like it, I sure as hell don't.
Setting up a PC for coach gaming and personal use is also not that easy. You need to take care of multiple cables, programs and you still have to do some work to get it going everytime you switch from TV to monitor and vise versa (sound output, gamepad connection, monitor connections, resolution, ...).
The hardware also costs more than consoles.

PC couch gaming is really only for the hardcore gamers. I like it and you get used to it, but it's far from a console like experience that's plug and play.
Even a Steam Machine isn't for the masses imo.
 
I'm not sure it matters which is best, when having both together supercedes that anyway. Each has advantages over the other.
 
These threads always seem to go in circles. PC has some pretty clear advantages. But the convenience of consoles often win out for those that go that route. I'm not sure why that's so difficult to accept (on both fronts).
 
It's actually that consoles are easier to set up. I'm not saying it's a good argument.

Also easier to purchase. I want to play MGS V, its available for these consoles and PC. Buy that console, the game, and maybe PS+ or Live.

For PC, good luck not having any prior PC experience. You go to the store and good chance they have gaming PCs with out dated tech or an exorbitant price that might not even be better than a PS4. But maybe that person is smart enough to do their research. Now they will spend hours learning about Intel vs AMD;why intels cores are better than AMD, NVidia vs AMD; why teraflops aren't everything; Gsync vs freesync; SSD vs. a typical HD, DDR4 vs DDR3 etc. etc. etc. MAYBE they find a forum like neogaf and get great advice maybe they go somewhere with outdated advice, who knows.
 
Had PC my entire life as my main platform, recently I just got tired of it. Genres that were strong on PC and that I liked aren't getting the same investments they use to, PC best developers either started developing console games(even if they still get PC releases as well) or changed focus.

PC was better when it was "dead".


I'm satisfied with my PS3 and Vita these days. I get to play more games trading for old games and using PS+ than if I was investing on PC hardware. I also have my notebook so I can enjoy old pc games and less demanding games as well. My PS3 is also used for streaming by other people in my home and for local multiplayer.

To each his own. As long as it's not a One. /s
 
Threads like this make me wish NeoGAF had a separate section for PC gaming.
I don't need to be constantly evangelized.
Console gaming has many benefits.
Physical game ownership: You can lend or sell games, or even give them away.
Unified hardware (great for developers). No compatibility issues. No need to upgrade until the next cycle.
You buy a console and you get everything you need to start playing right away (including controller) for a cheap price. You don't need to install any hardware components or an OS etc. They are easy to use and hassle-free. Every console game will always play in the exact same manner on every console it's designed for (allowing for competition). Cheating is harder/impossible.
You get access to lots of new and exclusive content that would not exist if not for consoles.

You act as if you were forced to read the thread and be "evangelized".
 
Well, I have actually done this and yes, technically you are right. But to be able to play modern games would require a full PC upgrade as I would need a new graphics card and my current PC can't be upgraded any further.

Basically to be able to game in a way that is relaxing and enjoyable like my consoles it would require a significant investment. Its funny to me how many people don't understand this reasoning.

I have gone and gotten myself involved in an argument that I don't really care to continue in though. Sorry folks.

Yeah, because you dont need to buy a console in order to play console games on your TV. Oh wait.

If you use an HDMI cable, you also need your PC to be in the same place as your TV. If you're a kid or a student, you probably have everything in one room already, so that's not an issue. But if you're an adult and your TV is in your living room, that becomes far more complicated to pull off... especially if you are married.

Then you can get a wireless steamlink for 50$. While thats admittetly more then 2$, its still not a ridiculous amount of money compaired to the initial purchase of a PC or a console, but thats of course a bit subjective.
 
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