The differences in prominent genres is part of it, for sure, but ultimately even in the same genre there are consistent differences between lower-budget titles and higher-budget ones. I think it's understandable to be really into Devil May Cry and Bayonetta yet not care about something like Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae, for example.
Would you ever consider abandoning consoles entirely for PC in the future?
- Thread starter facetheslayer92
- Start date
The differences in prominent genres is part of it, for sure, but ultimately even in the same genre there are consistent differences between lower-budget titles and higher-budget ones. I think it's understandable to be really into Devil May Cry and Bayonetta yet not care about something like Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae, for example.
IISANDERII
Member
Even just buying a PC is a big hassle. Do I buy a ready made one for a big premium? If I do, I'll want to make sure I'm not being taken for a ride so now I'm researching cards, CPUs, motherboards, HD's, etc. I may even price out the entire cost of the rig so I'll know exactly how much I'm paying for it being put together.
And let's not even get into building one on my own.
Even when it's all done, there's still upkeep via tinkering with things with new games. I'm always reading about problems and how somebody's trying to find an old version of a driver to make things work properly or some other crap.
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
You're trying to make the process sound a lot harder than it is, that or you just have no idea what you're talking about which is more likely given your last sentence. Don't believe everything you hear.
In my opinion there are only like five good reasons to choose console gaming over PC.
1 -- You prefer specific console exclusives over specific PC exclusives.
2 -- Portable gaming.
3 -- You place high priority on ownership of physical discs as ownership of the media.
4 -- You hate Windows.
5 -- You really REALLY don't want to spend more than $400 USD on hardware.
Every other explanation I've heard so far has relied on information about PC gaming that is either exaggerated or outright false.
I'm not gonna say the PC has plenty of third person action games that look as good as Uncharted or something, it doesn't. However, I think the PC actually does have a lot of exclusives that are the kinds of games console gamers would traditionally enjoy, if you look for them. Many are pretty much the 2D indie or low-budget games that make up the face of the indie scene on consoles. Many just come out on consoles later than PC, but I think there are quite a few really good ones that still don't have console versions. Undertale was a lot of people's 2015 game of the year, and it still doesn't have a console version. For every Shovel Knight or Cave Story that gets love there's an Odallus or Momodora (the earlier ones) that's potentially just as good. The ones reaching consoles are great, but if you ask me not all the that don't make it through the console filter aren't worth playing.
And if you ask me, when dealing with small games like that, if they're digital-only you get a better deal buying them for PC. They're on sale more often, you can install them wherever you want, they'll run on practically anything, and they are very commonly available on DRM-free services so you don't have to worry about digital ownership. I'm not saying that makes up for the massive-budget third person shooters exclusive to consoles. The biggest and most well-known PC exclusives do tend to be MKB games (League, StarCraft, Civ). There is the Steam Controller but I feel like that's a whole other discussion. I'm just trying to distinguish legitimate contrasts of PC and console gaming from what are frankly myths
1 -- You prefer specific console exclusives over specific PC exclusives.
2 -- Portable gaming.
3 -- You place high priority on ownership of physical discs as ownership of the media.
4 -- You hate Windows.
5 -- You really REALLY don't want to spend more than $400 USD on hardware.
Every other explanation I've heard so far has relied on information about PC gaming that is either exaggerated or outright false.
I'm not gonna say the PC has plenty of third person action games that look as good as Uncharted or something, it doesn't. However, I think the PC actually does have a lot of exclusives that are the kinds of games console gamers would traditionally enjoy, if you look for them. Many are pretty much the 2D indie or low-budget games that make up the face of the indie scene on consoles. Many just come out on consoles later than PC, but I think there are quite a few really good ones that still don't have console versions. Undertale was a lot of people's 2015 game of the year, and it still doesn't have a console version. For every Shovel Knight or Cave Story that gets love there's an Odallus or Momodora (the earlier ones) that's potentially just as good. The ones reaching consoles are great, but if you ask me not all the that don't make it through the console filter aren't worth playing.
And if you ask me, when dealing with small games like that, if they're digital-only you get a better deal buying them for PC. They're on sale more often, you can install them wherever you want, they'll run on practically anything, and they are very commonly available on DRM-free services so you don't have to worry about digital ownership. I'm not saying that makes up for the massive-budget third person shooters exclusive to consoles. The biggest and most well-known PC exclusives do tend to be MKB games (League, StarCraft, Civ). There is the Steam Controller but I feel like that's a whole other discussion. I'm just trying to distinguish legitimate contrasts of PC and console gaming from what are frankly myths
potatohead
Member
Let's all be dismissive of of the opposing view in the thread and belittle everyone who disagrees with me.
