For those who refuse to game on a PC, what holds you back?

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Before I built my PC my excuses were:

- Too expensive to build a PC + buy a (gaming) monitor + Mouse & keyboard (not that a TV is ever included when talking about console gaming, but for PC it seems like a separate thing)
- Too confusing to build a PC & knowing that prebuilts are usually overpriced

It took me some time to do research how to build a proper gaming PC, which ended up being simple enough even with little experience and there's plenty ways to find help or have it be built for you at a reasonable price, but still it takes more investment than 'just' buying a console and hooking it up to your TV. Also consoles have no drivers to worry about, no tinkering with settings to make it work optimally etc.
 
To anyone complaining about playing on a desk:


I'd like to add some more information about couch gaming on PC.

There's Steam Big Box mode ofc but there are also many other programs that you can use in order to never touch the keyboard or mouse.

My main program is KODI. With this i launch everything with the 360 pad. That includes Steam itself, Youtube and a file explorer that allows me to access any video, movie, picture or audio file.

With Kodi, i can also launch RetroArch/Hyperspin/LauchBox for my emulation needs. These also work with a gamepad because they are made with couch gaming in mind. So basically, i have all my games, emulators, movies, songs and pictures available without ever touching the KB/mouse.

The only thing i use the mouse for after i start the PC is launch Kodi. And even that can be configured to launch on startup...
 
keraj37 said:
Maybe this thread isn't for me as I am PC gamer exclusively, but still I will just say that on PC you can do so much more than on console including emulating any retro console games.
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I mean I don't think anyone is going to argue that you can do more on PC rather then console
 
I have thought about building a rig myself but haven’t pulled the trigger due to not wanting to spend around £1k on something that will last a while but the basics are that i cannot be bothered having to deal with any potential issues that might arise from PC gaming.

While things are a lot easier than they may have been before and I do have more knowledge than the average person so could navigate my way around any potential issues I just don’t want to have to deal with them (and they will exist, no matter how much PC gamers try to downplay them).

Of course that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to play games like The Witcher 3 at its full potential but the PS4 still does an amazing job graphics/performance wise comparatively and I am more than happy to play games at 30fps so I can live without all the extras.
 
It's real simple and has been my reasoning for the past 15 years.

I don't like playing with complete strangers.

No one I know plays PC games, my friends consider it a line crossed too far. They prefer Xbox (some like PSN)
So obviously I'm going to always play where they are because in my opinion, playing with real friends is better than playing games with people I never met before.
 
nivorae said:
because graphics are of no matter to me
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If that were actually true you would play on PC simply for the wide array of experiences offered by indie games. Not caring about graphics is precisely what has led me back to PC and games like FTL, Starbound, Desktop Dungeons, and so on.
 
geordiemp said:
For £ 300 a gaming portable with a Ps4 controller and steam is looking attractive - you can get borderlands and such games on steam for peanuts and use your Ps4 controller.

If Switch was not looking like £ 600 for console + controller + online + 5 or 6 games then we would talk, and the moment its just Nintendo like profits and far too much for what it is.
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Not sure what you're talking about here, but I don't think I want a device with a seperate controller, that doesn't really sound plausible when standing up. I'd have to add the cost of a controller on too, I don't have a home console as I have no use for that either.

Agree that the Switch is expensive right now - I'm happy enough with my 3DS/Vita/iPad for now, all of which I can happily play on a packed train. Might go for a Switch in a couple of years time, at the moment I've got hundreds of hours worth of portable RPGs to play.

I'm not interested in shooters anyway, and it would take a lot to drag me away from the 3DS exclusives like Fire Emblem, Etrian Odyssey and Monster Hunter. While I appreciate the theme of the thread is that PCs can do anything, over the last 20 years of commuting I've thought long and hard about it and have pretty much settled on the portables and tablets.

Years ago I had a train that made it viable for me to play Total War on a gaming laptop on the way to work, that was awesome, I nearly missed my stop so many times, but for me to use a gaming laptop or anything with a seperate controller I really need a table to do so. The trains around here have pretty much stripped out those useful tables that fold down from the seat in front, and the less said about PC gaming on the tube the better. Much better to use stuff I can throw in my bag in a couple of seconds.

