gaming PC gaming or console gaming?

[Quill The Pony. 175]

I know I'm treading into flame war territory but I wanna know your opinion. Do you prefer PC or console gaming? I prefer console gaming for multiple reasons.

One reason is you don't have to spend a lot of money for a PC.
Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.
Three: For a PC, you need to worry about the specs of your PC. You need to have so and so OS, need X amount of memory, this specific program and it just goes on.
Four: You need to install the game, which, depending on your PC, can take a while. Meanwhile, on a console, you put the game in and play it.
Five: Viruses. Nuff said
Six: Playing on a tiny screen on a tiny desk is uncomfortable.

Now, you could hook the pc up to a tv and a controller to the pc. But, when doing that, you're essentially playing a fucking console. Also, consoles get more and usually better games. When the PC gets it, it's either too late or a bad port.

The only advantage a PC has is games can run at a higher resolution. But honestly, who cares about the resolution?

Yes. Dance my pretties. Rustling jimmies is really fun if you rustle pc gamers. Also, yeah I'm joking. Though I prefer console gaming.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Quille The Pony.

[Pony Joe 583]

I know I'm treading into flame war territory but I wanna know your opinion. Do you prefer PC or console gaming? I prefer console gaming for multiple reasons.

 

A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

 

The only advantage a PC has is games can run at a higher resolution. 

 

Them's fightin' words right there.

 

I prefer a PC any day.  Like you, I'll list my reasons:

 

1. You only need a single device for both work and play.

2. Superior performance and graphical fidelity without having to wait for a new "generation."

3. Steam sales.  Buying a game for 50% off three months after it comes out, then 75% off when it's been out for a year is simply an insane bargain.

4. A mouse and keyboard are much, much better than a console controller for first-person games in both my opinion and that of the majority of competitive players.  If you start pairing up console players with PC players (WITHOUT any aiming assistance for the former), the difference in precision is staggering.  Even then, if you want to use a controller for something like a platformer, you can!  Win-win!

5. More games!  Between the long lineage of PC games that still work on Windows 7 and the ability to emulate any console (if you don't have a moral issue with that, that is), a PC enables you to play basically anything you can think of.

 

I hope you don't take this as a completely anti-console rant, but I just feel the need to remind you that there are some great reasons to use a PC.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Pony Joe

[Just some guy 1,070]

PC is easily the master gaming race with all the mods,Steam sales,free multiplayer,and all that other jazz.However,I still prefer the feel of a console over the feel of a PC.It just doesn't feel the same when I plug in my PC to my TV and play with a controller compared to playing on a console.Guess I'm a sucker for nostalgia when it comes down to it.

[Quill The Pony. 175]

Them's fightin' words right there.

 

I prefer a PC any day.  Like you, I'll list my reasons:

 

1. You only need a single device for both work and play.

2. Superior performance and graphical fidelity without having to wait for a new "generation."

3. Steam sales.  Buying a game for 50% off three months after it comes out, then 75% off when it's been out for a year is simply an insane bargain.

4. A mouse and keyboard are much, much better than a console controller for first-person games in both my opinion and that of the majority of competitive players.  If you start pairing up console players with PC players (WITHOUT any aiming assistance for the former), the difference in precision is staggering.  Even then, if you want to use a controller for something like a platformer, you can!  Win-win!

5. More games!  Between the long lineage of PC games that still work on Windows 7 and the ability to emulate any console (if you don't have a moral issue with that, that is), a PC enables you to play basically anything you can think of.

 

I hope you don't take this as a completely anti-console rant, but I just feel the need to remind you that there are some great reasons to use a PC.

1: The majority of people I know have 2 comps. 1 for work and the other for gaming.

2: Graphics are better. But as I said, what good does graphics do?

3:You can do the same for console games. Atleast in my experiences

4: I find the keyboard and mouse combo VERY uncomfortable. I tries using the two on Mega Man 8-bit deathmatch and failed. Meanwhile though, I used a standard controller and got the most kills.

5: Well, you're playing console games, just on a computer. Nothing different.

[Mutemutt 773]

I have to go with console. I don't really have a lot of reasons though.

 

1.I chose console mainly because it has standard specs. It's not a huge deal but I just prefer not having to worry whether my system will be able to handle the game I plan to play. 