You like PC gaming? Fuck you. You like console gaming? Fuck you.
95% of the posts are "I don't understand why people do this because I do this." I mean, shut the fuck up, honestly. Let people game how they want to game and move on for fucks sake.
How these threads make so many pages is kind of ridiculous.
You like PC gaming? Fuck you. You like console gaming? Fuck you.
95% of the posts are "I don't understand why people do this because I do this." I mean, shut the fuck up, honestly. Let people game how they want to game and move on for fucks sake.
How these threads make so many pages is kind of ridiculous.
pretty done
Member
lol if you believe this
Even in the Steam thread where all the "real gamers" are, no one is talking about Torment. Must be the budget and marketing campaign, fuck!
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Can't talk about it. Too busy visiting haunted bar for psychics.
There's a console version of Torment.
I'm really looking forward to Torment. I'm getting it on PS4, and I hope it controls well. Me and my wife have been playing Divinity: Original Sin on PS4 co-op, and it works really really well on it. Our PC is great, but I'm more than happy with my PS4 as my primary gaming platform.
Velurian
Member
Eversince this last gen of Mobile GPUs laptop gaming is actually quite legit. If you are talking about handhelds, then no, you can't beat handheld comfort/size level, but mobile gaming with a 17* laptop is totally valid. Been doing it for 2 years now with MSI GT72 with 980M in it. Silent, powerful, battery lasts a few hours. It will be even better with this gen with cards like 1060 GTX where for 1080p there is ample power but actual power consumption and heat levels are even lower so you can expect smaller machines and longer battery life.
Melchiah
Member
Missed your post. It's not like that can't be done on consoles as well. Here are test results posted on the PS4 4.50 update thread.
I'm not trying to sound uppity by listing neat-looking PC-only games that either have full controller support or are designed around a controller, but at least I can put down some suggestions that might interest people who haven't heard of them:
Astrokill (yeah it's Early Access, whatever) -- http://astrokill.com/
House of the Dying Sun --- http://dyingsungame.com/
CrossCode (I wanna say this is coming to consoles but can't find any info on that) -- http://www.cross-code.com/en/home
Crawl -- http://www.powerhoof.com/crawl/
Long Live The Queen --- http://www.hanakogames.com/llq.shtml
Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/345860/
Sakura Dungeon (for the Vita audience) -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/407330/#
Umihara Kawase (the English version anyway) -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/384690/
Near Death (doesn't look flashy, but good things said about it) -- http://www.neardeathgame.com/
Danmaku Unlimited 3 -- http://doragongames.com/danmaku3/
Furious Angels -- http://morfeodev.com/
That's as far as I'm willing to dig this late at night, and it's beside the point anyway. The idea of the exclusive is disappearing. Almost all that's left are first party exclusives, and as I already described PC just doesn't have a big company that uses exclusive games to advertise the platform as a whole. The closest games you have to doing this are MKB games. It's not impossible to enjoy MKB on a couch, I've been doing it for probably over a year now, but I feel like that's a whole other discussion.
Astrokill (yeah it's Early Access, whatever) -- http://astrokill.com/
House of the Dying Sun --- http://dyingsungame.com/
CrossCode (I wanna say this is coming to consoles but can't find any info on that) -- http://www.cross-code.com/en/home
Crawl -- http://www.powerhoof.com/crawl/
Long Live The Queen --- http://www.hanakogames.com/llq.shtml
Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/345860/
Sakura Dungeon (for the Vita audience) -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/407330/#
Umihara Kawase (the English version anyway) -- http://store.steampowered.com/app/384690/
Near Death (doesn't look flashy, but good things said about it) -- http://www.neardeathgame.com/
Danmaku Unlimited 3 -- http://doragongames.com/danmaku3/
Furious Angels -- http://morfeodev.com/
That's as far as I'm willing to dig this late at night, and it's beside the point anyway. The idea of the exclusive is disappearing. Almost all that's left are first party exclusives, and as I already described PC just doesn't have a big company that uses exclusive games to advertise the platform as a whole. The closest games you have to doing this are MKB games. It's not impossible to enjoy MKB on a couch, I've been doing it for probably over a year now, but I feel like that's a whole other discussion.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
Every one of these threads goes the same way. I would say im amazed how hard people fight for there platform but its the internet and its been this way forever.
