PC Gaming is Doomed | Why That’s A Bad Idea
I just read the article called “PC PHOBIA – Is the PC dead as a gaming platform” written by the Gaming Wiz a while back. Decided just to add my two cents in. I’ve been playing games for almost the last two decades or so and I can safely claim that “I know what I am talking about”. So it’s console VS PC once again.
Even though I started my gaming career with a funky console called the Atari 800XL, still I can never align with consoles. This console was capable of running enhanced version of already popular games like River Raid, Moon Patrol, Pac Man, Missile Command, Gyruss, Qix etc. I really had a blast with the console, and I kind of grew up playing these games. Later on, I had a Nintento 16 bit console, and now I own PS2.
However, even after playing with consoles for so many years, I still prefer PC as a gaming platform. PC games are almost always more challenging and intriguing. Only recently real time strategy games and first person shooters are being released on consoles; previously these marvel of video games were PC exclusive. Xbox might have Gears of War or Halo, but nothing compares the satisfaction of using a keyboard+mouse combination to map movement keys to WASD and to use the mouse buttons to blast away waves of enemies; be it zombies, demons, Nazi soldiers or anything else–the satisfaction is unmatched.
I really find it retarded to play strategy games using a gamepad; or even a keyboard and mouse attached with a console. The feeling is not just the same. While on PC, I can simply pause a skirmish battle, minimize the window and reply back to the gazillion messages sent to me by my friends through MSN. I can check my emails, I can post a message or two in Facebook, and what not.
Although there are some painful moments; these comes when you’ve found that so and so hardware manufacture has just slashed prices for processor and graphics card whereas you just spent a fortune to upgrade your PC. The bottom line is, if you really want to enjoy gaming in this platform, you always have to be alert and informed. Downloading patches, applying cracks, installing mods, graphics update, downloading new version of directX and graphics card driver–overall it’s a very engaging process. Sounds painful? Hehe, it is, to some extent. But the end result is rewarding.
On a console, a game has little or no value after you finish the single player missions once (although the Wiz touts about the Achievements and GamerScore of the Xbox 360). Few games have (had) multiplayer support, and the communities and available games are smaller as well. Well, you can always call in a friend or two for some split screen or vs action, but it’s not always easy to find a friend with similar gaming interests and free time.
Although in Bangladesh internet gaming is still a far cry, but there are now a good many gaming cafes, and all of them are solely PC gaming cafes. I remember visiting a console gaming cafe in Kolabagan and playing x-box and ps2 games, but that cafe went out of business very soon.
The most irritating fact about consoles are their relative obsolescence and small life cycle. Perhaps the PS2 enjoyed the longest life cycle, ever, but few consoles live beyond 2 or 3 years. After this short life cycle, there are no new games for that particular console. However, for a PC, I can still find games that will run on my 10 year old pentium II PC. Well, yeah, definitely these are not new games, but flash, emulation and many other stuff keeps old PCs alive, but few consoles get that kind of support.You can call me a PC fanboy, but this is my verdict–PC’s rule!Signing off for today…your friendly (new) blogger Dead_Man_Rollin.
Oct 14th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
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Oct 15th, 2007 at 6:07 am
yeah you said it
pc still rocks
Oct 19th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Well PC rules!!!!! Thats bullshit. The time has changed my friend. PC is for multi purpose use..its not solely for gaming. Moreover it takes only 6months to 1year to be backdated. Then u need to put lot of money again (specially in graphics card) to be updated..that means to run the latest games. I can give you a comparison. In Dhaka market..now a ATI Redion 2900HD card will cost like 35000TK (Geforce will cost more)when a XBOX 360 is available in the same price which will be future proof. now u decide which will u choose…a not so sure option or a future proof option.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I agree with Shocker. The life cycle of a console may be 3 years but the life cycle of the graphics card is less than that and a good graphics card will cost the same or more than a console. Also, how about wrestling/fighting games. They are only available on consoles. I’ve been a PC gamer for a long time but last year I decided to buy an Xbox360 and use the PC for Internet, E-mails, video editing, etc. No more gaming on PC.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
hey SHOCKER on if any thing demands money then ofcourse this thing have benefit consoles are limited in gameplay graphics experience nt a mature person in gaming can say this taht console is better then pc only a new bebi can spok a harsh words againest pc so watch the GAMESPOT spot ON THE SPOT weekly show that told us a lot of time and call pc palfourm MOTHER OF ALL TIME GMING
Nov 7th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I don’t think that PC gaming will ever be dead, and the games are great, but you do get more out of a console than a PC. I understand that a PC is more functional, but you never have to buy a new graphics card for your console and the games get better graphically over time. I spent tons of money on my PC and I can’t even enjoy the current games because my motherboard doesn’t support PCI Express graphics cards. I know I can run the old games pretty well, but I really want to enjoy the new games and not just limit myself to the old stuff. PC games are great, but consoles are better for the serious and casual gamers.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
8800 GT kills 360/ps3 many times over, and still costs $250 and will soon be $200. You decide which is better
Nov 7th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I dont see it that way at all. Infact the few times I played an FPS on a PC with a mouse and keyboard and I thought “what is this for 5 year olds? where is the challenge?” you pt a mouse and shoot, its that easy? The whole pt of being good at a shooter (to me) is about how good you are with the analog sticks, its cordination.
As for RTS games, they are much better for the PC with a keyboard and mouse.