 

2. The games I like to play aren't really that much better when they are on pc (if they even end up on pc in the first place). Notable exceptions to this are FPS, though I'm that into those, and games that have a ton of mod support. 

 

3. Keyboards are not very comfortable. Again this isn't a huge deal because of game pads (I usually use my ps3 controller on my pc anyway) but still 

 

In a nutshell, I find consoles more convenient and pc's just don't have enough allure over consoles to make the investment worth it for me.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Cota

[Ezio Auditore 702]

I do both but I prefer console. It just feels more organized than PC gaming, I don't like mods, I don't changing the experience, the designers made it how it was meant to be played. I do like MMO's on the PC though, but anything else, I prefer to play on my XBOX

[Gone for good 1,593]

lol it really depends on the kind of game you're playing. If you're playing a platformer or fighting game, a console is better where as if you're playing a first person shooter or hell maybe even an RPG.

 

By the way, for anyone who says that building compters are expensive yadda yadda yadda: go to a computer show and get your parts there. I built my computer that was high end a few years ago and is still rather nice today for 300 dollars, back when the ps3 still costed 600 and my computer was waaaaay more powerful than that thing.

 

I chose console just because there are times when playing on a TV is just better, but if it's first person or has no multiplayer or any reason for anyone else to care it should be on a PC.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Lord Bababa

[Winged Anomaly 47]

I know I'm treading into flame war territory but I wanna know your opinion. Do you prefer PC or console gaming? I prefer console gaming for multiple reasons.

 

One reason is you don't have to spend a lot of money for a PC.

Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

Three: For a PC, you need to worry about the specs of your PC. You need to have so and so OS, need X amount of memory, this specific program and it just goes on.

Four: You need to install the game, which, depending on your PC, can take a while. Meanwhile, on a console, you put the game in and play it.

Five: Viruses. Nuff said

Six: Playing on a tiny screen on a tiny desk is uncomfortable.

 

Now, you could hook the pc up to a tv and a controller to the pc. But, when doing that, you're essentially playing a fucking console. Also, consoles get more and usually better games. When the PC gets it, it's either too late or a bad port.

 

The only advantage a PC has is games can run at a higher resolution. But honestly, who cares about the resolution?

 

Whoa whoa whoa.  Let me address this point by point.

 

One: Computers are much less expensive than most people would think.  If you do your research and use your brain, you can build a computer that will run games for the next two console generations for a thousand bucks.

 

Two: Downright incorrect.  Thumbsticks are slow, clunky, and imprecise.  You can have either precision (low sensitivity) or speed (high sensitivity).  With a mouse, you have both precision and speed, unlimited by hardware, and defined only by skill.  Some fighters, shmups, and platformers are better with a controller (Street Fighter, Super Meat Boy, Castle Crashers) but for shooters, action RPG's, puzzle games, strategy games, and most specifically RTS games and simulators, mouse and keyboard is much more efficient, and actually has enough buttons to allow you to play the game without hamstringing the game's interactivity.

 

Three: Having the largest library of indie games and the best of high-fidelity graphics and bonus content is worth several seconds of number-checking.

 

Four: Installing the game means that A: your have very, very small loading times, B: you don't have to worry about buying a new copy if you damage or lose your disk, and C: on PS3, you have to install games anyway and still suffer through the first two problems.  'Nuff said.

 

Five: Come on, man.  If you have antivirus and a brain you can run a computer virus free.

 

Six: Actually, sitting at a desk close to a screen rather than on a couch far from a screen fills more of your vision with said screen, even if it is physically smaller.

 

And resolution?  Dude.  You can crank the resolution, you can download mods, user patches, and enable upgraded graphics settings that consoles can't handle because they're eight year old hardware.  You can mod the game yourself.  You can buy the game for a fraction of the price that you would spend on a console game due to Steam.  Not only that, but there's the indie market I mentioned earlier - hundreds and hundreds games more unique and interesting than any console exclusive, which will never, ever come to console.

 

I can't tell if you're trolling or just know nothing about PC gaming.

 

Edit: Oh, one last thing.  Are you browsing this forum on a console, or on a PC?