But basically they both have their own advantages and disadvantages and satisfy different needs. If consoles truly became the same as PCs then they would lose whats so appealing about them. If PCs became the same as consoles they would have their advantages.
Its why i have pretty much always had both in some form. Currently its a ps4 pro for that sweet ease of use on my 4k tv and sonys exclusives and an alpha and a laptop for pc exclusives / MKB games. You dont really need a powerful pc for most pc exclusives so you end up with the best of both worlds for a reasonable amount of money.
But basically they both have their own advantages and disadvantages and satisfy different needs. If consoles truly became the same as PCs then they would lose whats so appealing about them. If PCs became the same as consoles they would have their advantages.
Its why i have pretty much always had both in some form. Currently its a ps4 pro for that sweet ease of use on my 4k tv and sonys exclusives and an alpha and a laptop for pc exclusives / MKB games. You dont really need a powerful pc for most pc exclusives so you end up with the best of both worlds for a reasonable amount of money.
Oh god, no.
I'm using a mouse and keyboard for 8 hours each day and that's definitely enough.
Now I know that you can use a controller on PC, but that would be a big disadvantage for MP games.
Also, the performance of consoles is easily enough for me.
I would play way less if there were no console anymore.
Still like my PC, especially for some DayZ and 7 Days To Die sessions with friends.
Just don't want to use it frequently.
I'm using a mouse and keyboard for 8 hours each day and that's definitely enough.
Now I know that you can use a controller on PC, but that would be a big disadvantage for MP games.
Also, the performance of consoles is easily enough for me.
I would play way less if there were no console anymore.
Still like my PC, especially for some DayZ and 7 Days To Die sessions with friends.
Just don't want to use it frequently.
ookami
Member
This. Only reason I have a PS4 or I might buy a Switch is exclusives and couch co-op games.
I only use controller, but I don't play MP. I gave up on that. The only MP game I used to play with KB&M was Planetside 2 I had to abandon when moving to the front room because:
1) It doesn't do controller
2) The UI is unreadable from across the room
I mean this is the stuff I like about consoles and why they are better than PC in those instances, and a major point for some. I don't have to think about whether my experience is going to be good for any particular title. Like I grabbed Sunless Sea on a free weekend because I was dead keen to play it. Couldn't read the fucker. I'll be doing that one on iPad and I'll know that my experience is guaranteed.
This stuff isn't a deal breaker for me though, like it is for others. I just get on with it. Fundamentally, I'll never ditch console because they offer games I want to play or an experience I can't get on PC -> namely portability here in terms of Switch & Vita.
I'll maintain my main catalogue on PC, it has to be said. I'm not a big modder (I haven't got time or any inclination to be tinkering with things), but giving Mass Effect a facelift was a massive plus on PC. Also having back compat there always is great, even though some of the games don't always work, I've got the option in the main.
I use both consoles and PC, and I don't think I could ever stop using consoles entirely until all of my games were conveniently accessible through a controller-friendly UI. Steam BPM is too unreliable. Also, while you can add shortcuts to games from other services to Steam to launch them from BPM, you can't install games through other services using a controller, so it kind of kills the convenience for me. Hell, I bought Battlefield 1, Mirror's Edge Catalyst and Titanfall 2 on Xbox One solely because I didn't want to install Origin, despite having a more than capable gaming PC.
MilkyJoe
Member
Deny it all you like, but a console will always be hassle free compared to PC. That's a good enough reason right there.
I used to do PC gaming.
Also you can do portable gaming on a laptop, btw.
Leonidas
AMD's Dogma: ARyzen (No Intel inside)
Yes I would consider it, but won't any time soon since there are some games that are exclusive on consoles that I still play. To me an ideal situation is one where all console manufacturers bring everything to the PC. I don't expect this to happen though.
Consoles are running on PC hardware(AMD/nVidia) and I feel silly having 4 different boxes that can do pretty much the same thing in terms of gaming...
Consoles are running on PC hardware(AMD/nVidia) and I feel silly having 4 different boxes that can do pretty much the same thing in terms of gaming...
Dandy Lyin
Member
I've always been primarily a PC gamer, but I've usually had a console for the handful of exclusives I want to play. This generation I haven't bothered.
bone_and_sinew
breaking down barriers in gratuitous nudity
Before January 2017:
If these Japanese games (and Horizon) don't pan out I'm selling my PS4
Now:
Why can't I hold all these games.jpg
If these Japanese games (and Horizon) don't pan out I'm selling my PS4
Now:
Why can't I hold all these games.jpg
RipperGrim
Member
I've already done it, cheaper games and mostly a lot better performance.
