GW: Consoles Vs PC
A plea for sanity from a TSA member who loves his consolesPublished 15/09/2009 at 15:00 by colossalblue
Lunchtime Discussion: Console Sellers [50]
GW: Is Console Gaming Turning Elitist? [29]
GAME Reveal UK Console Numbers [78]
This is an issue which is often avoided by the gaming press. TSA member peespee63 looks at the under-reported friction between console fanboys and the PC gaming crowd. Apparently he even wrote this with a pen. How retro.
How are you? Good? Good. Let’s get started. I am a console gamer, always have been, probably always will be, and I love it. There are many people like myself, on many sites (not least this one), just like there are many people who love PC gaming, and those who enjoy both. Why wouldn’t you? It’s your own choice, and I respect and support you in your choices and opinions, after all you are more than entitled to them.
Now, far be it from me to be a console fanboy, but don’t you feel that some PC gamers are elitist? I’m talking about their arguments of having FPSs controlled by mouse being more suitable than an analogue nubbin and that RPGs are better with point and click control. Although I do agree that RTSs and point-and-click games are better on PC, and look sensitivity generally suffers on consoles. I get sick of hearing it, the pros of PC versus Console.
Most of it is just petty and nonsensical anyways, and I probably shouldn’t listen to it myself, but it is very, very annoying.
Now, lets take a step back in time, not too far, and not for too long, you won’t need to change clothes or anything, and we won’t even need to fire up the Flux Capacitor. Consoles have traditionally been gaming machines, that’s why they were created. From the Magnavox Odyssey way back in 1974 (‘72 in the US, a long time before many of us, including myself, were even born) right the way thorugh to our current generation (PS3, X360, Wii), they’ve been the peripherally-controlled dedicated computing machines for us gamers.
Obviously the most famous of these funboxes are of course the Atari, Sega’s Mega Drive, Nintendo’s NES and our beloved PlayStation.
We all love our peripherally-controlled dedicated gaming computer systems, but spare a thought for our keyboard-twiddling brethren. If they want to play a brand new game, they need to buy that, as well as have a half-decent graphics card and the likes. We don’t need that, all we need is the relevant console, so they must be very bitter about having to upgrade all the time, and it’s not cheap either.
One of the things I love about consoles is that they level the playing field (so to speak) especially when it comes to online competitive multiplayer, admittedly we haven’t had that as long as PC’s have, and don’t get me started on LAN parties. Also, they give you a standardised control input system, which is fantastic; developers can map functions and moves to pre-defined buttons and combinations, and it just feels better holding a hand-sized controller, instead of a flat keyboard and a cheap mouse from Tesco’s.
So, what I think I’m trying to say is that we shouldn’t get into petty squabbles about which is best to play on, and just enjoy gaming, and games, and the communities surrounding it. Everyone plays to their specific budget, and the market now caters for just that (which is great by the way), so why pidgeon-hole ourselves with regards to platform?
Yeah, we may all be geeks, but can’t we all just get along?
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Person678 | 15/09/2009 15:04
BOOM! Headshot!
1793 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
I enjoy the best of both. I’m a console gamer first, but It’s great to jump into those 360/PC exclusives and such on my PC – L4D for example. I wish they would release Fable 2 on PC…
Sig-gotyouth | 15/09/2009 15:04
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109 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
Interesting read, but I really feel that this generation has blurred the lines alot. I’ve never been a PC gamer due to the fact that I never know if my PC is powerful enough for the game’s that back in the day (any maybe still now) were packaged in HUGE cardboard boxes. In short, it’s really down to prsonal preference…
Ducer15 | 15/09/2009 15:07
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173 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Well I have been both PC Gamer and Console gamer, as you say there are pros and cons. For me the console solution is where it is at right now. I used to upgrade my PC every 2 years and to be honest it was nowhere near often enough. I am well out of it cost wise!
hannes_truce | 15/09/2009 15:07
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
I agree, lets all just get along, group hug? Anyone? Nice article
C_S15 | 15/09/2009 15:20
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1550 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Feel teh luuuuuuuuuuuuurve
Amphlett | 15/09/2009 15:36
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1246 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Group hug? Depends whether I can be between a couple of girls!
peespee63 | 15/09/2009 15:40
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1071 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Seconded! Pity there are few girl gamers, or even some that don’t think we’re sad and pathetic for gaming.