I'll let you think about that one.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Winged Anomaly

[Commander Urdnot 2,680]

PC has better hardware, better library of games, and it has a more open nature.

 

It enables you to have access to a larger variety of games (and emulators), it enables you to have better performance than consoles, and it enables you to mod games.

 

PC is superior IF you can afford a decent one.

[Kamil 315]

I know I'm treading into flame war territory but I wanna know your opinion. Do you prefer PC or console gaming? I prefer console gaming for multiple reasons.

 

One reason is you don't have to spend a lot of money for a PC.

Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

Three: For a PC, you need to worry about the specs of your PC. You need to have so and so OS, need X amount of memory, this specific program and it just goes on.

Four: You need to install the game, which, depending on your PC, can take a while. Meanwhile, on a console, you put the game in and play it.

Five: Viruses. Nuff said

Six: Playing on a tiny screen on a tiny desk is uncomfortable.

 

Now, you could hook the pc up to a tv and a controller to the pc. But, when doing that, you're essentially playing a fucking console. Also, consoles get more and usually better games. When the PC gets it, it's either too late or a bad port.

 

The only advantage a PC has is games can run at a higher resolution. But honestly, who cares about the resolution?

I'm lazy, so I'm just going to respond to what you said.

 

1. Somewhat valid. A PC just as capable as a console probably costs about as much as the console and a cheap PC for non-gaming on the side, but I'll allow it.

2. No.

3. Not really, the minimum specs for a game are usually so far below what most gamers have that you don't need to worry about it.

4. PCs don't need to install every game, but that assessment is true for a large portion of software. On the other hand, the PS3 also requires an install for most games, and the XBox360 requires it for certain features in certain games.

5. It's not that hard to avoid viruses, but technically true.

6. Try using a larger screen and a larger desk. It turns out, you have that option.

 

Really, in my opinion all your points are minor at best, with at least one which is BLATANTLY FALSE. Also in my opinion, consoles are fine for people who don't want to do any work, or even think at any point between system release and playing games. PCs require more work to get the best results at the best prices, more work to use, and more work to stay on top, but as a result you have better graphics, more variety (the "more games" that you listed outside of the numbered points is also blatantly false by the way), and most importantly more customizability.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Kamil

[Quill The Pony. 175]

My plans to troll pc gamers was a success... You see, though I'm still a console gamer, I made dumb points about pc gamers in an attempt to rustle gimmies. It was a success.

[Prismatic 49]

I haven't had a virus on my PC since 2003...And it was on one of my backup drives.

 

I'm more of a PC Gamer myself.  I can run my own diagnostics and tweak my computers as I see fit.  I'm still using the same 4 year old desktop (albeit the video card has been through two upgrades) and it still handles anything i can throw at it well.  Pfft...'Dual core' gaming machines.

[DusK 1,264]

One reason is you don't have to spend a lot of money for a PC.

Until you consider that a $300 console runs about as well as a $500 PC, with the exception that you can do a hell of a lot more on a PC than just gaming. Try running a word processor, spreadsheet editor, image editor, DAW, video editor, etc. on a console.

Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

100% false. A controller will never hold a candle to m/kb for shooters. Ever. MMORPGs? Play FFXI on console, find out why most people prefer it on PC.

Three: For a PC, you need to worry about the specs of your PC. You need to have so and so OS, need X amount of memory, this specific program and it just goes on.

So having to think is a con. Oh, how terrible.

Four: You need to install the game, which, depending on your PC, can take a while. Meanwhile, on a console, you put the game in and play it.

Have fun with your sluggish load times.

Five: Viruses. Nuff said

A person with an IQ over 80 and a basic handling of how to operate a computer will never get a virus on their computer.

Six: Playing on a tiny screen on a tiny desk is uncomfortable.

Doesn't feel so tiny when you're breaking 1080p resolutions on a 20"+ monitor. 1080 resolutions, btw, being something most console games today aren't capable of natively, having to instead resort to upscaling techniques from 720p or lower.

Now, you could hook the pc up to a tv and a controller to the pc. But, when doing that, you're essentially playing a fucking console. Also, consoles get more and usually better games. When the PC gets it, it's either too late or a bad port.

