Games released on PC and console. How do you tell which is better?

[sygyzy]

When the Xbox and PS started gaining momentum (~5+ years ago), it was pretty obvious that games would be primarily made for one platform then "ported" to another, often with terrible results. This made it easy to figure out which system to buy the game for. For example, Deus Ex: Invisible War for the PC was terrible and you cold tell it was a direct port from the Xbox since the hacking controls relied on a circular control system, which is easy to use with joysticks, not with a mouse and keyboard.

Anyway, nowadays I am torn about which system to buy games for. I have all the game systems plus a capable PC so it's not a hardware issue. I just want the system it was developed for, not some port they made as an afterthought. In many cases I believe they are actually doing dual or triple development, concurrently. That's fine but even then there are bound to be small differences.

So how can you tell? For example, Bioshock 2 is coming out and I don't know which platform is best.

 

[shortylickens]

The PC is always better.

/thread

 

[Corporate Thug]

FPS: always PC
adventure: usually console
sports: always console

that's just my preference.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Historically, the main advantage of the console is fewer bugs. However, since more consoles are online than ever before, this advantage is slowly eroding (no need to get it right on the first try). In general, they are also easier to use.

The PC has three main advantages (in general):
-Freedom of input device (gamepad, mouse / keyboard, joystick, etc.)
-Graphics (more details, higher resolution, etc.)
-Mods (probably the biggest advantage in my opinion, modules in NWN created entirely new games, some series having 20+ hours of game time)

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Another PC advantage is unrestricted online multiplayer and the ability to interact with other players on Internet Relay Chat, voice comm servers, and discussion forums. In contrast, with some consoles you have to pay money to the console maker and then hope they'll let you access custom content and online gaming.

PC gaming is about freedom--the freedom to play online, to play mods, to play custom maps. Console gaming is about being controlled.

 

[zerocool84]

Historically, the main advantage of the console is fewer bugs. However, since more consoles are online than ever before, this advantage is slowly eroding (no need to get it right on the first try). In general, they are also easier to use.

The PC has three main advantages (in general):
-Freedom of input device (gamepad, mouse / keyboard, joystick, etc.)
-Graphics (more details, higher resolution, etc.)
-Mods (probably the biggest advantage in my opinion, modules in NWN created entirely new games, some series having 20+ hours of game time)

Yea it's sad that now since you can release updates on consoles now, we're seeing console games that are super buggy as hell.

 

[EvilComputer92]

Your not limited to 1280x720 with no anti aliasing.

 

[AdamK47]

The PC is always better.

/thread

This first reply is correct. I'm not sure why the /thread isn't working. There really isn't any reason for people to continue replying.

 

[hotpursuit]

bet all on pc! Not that consoles suck. Both has good/bad, right? For me, pc rocks at everything! From gaming to ........(list too long)........(end of list). LOL

 

[lifeobry]

Wasn't GRAW a lot better on console?

 

[Elcs]

Typically I let the big reviewers play the game and take a look at what they say. Sometimes people like IGN might cross-reference a game and say "this is different in the PC version".

I also use Anandtech. This forum is genius when it comes to telling the differences between a console version and a PC version.

After that, it is a simple weigh up of the pro's and con's as to what I choose.

Note: I do not actually own a console (besides Wii which I dont use) but I have borrowed my friends XBox/PS3 or went over to their house to play a game. I have bought a few console games solely to play on their consoles and used them in trade-in or sold on later

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Determine genre, determine lead platform.

From there, determine appropriate control scheme, and pick platform to match.

 

[Schadenfreude]

For Bioshock 2, I'd go with the PC since it is a first-person game. Of course, there's the DRM thing to consider (but that's another thread) . . ..

 

[shortylickens]

This first reply is correct. I'm not sure why the /thread isn't working. There really isn't any reason for people to continue replying.

Actually that was just my opinion and is certainly open to debate.

Overall I like shooters better on my computer, UNLESS the console control scheme was fucked up and they just ported it straight over without any fixes. Many 3rd person shooters where you automatically hug the walls are annoying. Also Mass Effect had really annoying combat. It was clunky and difficult. Good thing I liked the story so much.
Most RTS's are inferior on the consoles. Turn based RPG's are a case-by-case basis.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I absolutely refuse to play a FPS or RTS on anything except a PC. I can't imagine doing it any other way.