Saying consoles have a 2-3 year lifespan is ignorant. Definitely not the case. So this time next year the 360 will hit 3 years and be obsolete???
I would rather buy a console for 400bux every 5 years than have to upgrade my PC often. what a pain in the ass.
Anyways I think in the end it comes down to what types of games you like.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Shocker lets be honest, PC Gaming is classed as No.1
It has the most games
The Most Realistic Games
Its the most Moddable ( look at all those mods for things like Half life series…. Consoles dont get that sh!t )
The accuracy of a mouse and keyboard compared to a controller is far ahead, Your always gonna get a more precise shot with a mouse and keyboard.
Now the prices are steep but if you have it, then your doing better than any console, alot of PC’s out there tear the sh!t outta console specs and can always play them in better Detail.
Ive noticed FPS issues on some games on the Xbox360,PS2 etc and well you dont get that with a PC.
Final word: Save your money, buy the PC it will always dominate in Gaming Selection and playablity. Not to mention it does everything else which a console cant.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Future proof my ass. While the games might be similar, and similarly popular, console games ALWAYS start to lag behind in terms of visual and audio quality. Either that, or they get rid of features, making it a lesser game. Consoles are not future proof. They are the exact opposite, you become limited by the hardware MUCH more quickly.
Nov 8th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Kinjiro, you still get more life out of a console. I paid $500 for my Nvidia Graphics card just 2 years ago and it is not good enough to run Call of Duty 4 or Hellgate London at a decent resolution. I’ve had my 360 for the last 2 years and the graphics have only gotten better and I didn’t have to upgrade anything. Audio quality is negligible between consoles and PC because it is all a matter of your sound system.
Another thing no one has mentioned is the entertainment factor for consoles when you have people over to your house. The Nintendo Wii is something that even my mother can play with me. PC’s are internet multiplayer only. There are no PC games that I know of where you can invite your friends over and enjoy playing together. PC’s are great, but you get more for your money with a console.
Jan 28th, 2008 at 2:39 am
man this pc gaming is getting worse. lots of bad bad bad ports of console game and pc game is dommed. requires 3 times more powerful pc than it should need while the bad porting of console games taking place for years since then. a very good example is stranglehold. i never knew a game will require 2gb minimum ram. this should be imporved to make pc games more attractive. i have bought a 7600gs graphics card a year ago and now i cannot play games in a decent resolution. its kinda pain. now i have to afford 8800 series or a 9xxx series. then after some month a 10xxx series will come out and everyone has to upgrade to this to play games in good framerate. well i have to say that console life is 3 times than the pc life.pc parts needs to be upgradeed every year to play the latest games in good framerate. and in bangladesh we dont have that latest parts. 8800 series was released long time ago and i recently saw some 8800 series in the market now a days. For perspective of bangladesh i dont think pc gaming is a good choice. but again its all about money. if u have money then gaming in a super computer is also allowed 🙂
Jun 25th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
with all this said, it’s pretty clear that both have pros and cons so why don’t we just get both lol. I know, too expensive. Anyways to answer some things, I invite my friends over with their laptops of course and it make online games much more fun, no chatting necessary, even if all of us don’t have laptops. PC gaming is exponentially growing because of free online games although many don’t even know that,look at mmosite for example, and what you don’t spend on pc equipment you spend on games which are not cheap at all on release. Of course recent console games have better graphics quality most of the time, but I play for fin not just graphics, plus Pc games always have more options.
Sep 3rd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
why don’t you all go suck a dick, at least then you’ll stop talking bullshit and figure out that pc and console gaming cannot be compared… ❗
Feb 2nd, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Before i say anythin…….i wanna tell every1 that this debate between PC’s nd Consoles is NEVER ❗ ❗ ❗ going 2 end…..y, u say?
Five reasons –
a) PC’s nd consoles r never meant 2 cooperate, just like the psp nd iphone.
can u seriously make them compete. its good not 2 bring them 2geder at all.
b) Ppl in diffrnt areas of the world think differently. In US, consoles r in every household, but so r laptops, desktops nd handhelds. Nd can u really say that BD nd US r same??? i dont think so, especially in the gaming community.
c) Piracy is a top reason y PC’s r encouraged in BD(although, we say dat they r more useful nd shit), nd soon the console market will also be brought into piracy, just lyk in India.(although, not anytime soon, but the ps2 is already in piracy 🙄 🙄 )
d) Consoles nd PCs hav totally diffrnt market share values.
and
e) Come on, both need things in pros nd cons…nd gamers worldwide have been arguing bout 4 a decade nd exprts say they should NOT be mixed.
Anyways, can u really tell the parents of a 10 year old kid 2 buy a ps2, they’ll start thinkin all kinds of shit nd end up givin him a EEEpc,……….whereas we can buy wat we want, xcpt da cash is our problem now, nd we’ll think both of em r good nd bad..
i dont wanna go 2 da details, so im withdrawing from this b4 i get more annoyed…
Gonna b back when annoyance level decreases,
p.s. I PLAYED GAMES IN CONSOLES, PC’s, HANDHELDS ND I PLAYED GAMES MOST OF YOU NEVER HEARD OF…..I KNW WAT IM TALKIN BOUT ND BLV ME, PCs ND CONSOLES r NOT MEANT 2 MIX….
m ONLY goin 2 hear wat da gaminwiz says now….. 👿 👿 😈 😈 👿 👿 ➡