Always-honest
Banned
This. People don't want to deal with an overcomplicated OS and everything that comes with it.
What`s the point in buying consoles if they take PC like approaches?
- Thread starter Gamezone
- Start date
This. People don't want to deal with an overcomplicated OS and everything that comes with it.
Those things are not exclusive to consoles.
I would not say "often". Most of the time, the console engine is a low version of the PC version.
Very subjective.
MoogleWizard
Member
- exclusives
- simplicity, ease of use, plug & play
- no Windows
- simplicity, ease of use, plug & play
- no Windows
Half a decade is good. I prefer to be on a platform that is existing for 30 years.
That's a lower setting version of the same engine. I'm talking about completely different versions altogether, e.g. with NBA 2K or PES, where the next gen versions of the engines were exclusive to the consoles.
Hey OP - why not have the best of both worlds?
There are some games that I would love to play on PC as far as modding goes, but then again there are plenty of games that I would love to play on console because of friends (most of my actual friends are on console - the games I play on PC, I play alone)
There are some games that I would love to play on PC as far as modding goes, but then again there are plenty of games that I would love to play on console because of friends (most of my actual friends are on console - the games I play on PC, I play alone)
This reeks of misinformation.
I'd say money. Then again, if people care only about money when it comes to console gaming then they'd probably realize in the long run PC gaming is far cheaper.
texhnolyze
Banned
Oh great, yet another PC vs console thread. We really need another one these days indeed.
I mean, the PC hate is strong on gaf in the past several weeks or so. Please don't add more fuel to it.
I mean, the PC hate is strong on gaf in the past several weeks or so. Please don't add more fuel to it.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
Oh right, yeah, I agree with you on that one. Wii U games are some of, if not the most polished in my current gen collection on average.
man what lol
lowhighkang_LHK
Member
So you've never upgraded your hardware in the past 30 years? People upgrade their hardware on pc's much in line with the coming and going of new consoles.
Why? A good percentage of my time on my gaming PC is spent fixing issues. From games that fail to instal, clients like steam causing conflict or failing to update, and instabilities that lead to CTD or complete system lock. No casual would put up with that.
GoldenCrow
Member
It is less about hardware and more about ease of use, though the form factor is important as there are many that don't want a decent sized tower sitting in their living room which comes hand in hand with an adequate PC.
Everything is geared towards playing games and even though Steam OS is starting to branch towards the console space there is still a lot of faff in comparison. You pick up a controller press a button it turns on your console and some cases the TV and jumps straight to the source channel, from there you are ready to go and everything is geared around the game (older cases you put the game in turn the console on and the game starts). It is similar to why Steam is so popular on PC as it is a unified experience. There is also escapism from what many use day in day out for work, this is my biggest reason behind my preference for consoles, the method of interacting is significantly different than that of a PC which I want to get away from as often as possible, it my seen silly but I cant truly get out of work mode when using a PC for gaming, that one thing outweighs all the positives that the PC has as a gaming platform.
Not having to think about performance is also nice, if I have the ability to change things I will do and I will spend hours doing it, I spent so long faffing with The Witcher 2 and not being truly happy with the results that I didn't want to play the game afterwards and that is normal for me when I play games on a PC. Same thing goes for mods.
Everything is geared towards playing games and even though Steam OS is starting to branch towards the console space there is still a lot of faff in comparison. You pick up a controller press a button it turns on your console and some cases the TV and jumps straight to the source channel, from there you are ready to go and everything is geared around the game (older cases you put the game in turn the console on and the game starts). It is similar to why Steam is so popular on PC as it is a unified experience. There is also escapism from what many use day in day out for work, this is my biggest reason behind my preference for consoles, the method of interacting is significantly different than that of a PC which I want to get away from as often as possible, it my seen silly but I cant truly get out of work mode when using a PC for gaming, that one thing outweighs all the positives that the PC has as a gaming platform.
Not having to think about performance is also nice, if I have the ability to change things I will do and I will spend hours doing it, I spent so long faffing with The Witcher 2 and not being truly happy with the results that I didn't want to play the game afterwards and that is normal for me when I play games on a PC. Same thing goes for mods.
Which is what I mean by "plug and play" not that you really plug anything. Still, my point is games on PS4 and Xbox One are no longer simply just that anymore.
Every ten minutes just sounds more like user error to me but eh, whatever. Driver issues though have never been a problem for me and hell, it's such an automated process I have to wonder if it's really that much of an issue anymore. I will grant you AMD heating up GPU's by locking fans to 30% is insane, though not intentional I assume, but they way PC's are built nowadays there are failsafes such as auto shut down.