Having said that though, I'm definitely getting a ps4 when the Last of Us part 2 comes out.
Having said that though, I'm definitely getting a ps4 when the Last of Us part 2 comes out.
psychowave
Member
This is my experience as well. I know recently people try to compare installing updates and patches on consoles to building a PC to make it sound like buying a console is just as much work as buying a PC, but let's not kid ourselves. It's too much work.
I have a pretty powerful PC and I only bought PS4 after 4.5 years of its release. PC is where I play the multiplatform and multiplayer games. But it doesn't matter if I have six 1080ti's sli'ing or have i9 8800K at 6GHz, I can't play Horizon Zero Dawn, Bloodborne, Yakuza, The Last of Us, God of War etc.
I have no reason to buy an Xbox One but I will always need a Sony console because of the exclusives. I'll buy the PS5 after 3 years of its release for sure.
I have no reason to buy an Xbox One but I will always need a Sony console because of the exclusives. I'll buy the PS5 after 3 years of its release for sure.
Rellik
Member
These threads are just on a constant repeat now. But it never gets old seeing people try to convince others that PC gaming is hard work. That's when I question how long it has been since people have actually gamed on a PC.
I have a gaming PC and a PS4 Pro next to each other and neither is more difficult than other.
I have a gaming PC and a PS4 Pro next to each other and neither is more difficult than other.
tareqsalah1
Member
I can't
I lived in a country where there isnt much to do activities wise and sony ps1 and nintendo gave me a memorable childhood so ill always be there for them and own both consoles.
They became my friends somehow.
I lived in a country where there isnt much to do activities wise and sony ps1 and nintendo gave me a memorable childhood so ill always be there for them and own both consoles.
They became my friends somehow.
drotahorror
Member
Not entirely. I love my PC and my PS4 and hopefully The Switch leads a good life.
No incentive to ever own an xbox. Sony has some of the best games I've ever played and they're exclusive.
No incentive to ever own an xbox. Sony has some of the best games I've ever played and they're exclusive.
Cramoss
Member
But it can play all exclusive Nintendo games (with the exception of Switch for now).
Spaced Harrier
Member
My house mate never shuts up about his fucking PC.
980 TI, Xeon core.
And all you do is read Kappa, and play fucking Overwatch Ciaran.
Yeah im calling you out!
What is the last game you actually completed?!?
(he doesn't post , Ill show him it later.)
980 TI, Xeon core.
And all you do is read Kappa, and play fucking Overwatch Ciaran.
Yeah im calling you out!
What is the last game you actually completed?!?
(he doesn't post , Ill show him it later.)
I wish I could. I love games though. I don't identify with an ecosystem or subscribe to platform tribalism because I have the resources to participate in all gaming ecosystems if I choose. I sparingly playing games these days, but I want to get the most bang for my time. Financial cost is secondary for me. I have less time than money and I want to be able to spend what time I can, playing games I really enjoy. I don't want to just fill the time with a game I find "ok"...I would rather not play anything at that point. PC , nor any single platform, offers me the maximal bang consistently.
I hypothesize, if everyone owned every platform...there would be little to no bantz. We live in a world of scarce resources, though. This, arguably, causes sweet lemons and sour grapes.
My ideal world - I could pay the price of a console and run those games on my PC in a walled garden. My real world, I own a X1, Ps4, WiiU(eventually a Switch) and a high end PC.
I hypothesize, if everyone owned every platform...there would be little to no bantz. We live in a world of scarce resources, though. This, arguably, causes sweet lemons and sour grapes.
My ideal world - I could pay the price of a console and run those games on my PC in a walled garden. My real world, I own a X1, Ps4, WiiU(eventually a Switch) and a high end PC.
Imp the Dimp
Member
I kind of did. Got into PC gaming in 2009 and played little else until PS4 Pro actually, handhelds aside. PC gaming 2009-2016 was easily the better gaming experience and it reflected on GAF too.
I didn't expect consoles to bounce back at all but late 2016 and early 2017 were one hell of a ride on consoles, I'm not gonna lie. I've had a lot of fun with many mostly Japanese games (which are still underrepresented on PC) and if I got the money, I'll definitely be looking into buying a Switch too.