I suppose it comes primarily down to a mix of 'hardware that fits best into my lifestyle/commute' and then 'the exclusives that I want' as well. I'm all for portable stuff like laptops and tethered controllers if I spent more time in hotel rooms than I do on packed commuter trains. It's a shame really- the PC strategy game range is definitely the most attractive part for me.
 
Lashley said:
You'd just use a controller, not a KB/M with most games. It's what I do. Add that with Steam Big Picture Mode and it is unbelievably simple to do.
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If im going to game on a PC, just to use a controller for every game, then theres no reason for me to get a PC. The games I want to play are located mostly on console and the few PC exclusives like strategy games, football manger etc, I can play on almost any laptop as they arent really graphic intensive games.
 
Sevket-Erhat said:
I can't be bothered with installation problems, drivers etc. I just insert the disc in my console and play
Click to expand...

This is my reason.

Also the fact that most (or a lot) of PC third party games are released pretty broken.

Also the fact that most multiplatform geames are created with consoles in mind so I feel I wont be using the PC to its full gaming extent. Map size, characters on screen, animation, etc
 
Turrican2 said:
One word - Windows
I don't want to waste my time with drivers, optimzation and co anymore.
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I game on my PC on weekend and I never deal with these stuff.

However I rarely game on PC on my weekdays because of the mentality thing a lot of ppl have too. I rather play on mobile and handheld in bed.
 
Multitasking distracts me.

Couch gaming >>>>> Desktop gaming.

Games on consoles are more polished nowadays.

Sony exclusives are the bomb.
 
1. Consoles have all the exclusives I actually want to play
2. I prefer the console eco-system. Nice OS. Can't stand Windows.
3. Don't need to care about specs. It just is.
4. Physical game collection with hardware to match
 
Soulblighter31 said:
There are more exclusives on PC than the entire library of ps1,2 and 3 combined. There are entire genres that arent on consoles, with entire histories, hyped games, surprise releases and big dissapointments.

I can assure you there are heaps of games that could interest you, but since you dont game on PC, how would you know ?
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I switched to PC for like 6 years during the PS2 era, but eventually went back to consoles. 'Nothing' is a bit hyperbolic, but there isn't enough there to justify the investment for me, especially considering that a lot of the things I am interested in (like visual novels) I can run on my cheap laptop.
 
There are more games on the consoles I have that I want to play than I'll ever be able to play. I don't need another platform to have access to even more games.

Plus I'm very very bad with computers.
 
Vamp said:
- I move a lot (different countries) so its much easier to bring PS4 around than a full PC tower.
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I had this for 3 years. A gaming notebook would a way around, but they are too expensive for what you get. However, in my last months abroad I bought a few pieces of hardware and also a gaming notebook (I had a good chunk of problems with my PSN).

The most important thing for me was not graphics, but actually being able to put graphics down to have more fps.
 
I have a Gaming-PC since forever. Getting a new one every 3 years, because tech stuff is my hobby. But still, I'm playing maybe "2 games a year" on it. I simply don't care.
 
I play on both, and love the experience for both. They both have a spot I think.

PC is the hyper customizable, high power, upgradeable, all digital platform, while consoles are the easy to use, cheap to buy but decent gfx, plug-in big screen tv and media box with physical rental option.

/ Best of both worlds
 
Money was the big factor for me but I finally saved up enough to have a mid range machine so I can play indie games. Been having a great time so far but consoles are so much easier in almost every way so I can see why people get put off.
 
  • I hate windows
  • I can’t be bothered with messing about with drivers just to get things working
  • Console prices are so much cheaper than decent PCs
  • Sony exclusives
  • I don’t want to be upgrading hardware every 2 or so years
 
Main excuses:
- Don't have my own apartment, space isue.
- Prices still to high here in IE/UK
- Playstation meets most of my gaming needs minus classic games.
 