Pretty much. I love Halo and it's the reason I bought an Xbox One, for the collection, and I couldn't do anything about my issues with that crap. Now I have an Xbox that is barely turned on.
Which is subjective. Just the same as the past 5 years of PC gaming I really haven't had to fix a thing. Everything just works.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
Not sure. The people excited over a future dominated by streaming boxes baffle me as well.
Auto-Reply
Member
The absolute main reason for the majority of people is cost of entry for the hardware, it's the perceived cost/value of the initial buy. Not the actual value compared to other hardware and/or over a longer period of time. It plays (nearly) all the games, the quality they are played as is not important here.
Every other reason is still valid, but nearly irellevant to this main reason.
Arguing about what's the point if consoles are becoming like PCs doesn't really matter, they are already closer than ever before. A detailed comparison is not important to the bulk of the consumer base. If the console has the right price, all those reasons are reinforcing the buyer to shell out the cash. If the price is a little too high and overshoots the perceived value, all those reasons don't matter at all. It will not be bought, it has to hit the right price range first.
As long as the perceived value is there, consoles will sell. PCs don't have such a perceived value, individual parts have, like GPUs or mainboards, it's not one product. I guess this it what Valve tried to create with their steam machines (maybe not, I don't know) I don't think it will work out the same way.
Every other reason is still valid, but nearly irellevant to this main reason.
Arguing about what's the point if consoles are becoming like PCs doesn't really matter, they are already closer than ever before. A detailed comparison is not important to the bulk of the consumer base. If the console has the right price, all those reasons are reinforcing the buyer to shell out the cash. If the price is a little too high and overshoots the perceived value, all those reasons don't matter at all. It will not be bought, it has to hit the right price range first.
As long as the perceived value is there, consoles will sell. PCs don't have such a perceived value, individual parts have, like GPUs or mainboards, it's not one product. I guess this it what Valve tried to create with their steam machines (maybe not, I don't know) I don't think it will work out the same way.
RealityCheque
Banned
Exclusives are the one and only reason. (And maybe cost)
Plug and play? Bollocks.
Ease of use? Bollocks.
Those two reasons only apply to PC gaming in the 1990s.
Plug and play? Bollocks.
Ease of use? Bollocks.
Those two reasons only apply to PC gaming in the 1990s.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Isn't having to download/install games that is blending the definition of "Plug and play" the very thing thing OP is referring to when he refers to "PC like approaches"? Of course you can refer to a console that doesn't do it, but that not what OP asked in the first place.
Breakfast at Noon
Member
Games are made with specific console stats in mind, where as pc it just feels like "fuck it, they can buy a new card or more ram.
thomasmahler
Moon Studios
You'd be surprised. I'd say this still applies to most of the market today. Most people don't want high end towers these days, people rather use a cheap notebook or (the more casual crowd) an iPad for their computing needs. Most people don't want to fuck around with drivers or even with downloading Steam. There's a good chunk of people that play games that don't even know what Steam is. Obviously, those aren't the people that post on the internet about games, but there's a gazillion out there.
So for all of those peeps, running into the store and getting a console that's plug and play is the best option bar none. And I don't think Steam Machines are doing anything at all at the moment to make the PC platform feel more like the simple console experience.
But you can say that it does vary. As you say, it is subjective. It's not the kind of issues you can say consoles approximate.
lowhighkang_LHK
Member
Don't tell that to the just cause 3 development team. They didn't get the memo and are about 4 fps off the mark.
Mind you, that's a dig on avalanche, not the Xbox one. Games like Ori and Forza Horizon 2 are one of the best looking games I've seen and played. And it's avalanches fault for putting a game that's not optimized for the target hardware.
I also think it's silly how pc gamers have to brute force the game with expensive GPUs on certain games. The problem is not with your hardware but with developers.
Spacejaws
Member
The biggest selling point is definetly ease of use, plug in and play setups.
Playing CoD BOIII woth my cuz splitscreen and he was getting frustrated. The menu was listing all my installed controllers, no idea which was which. We had freezes ingame and it turned out my steam controller with controller configs on face and mouse on pad was causing a freeze switching from one to the other. Then he decided he wanted to play Left 4 Dead 2 splitscreen like we used to on the 360 so I found an online guide on how to achieve this and he scoffed and I couldn't really blame him.
As much as I love playing PC games sometimes they don't make it easy or intuitive.