Honestly, I gotta say I don't care so much about which platform I play on. The advantages of both platforms have been named over and over again and I can definitely say that I enjoy PC gaming and console gaming, both. It's always down to the games and with surprisingly many console games aiming for 60 fps lately (Nier, Nioh, Yakuza 0 just to name a few), I didn't even have to deal with poor tech.
I didn't expect consoles to bounce back at all but late 2016 and early 2017 were one hell of a ride on consoles, I'm not gonna lie. I've had a lot of fun with many mostly Japanese games (which are still underrepresented on PC) and if I got the money, I'll definitely be looking into buying a Switch too.
Honestly, I gotta say I don't care so much about which platform I play on. The advantages of both platforms have been named over and over again and I can definitely say that I enjoy PC gaming and console gaming, both. It's always down to the games and with surprisingly many console games aiming for 60 fps lately (Nier, Nioh, Yakuza 0 just to name a few), I didn't even have to deal with poor tech.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Never.
I love my PC but I still play a ton of games on consoles. Not just exclusives, but multiplayer games that my friends play on consoles.
I love my PC but I still play a ton of games on consoles. Not just exclusives, but multiplayer games that my friends play on consoles.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
It also gets really old seeing people try the exact opposite and claim a PC is just as hastle free as a console.
Are PC's hard? no.
Are they as simple as a console? absolutely not.
I also have both and have for the past 20 years or so.
But a PC being more hastle isn't a straight up negative. Its simple part of the pros and cons of pitting a closed gaming system up against an open platform.
For when all you want to do is buy a console and plug it and and play a PC will anoy the shit out of you.
For when you want to customise an experience to your preference a PC can't be beat but it takes extra work.
Both of those situations are fine.
Its as simple as that. No idea why people get so techy about it. It should be pretty obvious the reason people love both is because they excel in different ways and suit different peoples needs.
As my life has got busier I have moved on from the powerful PC set up plus a console to a cheaper PC set up plus a console. Console is now my main platform because its so damn convenient. No third party software, no maintainence, sleep mode allows me instant resume and tell it to download a game while Im at work etc. My PC is now for PC exclusives and thats about it.
When I had tons of free time I loved my PC. Tinkering with it was fun. Tweaking settings to get the best possible experience was fun. Finding cool third part pieces of software was fun. But now I have lost interest in that side of things and dont have time for it anyway and so consoles work better for me.
appaws
Banned
I understand why "normals" and kids choose just one and feel a need to defend it to the death...
....but I am always surprised to see how much of that happens on an enthusiast board like this.
As for me, it's is all about Japanese gaming. If Nintendo plus a big batch of Japanese devs put everything on the PC...I guess I could handle it. But it would have to be almost everything....because as soon as Mario, Zelda, Disgaea, Persona, Fire Emblem, blah blah blah are console exclusives...then I am in for that console.
....but I am always surprised to see how much of that happens on an enthusiast board like this.
As for me, it's is all about Japanese gaming. If Nintendo plus a big batch of Japanese devs put everything on the PC...I guess I could handle it. But it would have to be almost everything....because as soon as Mario, Zelda, Disgaea, Persona, Fire Emblem, blah blah blah are console exclusives...then I am in for that console.
HashtagLapsed
Member
I pretty much have despite having a PS4, XBO and Wii U. I still play the Wii U and also a 3DS every now and again, but pretty rarely. I honestly don't know the last time I booted up the XBO or PS4. I think the XBO was the Rare collection thing and the PS4 I bought Salt and Sanctuary when I was drunk one night.
The games coming out just don't appeal to me all that much. I find myself preferring more niche games like Duskers, Sunless Sea, Dominions 4, Offworld Trading Company etc etc than big open worlds or third person shooters or whatever. Different strokes I guess!
The games coming out just don't appeal to me all that much. I find myself preferring more niche games like Duskers, Sunless Sea, Dominions 4, Offworld Trading Company etc etc than big open worlds or third person shooters or whatever. Different strokes I guess!
MilkyJoe
Member
ha ha very good!!
Baleoce
Member
Not all in. I dont want to give up the part of me that enjoys Nintendo games. I tend to stick to physical on those consoles and I resell after playing. So it's not a case of investing in something like it is with your PlayStation plus account. If I was legally allowed to sell my PS account, I would. Digitally, the only ecosystems I care about are on pc and that's what I want to invest in. But the games I have on ps+ keep going up and making me feel like I have something to lose,and at this point it'd feel like a waste if I stopped. Might just have to stop anyway.
righthandmouse
Banned
In a heartbeat. Pc is sooooo much better for me. keyword ME.