Zuler | 15/09/2009 15:07
Team TSA: Writer
10499 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Great article mate! Sadly I never got into PC gaming, and I think I’m ok with just a console, that’s more than enough for me
Spotter5 | 15/09/2009 15:09
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857 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I agree that PC gamers are elitist. There all like “hurr, COD:MW2 will be better on PC anyway due to better graphics card mouse and keyboard etc”. But for me, PC will never be a valid gaming platform as to get ‘better’ graphics you constantly need to upgrade everything, all the time. A PS3 is £250, and with that you have EVERYTHING needed to play a game. With a PC a single graphics card could cost upwards of £250! (?)
Also the keyboard mouse combo is awful, I’ve tried Battlefield Heroes with it and it sucks. Too inaccurate in the actual character MOVEMENT, sure, the aiming *technically* is more accurate, but actually getting the avatar to walk, run, crouch and turn easily is nigh on impossible with four arrow keys.. (or the W S A D keys that some use)
Hmm a slight rant, but yes, lets all get along
Spotter5 | 15/09/2009 15:15
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857 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I’d like to add i’m not completely averse to PC gaming, I have Sims 3 and Spore for my Mac. But then again, I only have them for that because they are no console versions of those games…..
Person678 | 15/09/2009 15:35
BOOM! Headshot!
1793 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
If you were using the arrow keys than no wonder. WASD is essential. Smooth as butter. But I do see your point.
proog | 15/09/2009 15:39
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206 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
What?! I’m surprised that anyone would actually try to use the arrow keys for that. As Person says, WASD is the way to go. The other is just… silly.
Spotter5 | 15/09/2009 16:10
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857 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I find them both silly, Analogue stick ftw
peespee63 | 15/09/2009 15:11
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1071 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Thanks all for the kind words. I’m not really a PC gamer in myself, have a couple of games on Steam, and some C&C games, that’s about it really, though I know a few PC gamers who are very elitist, which spurred me to write this bit.
BadBoyBoogie | 15/09/2009 16:32
Let There Be Rock
2689 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
That’s funny, the C&C games are also the only ones that I play on PC nowadays!! Everything else I get for the PS3.
BrendanCalls | 15/09/2009 15:17
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - YOHIMBÉ!!!
1417 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I play all my games on the PS3 except the football management games, which I become addicted to every so often, like right now I am playing Championship manager. This is the extent of my PC gamin as I find the keyboard and mouse combination over bearing when all it really needs are a few buttons on a controller
Timesh1993 | 15/09/2009 15:27
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1179 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I’m just like you there.
Always have struggled with using the mouse and pressing buttons at the same time, but that might just be me.
a inferior race | 15/09/2009 16:48
I'm special
1997 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Football management games are just to difficult to play on console.
Gastos84 | 15/09/2009 15:24
Team TSA: Writer
3888 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Nice stuff mate.
It’s funny because when I see my dad, we always have a bit of a trade off as he is a massive PC gamer and has a hugely expensive PC. But I spot him looking on with envious eyes whenever he sees me playing the PS3. He loves the war stuff so I put on games that i’m not even interested in such as CoD to see his reaction. The best response was on Killzone:
“Dad, have a look at that, wish your PC had that?”
“Pfff, my PC has been doing that for years. Get with the times!”
LOL The friendly bitching is great!!
Erroneus | 15/09/2009 15:28
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2976 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Most games are funnier on the console, I guess it’s the more “streamlined” experience you get, but some games should defiantly be played on the PC. I would NEVER NEVER … NEVER play the Half-Life games on the console or the upcomming Diablo 3.