Playing CoD BOIII woth my cuz splitscreen and he was getting frustrated. The menu was listing all my installed controllers, no idea which was which. We had freezes ingame and it turned out my steam controller with controller configs on face and mouse on pad was causing a freeze switching from one to the other. Then he decided he wanted to play Left 4 Dead 2 splitscreen like we used to on the 360 so I found an online guide on how to achieve this and he scoffed and I couldn't really blame him.
As much as I love playing PC games sometimes they don't make it easy or intuitive.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
People have those same issues on console, from installs failing, downloads failing, discs not working, discs being spit out, crashing to dash, hardware locking up, console OS moving sluggishly etc etc... to say that stuff is specific to PC is complete BS.
You should check out the Dark Souls III requirements. Glorious.
What he said. Plenty of console games these days don't run at a steady framerate much less 30fps.
I often dread playing games on PC.
I play PC games on laptop hardware that I use for 3D modelling, game development and 2D artwork. I often run into tech problems with games not properly supporting resolutions or controllers.
Spelunky (HD), for example, doesn't support the native resolution of my PC (it crashes horribly), so I force it to 1080p instead. It only supports xbox controllers, which I greatly dislike for 2D games. To use my Direct X controller I have to use Xpadder with a Spelunky specific mapping, because the game does not allow all of its keyboard controls to be remapped.
This is not atypical for PC games, and many PC gamers are so accustomed to this type of thing that they don't see them as issues at all.
I appreciate that PC gaming goes much more smoothly if you use desktop PCs with very ordinary setups, but I have no intention of playing games at a desk, or buying hardware specifically to do so. I think it's totally okay that PC gaming is intended for this regular PC gaming setup, where it's totally okay that a game suddenly expects keyboard input to navigate a menu.
I enjoy playing games on PC, but my user experience is often pretty bumpy.
For this reason, I'll always pick consoles over PCs.
I play PC games on laptop hardware that I use for 3D modelling, game development and 2D artwork. I often run into tech problems with games not properly supporting resolutions or controllers.
Spelunky (HD), for example, doesn't support the native resolution of my PC (it crashes horribly), so I force it to 1080p instead. It only supports xbox controllers, which I greatly dislike for 2D games. To use my Direct X controller I have to use Xpadder with a Spelunky specific mapping, because the game does not allow all of its keyboard controls to be remapped.
This is not atypical for PC games, and many PC gamers are so accustomed to this type of thing that they don't see them as issues at all.
I appreciate that PC gaming goes much more smoothly if you use desktop PCs with very ordinary setups, but I have no intention of playing games at a desk, or buying hardware specifically to do so. I think it's totally okay that PC gaming is intended for this regular PC gaming setup, where it's totally okay that a game suddenly expects keyboard input to navigate a menu.
I enjoy playing games on PC, but my user experience is often pretty bumpy.
For this reason, I'll always pick consoles over PCs.
lowhighkang_LHK
Member
Most people won't even calibrate their tv's. I told a friend his tv is overscannig and he should fix and he got offended and frustrated.
Its like da fuq. You just click one setting in the tv's option menu to fix it....but no....
If the ps5 or Xbox next allow hardware upgrades. It's gotta be simple...like memory card insertion simple. And the Only benefit should be in resolution and frame rate. And make it mandatory to devs that all games need to hit a certain baseline minum on all of the various versions of the ps5 Xbox next.
Hell, most people don't even know calibrating their TV is a thing.
Doubt modular hardware will ever come back to consoles. It never does well and the days of simple tech like memory cards are over.
Just had my TV professionally calibrated and holy shit. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
Breakfast at Noon
Member
That really happens rarely though.
"plenty" Thats a bit of a stretch, but yes "some" have frame rate issues, but at least they run.
johnnydrama
Banned
General misconceptions and ignorance about PC gaming. All over again. It's tiresome at this point.
comedy bomb
Banned
I don't necessarily think of consoles as plug and play anymore. Between hardware updates, software updates, patches and dlc, I feel console gaming has gotten too similar to PC.
I mean I typically buy games when they get cheap, and the amount of stuff to download before I play is obnoxious.
I mean I typically buy games when they get cheap, and the amount of stuff to download before I play is obnoxious.
Breakfast at Noon
Member
General misconceptions and ignorance about what people want. All over again. It's tiresome at this point.
People like to play on PC
People like to play on console
People like to play on handheld/mobile
It is that simple, just let people play what they want to play on.
Witcher 3 is excellent. Runs very well. Metal Gear Solid even better. Just Cause 3 is just fine. I can name a lot more but, for me, PC games have been getting better and better in terms of optimization. I can't wait for 1440p @144 or 4k @60 for Dragon's Dogma.