Tell that to my 64-player BF3 matches. With, of course, a better control scheme and significantly better graphics.

The only advantage a PC has is games can run at a higher resolution. But honestly, who cares about the resolution?

Yeah, who cares about higher resolution? Who cares about better graphics, smoother gameplay, more control options, user-created content, all that stuff's for babies, right? Playing Halo 4 at 30 FPS upscaled from 720p, that is for the hardcore kids.

[Evilshy 5,090]

Here's why I prefer PC:

 

 

1. Mods. The ability to change almost any aspect of a game to make it more entertaining.This alone puts PCs ahead of consoles, IMO.

2. Keyboard and mouse is better for anything except fighting games and beat 'em ups.

3. Unofficial patches. No need to wait for the developer to fix game-breaking bugs; there's usually a fanmade patch within a day or 2 of release.

4. PC games are more likely to have frequent updates, as well as free updates. With console games, you're lucky to get updates at all. Plenty of costly DLC, though :/

5. Waaaaaaaay more exclusives on the PC, and tons of cool indie games.

6. Emulation, 'nuff said.

7. Waaaaaaay more customizable controls, and custom control devices.

8. PC is a universal platform with pretty much 100% backward compatibility. To play a wide spread of old and new console games, you need multiple consoles. A lot of consoles these days don't even have backwards compatibility.

To play a wide spread of old and new PC games, you just need a PC and know how to turn on compatibility modes.

9. You can upgrade a PC.

10. PCs can also be used for work, listening to music, watching TV/movies, surfing the web, watching porn, communicating with friends, etc.

[zZzLucidDream 16]

It is all preference!

 

I prefer a console even though I know PC gaming offers better graphics and a more precise input system.

 

I like to use the controller.  If you plug a controller into your PC, you're at a disadvantage because a controller is admittedly worse than Keyboard/Mouse and you will lose in online FPS's.

 

You don't have to spend more money to be at an advantage in console gaming.  Some people have $3,000 gaming rigs with a high speed internet connection, of course they're going to dominate you in online games!  For consoles, you have the same hardware for the most part so everything is more fair.

 

PC has more hackers.  One less thing to worry about for console gamers.

 

But, there are games you can only play for PC and there are console exclusives too.  If there is a game released for either, I go with console.  If it's a PC exclusive, I'll get it for PC obviously.

 

Who agrees with me?

[Otter 1,942]

I prefer PC. I prefer it because my favorite genre of games is MMORPGs, and I don't think there's ever been a console MMORPG in the history of the universe.

 

I also like the feel of using a keyboard and mouse. It just feels more natural than a controller. 

[Prismatic 49]

I prefer PC. I prefer it because my favorite genre of games is MMORPGs, and I don't think there's ever been a console MMORPG in the history of the universe.

 

I also like the feel of using a keyboard and mouse. It just feels more natural than a controller. 

 

Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Universe are two that come to mind.  Although their core gameplay isn't nearly as big as WoW or other PC MMOs.

[Zeruis 53]

Due to me having a Mac, computer gaming has always been a loss for me. I've always preferred console gaming. I like the comfort of my couch, too.

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

I prefer both. Console gaming is fun for party gaming and ocassionally multiplayer. the Console only games are a saving grace and the DLC is awesome. If i had a high tech Computer i would prefer PC gaming cause you can get the best rpg games and mod the crap outta them. I can Play a Luna while saving Skyrim. I can't do that on the Xbox....or can i? Point is they both have their merits and it depends on what kind of gamer you are.

[Bohtty 1,775]

I have a Macbook Air and do all of my gaming and working on it. 

 

• Computers may cost more, but they also do a whole lot more. You don't need an expensive computer to play PC games. My Macbook Air was expensive, but the equivalent in desktop form is so much cheaper.
• You can upgrade computers. I've played console games that lag.
• Better communities. You have all of the tools of the internet to craft a games community.
• You get more serious players. Every joe blow football star has an xbox for their occasional bro duty. Similarly more and more little kids are getting consoles. 
• More customization
• Better graphics
• Portability if you're on a laptop.
• MMO's?
• Much Much Much Much larger selection of games.

 

I'll address OP's points:

 

One reason is you don't have to spend a lot of money for a PC.