Price
Size
Portability
Exclusives
Friends
Playerbase
OS Preference
Physical Media
Aesthetics
Multitasking
Ignorance
Setup
Maintenance/Optimization
Just because


All legitimate reasons. Who cares, it's nobody's job to convert people to a platform.
 
Dirtyshubb said:
I have thought about building a rig myself but haven't pulled the trigger due to not wanting to spend around £1k on something that will last a while
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You can buy a gaming PC for less than 500€ that is superior to any console in the market and will last much longer than any of them. This is not the 90's or early 00's, tech doesn't get outdated in two years.

For one you are not tied to arbitrary console cycles that decide when your machine becomes outdated and stops getting games; for another you get access to every game of the past generation at the resolution and framerates you want.

For the record I'm not advocating going PC-only, especially if you take gaming seriously and don't want to miss on exclusives.
 
Definitely the price. And the fact that it has to be updated (as in purchase new components) so frequently. Although I appreciate things such as graphics and frame rate, I prefer to be able to stick a disc in a console and be in gameplay 30 seconds later (although this is proving more and more difficult on consoles too these days).
 
The only thing that sometimes makes me want to fix my gaming laptop, or get a new one, are the free mods available to games that I love that improves and adds playing time significantly to great games. In recent times, with Fallout 4 being the most recent I can remember, it seems consoles may finally start catching up... albeit its still not there yet.

Other than that, there really isnt anything anyone can tell me that would make me want to prefer PC over console. Im not going to argue which platform is better, there are cons and pros to both obviously but consoles are just real simple and fun ways to enjoy games I love and that basically is what it comes down to for me.
 
I only have so much money, and the platform that earns its place as first priority will always be the one with Pokemon on it.

...That said, I don't "refuse" to play on PC -- I bought several games on Steam this holiday sale. But I think I qualify for this thread anyway, as I only play a couple PC games a year and they're chosen from a select list that will run on my 6-year-old laptop.
 
Basicly I can buy a console at what ever price point I choose and know for the next 5 years or so I don't have to upgrade to play the latest games.

With the previous generation ie:360 and ps3 it was longer, I also like to game in my livingroom with a keyboard and mouse hanging around.

PC are far better with graphics but they require upgrading to play the latest games every couple of years, would rather spend that money on games for my console personaly
 
ibn Saïd;228916264 said:
what? pc has no more or less "tribalism" than consoles like ps4. you have shit for brains fanboys everywhere
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pc gamers is a race not a tribe lol

but seriously

the topic is "refusing" to game on pc, if the question is "refusing" to play on other platforms, tribalism still applies
 
I don't refuse to, I choose not to. I had a gaming PC, I sold it. It was too much work trying to keep up. Having to download games then spend time trying to get it to run. Having frame rate issues and messing around with the settings until they were OK.

Of course that wasn't my experience for every game, but it was an experience in some. It wasn't worth it.
 
Weird I was going to make a similar thread. There are some reasons:

1. Dealing with Windows. Given that I tend to get obsessed and really annoyed with anti-viruses, update notifications and all, I don't want to bother with them. I just want to sit and play. Nothing else. Nothing. And yes, game mode might change this, I'm willing to consider it if it really works well on the long run.

2. Most of the games I play are on console so why bother. A big con is paying for online, which I think is ridiculous.

3. My best friend plays on a PS4 as well, so no reason why to switch.

4. Price. Yes, gaming PCs can be as cheap as a console, but you need to build them or at least have some hardware knowledge to get decent prices. I don't care about this. I just want to play. Any suggestions on PC's matching ps4 pro specs and price?

5. Finally, exclusives. Love Naughty Dog games so there's only and always will be one platform to play them.
 
EricTheRed said:
Definitely the price. And the fact that it has to be updated (as in purchase new components) so frequently. Although I appreciate things such as graphics and frame rate, I prefer to be able to stick a disc in a console and be in gameplay 30 seconds later (although this is proving more and more difficult on consoles too these days).
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Which components needs to be updated frequently? This is really a misconception of PC gaming and people talking about "messing about with drivers". The only drivers that needs to be updated regurlarly are the videocard drivers when a new game comes out and is optimized for it and that's about it.
 
It's all digital.