I wouldn't say a stretch. I'd say it's more common even.
johnnydrama
Banned
lowhighkang_LHK
Member
It also depends on the game in regards to frame rate. It's great that Forza 6 looks good and runs at 60 fps. Whenever people concern themselves about the Xbox hardware. A game like Forza 6 comes out and shuts everyone up.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
He thinks you were answering OP
Be fair, Forza 6 is a racing sim which is easier to get running at 60 then say an open world game.
They could take a step in that direction while still benefiting from a more standardized platform. Compared to thousands of different CPU+GPU+memory configurations on PC, going from 1 to 2 (or even 3) on console would still make the situation more console-like than PC-like.
Not saying that it is. That was a reply, to the notion that I was misinformed about issues on PC. Baring hardware failure from manufacturing or user accident, a game built to run on PS4 does not have any of the extra variables that could go wrong on PC due to the nature of systems being different from one customer to another. Background apps, driver differences, hardware, etc... Devs can't account for every little thing that could go wrong on every machine.
Most recently, upgrading to Win 10 caused some setbacks for my STEAM library. I fixed it all. Everything is great, but I don't think that experience is for everyone.
Chû Totoro
Member
Exclusives... that's the only thing. And clearly with the way it goes regarding PS4 and Xbox One it's clear that there will be less and less exclusives on MS and Sony's systems (Sony's "console exclusives" don't work in this case and PC is a MS platform too so they won't prevent releases from being on PC).
Now for reasons not to buy consoles when they take the PC like approach there's plenty, that's why I find this decision to be stupid in the long term.
I like console for this, for the fact that it can be considered as a unique platform with unique games. If consoles tend to be PC then why not buying or upgrade a PC (almost everyone here already have a PC in his house)... and in my case then why buying a PC if what I enjoyed through all these gaming years was the unique offering added with the possibility to play around a big screen with friends.
I don't know if I'll buy a gaming PC but if PS5 and Xbox Two (lel) are very similar to a cheap PC (same controllers again and impressive architecture on paper that will be obsolete after 6 months and be a constraint for devs) then I'll try to play on the PC I'll have at this time and maybe upgrade if it's worth it. If I buy these systems it'll only be at the middle or end of the gen when many good games are available (with patches and all DLC).
Now for reasons not to buy consoles when they take the PC like approach there's plenty, that's why I find this decision to be stupid in the long term.
I like console for this, for the fact that it can be considered as a unique platform with unique games. If consoles tend to be PC then why not buying or upgrade a PC (almost everyone here already have a PC in his house)... and in my case then why buying a PC if what I enjoyed through all these gaming years was the unique offering added with the possibility to play around a big screen with friends.
I don't know if I'll buy a gaming PC but if PS5 and Xbox Two (lel) are very similar to a cheap PC (same controllers again and impressive architecture on paper that will be obsolete after 6 months and be a constraint for devs) then I'll try to play on the PC I'll have at this time and maybe upgrade if it's worth it. If I buy these systems it'll only be at the middle or end of the gen when many good games are available (with patches and all DLC).
Well there was that time Xbox 360's had the red ring problem. Now it seems like PS4's are running way too loud. There's even a GAF thread about people opening their console up and putting some thermal paste which is a major problem.
Real AAA games, yeah yeah yeah PC has 20x more exclusives because of course you want to play hatoful boyfriend instead of Uncharted 4
Being able to play in a big ass TV in your living room instead of a small monitor in your mom's basement
Comfy couch
No driver updates everytime your turn on your console
No crashes
No settings to tweak
No piracy
No hackers online
Physical media that you can resell
Optimized games
Ease of use
No pay2win bullshit with better mouse or keyboards
Same graphical settings for everyone playing online
Superior online features (after all, you're paying for it)
Environment friendly (no 1000W boxes)
You don't have to buy a new one every year to be able to play the lastest games
I may have forgotten one thing or two
Being able to play in a big ass TV in your living room instead of a small monitor in your mom's basement
Comfy couch
No driver updates everytime your turn on your console
No crashes
No settings to tweak
No piracy
No hackers online
Physical media that you can resell
Optimized games
Ease of use
No pay2win bullshit with better mouse or keyboards
Same graphical settings for everyone playing online
Superior online features (after all, you're paying for it)
Environment friendly (no 1000W boxes)
You don't have to buy a new one every year to be able to play the lastest games
I may have forgotten one thing or two