 

[Qbah]

The only way a game on a PC will be worse than on a console is when the port is done sloppy and there are many performance and control issues. Also, a console is just "fire and forget" - put the disc in the box and enjoy your game. So a PC is better pretty much always, in terms of visuals and controls.

Some years ago I really enjoyed "fighting" with my PC to make games run (those that had problems), but right now I just get annoyed when something's not running right. The graphics are worse and I got used to the Xbox3660 pad so I find it very fun to play on my Xbox.

Having said that, there are some games that I have no idea how they passed QA efore going retail. The amount of bugs in some of the console games is staggering.

 

[NoSoup4You]

Consoles aren't a hassle, their appeal lies in their ease of use and low cost of entry.

For pc's it requires loads of research in buying the right components. Most people don't know what a Core 2 Duo is, and they don't care. They just want it to work and they don't want to have to think about it. And don't get me started on video cards, tell someone you bought a GTX260 and they'll probably think it's a new Nissan or Infiniti.

Consoles are friggin' fantastic in so many ways, but for people that know the basics then PC gaming wins out. Except in situations where your friends are all on consoles...

 

[frozentundra123456]

Another PC advantage is unrestricted online multiplayer and the ability to interact with other players on Internet Relay Chat, voice comm servers, and discussion forums. In contrast, with some consoles you have to pay money to the console maker and then hope they'll let you access custom content and online gaming.

PC gaming is about freedom--the freedom to play online, to play mods, to play custom maps. Console gaming is about being controlled.

Actually, the developers/publishers can nerf online play and downloadable content even in a PC game. Note Modern Warfare 2. No dedicated servers or mods and had to go through steam to play even if you bought a retail disk of the game.

 

[mmntech]

FPS: always PC
adventure: usually console
sports: always console

that's just my preference.

This.

The distinction between the two isn't as cut and dry these days since there aren't as many PC exclusives coming out and most multi-platform games are direct ports with no enhancements beyond higher resolutions.

 

[Dorkenstein]

For me, PC is almost always my choice. I still need to come to grips with most pc versions being tuned town to the lowest denominator, though. I wonder, if developers weren't so rushed by publishers all the time if they could make PC versions greatly better than the console counterpart.

 

[JoshGuru7]

This first reply is correct. I'm not sure why the /thread isn't working. There really isn't any reason for people to continue replying.

But of course reality is more complicated than simplying applying your preferences to the rest of the world. People are stubbon and like to have their own preferences. There are also plenty of games that flat out don't work on PCs or are broken ports that require a controller (NBA 2k10).

So how can you tell? For example, Bioshock 2 is coming out and I don't know which platform is best.

Have they announced what DRM Bioshock 2 will be using? If the PC version will be using the same SecuROM implementation that Bioshock 1 tried then that may be a powerful incentive to pick up the console version.

Another big factor is whether you will be playing it with anybody else or not. If you'll be playing alone then the PC makes sense, but if you'll be playing with others then it also depends what they want.

 

[kalrith]

Obviously personal preference comes into play here. I would say that mods are a big draw to the PC version, which is why I bought Oblivion for the PC and not PS3. As far as knowing whether the PC or console game is less buggy with better graphics and gameplay, I'll often read reviews for each version and see if I can find reviewer comments on which is superior. Gamespot.com often mentions that.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I pretty much get the console version for online multiplayer games and the PC version for single player games. Online multiplayer on PC = hackers everywhere. But single player games on PC are great. They are usually a little cheaper, have better graphics, you can mod them, and you can control them with either a mouse or a controller (whichever one is better suited to the game).

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Actually, the developers/publishers can nerf online play and downloadable content even in a PC game. Note Modern Warfare 2. No dedicated servers or mods and had to go through steam to play even if you bought a retail disk of the game.

Right--it's the influence of consoles that encouraged and led to that. Consolization has ruined some PC games. Unreal Tournament III immediately springs to mind as game that had promise but was killed by consolization.

 

[ibex333]

Games released on PC and console. How do you tell which is better?

It's very simple. Whenever a game is released on consoles and PC, PC version is always better. I could go into a long discussion talking about "why", but there is no reason, unless we are dealing with console fanboys who are always in denial.