• While I may have an expensive computer, I am quite certain you can find a good enough computer for far cheaper that does more than your Xbox, PS3, Wii or any other console you own. 

Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

• I'm pretty sure this is incorrect. You're just more used to a controller. Keyboards have more keys and thus more customization and possibilities. The mouse also allows for a greater range of sensitivity that the analog stick just simply can't get.

Three: For a PC, you need to worry about the specs of your PC. You need to have so and so OS, need X amount of memory,

this specific program and it just goes on.

• You'd be able to play 99% of all games with Windows, the most common PC OS. I never worry about my specs. I just download the game and run it. My 3lb laptop can play Skyrim and MW3 and I can promise you the specs on this thing are not very good.

Four: You need to install the game, which, depending on your PC, can take a while. Meanwhile, on a console, you put the game in and play it.

• Depends more on the internet connection really. At least then you don't have to worry about a disc, losing the disc or scratching the disk or damaging the disk drive. My laptop doesn't even have one.

Five: Viruses. Nuff said

• This is baffling. I haven't gotten a virus in years and I browse the internet randomly all the time. Viruses rarely come from games developed by any reputable company.

Six: Playing on a tiny screen on a tiny desk is uncomfortable.

• TV's can be small. My desk is large. My chair is comfortable. My screen is only small because it's portable. Is your console portable? I could hook up this lap top to my roommates large flat screen and have the same size screen as you.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

I do a bit of both at the moment. I have an old semi-functional (long story, all I'll say is I'm never buying an ATI graphics card ever again) gaming laptop, but after it broke I pretty much decided "screw this," got an Xbox 360, and pretty much use that now. I still use that laptop every now and then, but sometimes it's so unstable that playing games is near impossible. Might bring it to the uni's tech department, but I don't know if they can solve driver issues.

 

Being in college, I don't really have the time nor money for upkeep on a gaming PC. I have a console out of convenience. Not to mention I'm so busy that it'll be gathering dust most of the time.

 

After college I'll probably go back to PC gaming. For now, though, a console gets me by.

Edited February 3, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[DashieVROOM 29]

I honestly play both as I don't discriminate either one as I know each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

I love my xbox and my PCs and I give each equal amount of love<3

[Aaramus 449]

A decent PC these days really isn't that hard to get. If you want a top of the range one then yes be prepared to fork out around £1500 but you can easily get a mid range PC that will run every game at a higher frame rate than the console. The you can do all the other stuff you do on a computer as well.

 

Technically the consoles don't compare and the next gen won't either. Also the OP is very wrong about gamepads being better than mouse and keyboard regardless of the game. Have you ever tried playing an RTS with a 360 controller? It's a mess! The same goes for FPS, you have much better reaction times and accuracy with a mouse. I've just finished the new Devil May Cry and it's just brilliant with the mouse and keyboard.

 

Even the whole sitting back and gaming on your sofa is kind of going out the window. Valve are pushing PC's into the living room and  even Big Picture mode works really well at the moment.

 

That said, there's nothing wrong with consoles. They're cheaper and very easy to use and it's much easier to play with more than one person locally. I used to only play on a console and I never had any issues with it, just my PC is a better gaming experience.

[Brook 663]

Two: A controller is far better than a mouse and keyboard regardless of the game.

I don't want to nit-pick, but I can't ignore that statement, now I don't know if you really mean this or not, however, that is just a flat-out lie my man, there are many games that just do not work with a controller, mostly real time strategy games, so the game DOES matter. Sorry that just bothered me a little.

 

Anyways I prefer console, for the simple fact that my pc can't run that many games at it's current state, I think my opinion might change though when I get a better pc, so don't quote me on this.

[Steamgamer27 170]

Been mainly a PC user and gamer all my life. I own the original Xbox and a PS2 but they just didn't feel the same. I love modding and tweaking my videogames, both that are missing in consoles. What I don't like sometimes is when a tripe A title ships to the P like a month or two after consoles is that half the time they didn't put enough effort to make the PC port good or any better.

Lack of graphics options, locked keyboard controls and sometimes just poor optimization~ yeah I'm looking at you (AC3) <_<

 

For added effect

 

Edited February 3, 2013 by Steamgamer27