Timesh1993 | 15/09/2009 15:28
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1179 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Good little read.
I’ve always been a console gamer and probably always will be
Watchful | 15/09/2009 15:50
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2084 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Switched from PC gaming to consoles with the launch of the PSX. I was at Uni then and had got to the point where my PC needed another round of upgrades and buying a PSX with several games was cheaper and meant there wouldn’t be another round of upgrades in 18-24 months time. My PC gaming these days is limited to Civ IV.
a inferior race | 15/09/2009 16:49
I'm special
1997 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Civ 4 is simply an amazing game. Even though portugal always feels the needs to invade me.
cc_star | 15/09/2009 15:50
Team TSA: Writer
7852 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Gaming with the W A S D (or arrow) keys is a really poor experience, but I can understand mouse aiming is more precise than a right stick of a joypad.
I spend over 12 hours a day working on a PC/Laptop and I can’t wait to turn the bloody thing off and get some console gaming done. The experience is far more streamlined.
But to people who say they can’t afford graphics cards updates every couple of years, the average PC game is £20-30 whereas console games are £30-45, so it’s not all bad price-wise
LycanGav | 15/09/2009 15:53
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591 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Rolling out the tired out cliche that it costs an absolute fortune to run a decent gaming rig? God that’s lazy writing. Then you ask for everyone to get along while taking several (very wide of the mark) swipes at PC gamers? Flat keyboard and mouse from Tesco? I prefer Razer’s peripherals thanks. My most recent gaming rig cost me just north of £400 to assemble and build, and it’ll be solid for a few years. So, not much more than a launch PS3 (which I also have), and it’ll run games that look very pretty at very good speeds. Throw in stuff like the ability to mod my games (Oblivion is around six million times better on PC once you grab stuff like the OOO mod)and some tasty exclusives and it looks more and more likely the author is the one who is trying to be an elitist fanboy.
peespee63 | 15/09/2009 16:24
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1071 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Why am I replying to this, I don’t know, but I wasn’t making swipes, or degrading anything, I was merely speaking from my own experiences, as most writers do.
And you know what, yeah, maybe it is lazy writing, and a cliche, but it’s what I believe. HIndsight being 20-20, I might have worded some of it a bit better, but that’s how I felt at the time.
And the whole “Razer” bit, I was going to mention something like that, but couldn’t find a proper way to articulate it at the time, so I left it out. I happen to think that specialised equipment (ie keyboards and mice) are expensive and pointless at the same time, and it makes it a bit unfair for newer PC gamers online, when others have expensive rigs with the best in gaming periphery.
LycanGav | 15/09/2009 16:41
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591 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
No more expensive that additional controllers for the consoles (£35 for PS3 pads atm, how much for the new waggle stick and camera next year, around £40 for the Wii wagglers, not including the new motion+, etc…) It’s all swings and roundabouts really. Perhaps you haven’t had the best experiences, and I know I’m biased having worked as a PC games journalist the past few years, but I really do feel that PC gamers get a raw deal from console gamers.
proog | 15/09/2009 16:01
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206 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I usually get more immersed in games on the console than on PC (Left 4 Dead being the obvious exception), and I generally feel that console games have less bugs than their PC counterparts.
That being said, I feel the article and the general conception of PC gaming has a major flaw. Stating that PC gamers have to buy both the game and a graphics card is true, but it’s not as simple as that. Most games cost significantly less for the PC, and graphics can be adjusted in nearly all PC games to suit the kind of hardware you have, and often, it means they can run on a long range of specifications, from low-end to high-end.
That’s not to say that the argument is invalid, though. To run the newest games on the highest settings, you do need top-of-the-range hardware. However, a standard graphics card can often run a game rather well on low or medium graphics (medium probably being more or less what the consoles usually run games on).
Let me also state that I generally feel FPS’es and RTS’es are much better suited for the control of a keyboard and a mouse (the exception being CoD4, which I think is suited for the slow control of a controller).
Let’s all be friends though, it’s not like the platform matters. Okay, except for exclusives.