Comfort, as my comp is not in my living room.

Too many things to worry about (drivers, Windows, any number of things that usually go wrong from time to time).

Cost.

Most people I know that game use consoles.

I have no reason to go PC as I have no issues with the consoles I buy.
 
I always wanted to go back to PC gaming, my main concern is "Money".

Especially that I have family to support.
 
It's amazing how people here use "PC has no interesting exclusives" as an argument. Yeah, fuck the entire strategy and isometric RPG genre, right?

catashtrophe said:
I don't want to be upgrading hardware every 2 or so years
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Then, don't? I mean, no one's forcing you to upgrade. If you buy a good gaming PC now, it's not suddenly going to be obsolete in a year or two. You might not get 'ultra high' graphics, but you'll also not get that with consoles.
 
WTF is up with so many saying you need to update a PC every few years? You can upgrade it at the same time as a new console release or even later.

Other reasons are valid of course, as a lot are personal, but that reason as well as "PC has no exclusives" are unequivocally incorrect.
 
I have a top of the line PC with 165hz GSync but still game on my PS4 Pro more.

I just like sitting down on the couch, grabbing my controller and being able to play. Obviously there's big picture mode that helps a bit but it's still far from being as streamlined and reliable as a console experience.

If I'm honest though the biggest factor is probably friends. If they all shifted across to PC (or more cross platform sfuff) I probably would too.
 
Soulblighter31 said:
There are more exclusives on PC than the entire library of ps1,2 and 3 combined. There are entire genres that arent on consoles, with entire histories, hyped games, surprise releases and big dissapointments.

I can assure you there are heaps of games that could interest you, but since you dont game on PC, how would you know ?
Click to expand...
Sure the PC has plenty of exclusives a lot of them are great but they are very different to the console ones, that's the point. Should be pretty obvious.
 
Ease of Access. I was playing Dragonquest Builders with my mom an hour ago on her big TV and there would be various obstacles involved in doing that with a PC tower. It's super easy to plug in my PS4 and get everything set up with a gamepad.
 
When people say exclusives there tends to be an implicit 'that I'm interested in' disclaimer. It is their preferences after all.
 
ZeroX03 said:
Price
Size
Portability
Exclusives
Friends
Playerbase
OS Preference
Physical Media
Aesthetics
Multitasking
Ignorance
Setup
Maintenance/Optimization
Just because

All legitimate reasons. Who cares, it's nobody's job to convert people to a platform.
Click to expand...

I was about to quote several gafers here, but this one pretty much summarizes most of my complains. I used to play on a PC but I got tired of so many things that changed to console on 2008. Now I'm really happy with the simplicity of it.
 
What's holding me back is that I don't own a PC.

If I did own a PC, I don't have a centralized room where I could game on it, so I wouldn't be near my kids or wife while playing. That matters to me.

That's why I don't have a PC
 
It's just easier.
I was a PC gamer back in the day but I just don't have the time anymore to optimize drivers or upgrade individual parts.
PS4 graphics are good enough till the PS5 comes out.
 
catashtrophe said:
  • I hate windows
  • I can’t be bothered with messing about with drivers just to get things working
  • Console prices are so much cheaper than decent PCs
  • Sony exclusives
  • I don’t want to be upgrading hardware every 2 or so years
Click to expand...

This argument is really old and outdated. That's just not true, unless you need the best graphics all the time, but that is your own choice. That's like saying "i'm obligated to upgrade to PS4Pro or Scorpio".
 
1)i want to play on handhelds(and in fact i'm following the window handhelds)
2)unless you have a desktop graphic card you never know if a game can even start on your computer
 
As someone who plays much more on the X1 than on the PC I can tell you that I miss a streamlined user interface for gaming.

In the 4-6 hours per week I can spend for gaming, I don't want to discuss which speak server we use and to which server we connect. I just want to press a button, invite everyone to the party and press another button to join an online game - it's simple like that.

And the whole Steam update and games update stuff is annoying as hell, My X1 just downloads everything in the night when I and my wife/sons are sleeping.

Even though I own more than 600 games on Steam, Origin etc...
 
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