PC Gaming

[CRV]

I just got into PC gaming for a few weeks and I've notice some differences between PC gaming and console gaming. The good things about PC gaming is that the games are a lot cheaper than consoles. There's also a lot more free to play games for PC. Graphics and frame rates are a lot better on PC also.

The things that I didn't like about PC gaming vs consoles is that, some games on PC isn't controller support. Most of the popular games like COD, Diablo 3 etc you can't play same screen co-op or same screen co-op split screen. The last thing is that console gaming has more people playing online.

I play BF3 and BF4 and while searching for games to join, I've notice that there's not a lot of servers and games available vs consoles. Plus a couple of weeks ago, I was happy to find out on Steam that I can download Zombie Tycoon for $5.00. I used to play Zombie Tycoon on the PS3 and was in the top 20. Downloaded the game and launch the game to play multiplayer online and there was no match to be found. Ever since I got Zombie Tycoon (3 weeks ago), I was only able to play 3 online matches.

 

[imaheadcase]

Using a control is generally considered a bad thing on PC gaming fyi. Some games are ok with it, but the ones you mention are terrible for controllers

As for games and not enough players, just depends on the game, a LOT more PC games than consoles so lots of games are just more popular than others.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I don't think that is any different on consoles. Most games these days have a short lifespan when it comes to online multiplayer. Might be more so on PC because less people to begin with in general. The popular games on PC tend to be different than they are on consoles.

Local coop on PC has always been an issue, because in the past, you just had a keyboard a mouse and a monitor. It just isn't configured really for that. I think that could change in the future though with more ppl connecting them to TV's.

Controllers are becoming more common, but almost any game can be configured for a controller by using X360ce. It's just a program you drop in your Steam games folders and configure it for your controller. You map the buttons as you want. However some games are made to be used with kb/m and translate horribly to controller, and vice versa.

There are trade offs to PC games vs console. Pros and cons to each. Really the best option is to choose games on the platform that fit your need. Some games are better on console, some on PC.

 

[CRV]

I just hope that when the new Steam Machines comes out, PC gaming will have more options sooner.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I just hope that when the new Steam Machines comes out, PC gaming will have more options sooner.

I don't see the Steam machines changing much to be honest. PC's have all kinds of options, you just have to actually look for how to do stuff because it's not a prepackaged and locked down for you like on consoles. The beauty of PC's is you can do pretty much anything you can think of. Just usually takes some googling to figure out how.

 

[CRV]

Using a control is generally considered a bad thing on PC gaming fyi. Some games are ok with it, but the ones you mention are terrible for controllers

As for games and not enough players, just depends on the game, a LOT more PC games than consoles so lots of games are just more popular than others.

Some people like me, like to plug and play on a TV screen and lay back on the couch and play, so I prefer a controller. The two games that I've mention does very well with controller support on consoles. I don't know why it would be a problem on PC.

I was thinking the same. Maybe most PC gamers likes to play different games than console gamers.

 

[CRV]

I don't think that is any different on consoles. Most games these days have a short lifespan when it comes to online multiplayer. Might be more so on PC because less people to begin with in general. The popular games on PC tend to be different than they are on consoles.

Local coop on PC has always been an issue, because in the past, you just had a keyboard a mouse and a monitor. It just isn't configured really for that. I think that could change in the future though with more ppl connecting them to TV's.

Controllers are becoming more common, but almost any game can be configured for a controller by using X360ce. It's just a program you drop in your Steam games folders and configure it for your controller. You map the buttons as you want. However some games are made to be used with kb/m and translate horribly to controller, and vice versa.

There are trade offs to PC games vs console. Pros and cons to each. Really the best option is to choose games on the platform that fit your need. Some games are better on console, some on PC.

Nicely said and done, but yeah I hope that in the future PC can have more options. That's if they want to compete with consoles.

 

[CRV]

I don't see the Steam machines changing much to be honest. PC's have all kinds of options, you just have to actually look for how to do stuff because it's not a prepackaged and locked down for you like on consoles. The beauty of PC's is you can do pretty much anything you can think of. Just usually takes some googling to figure out how.

That is true, but I wish they can just have the games package the same in all platforms. Why have co-op same screen play on consoles and not on PC? Doesn't make any sense. Maybe back in the days, when you play with a mouse and keyboard, but it's 2014. If PC wants to compete and have more people switch over, they should have same features as consoles.

 

[ImpulsE69]

That is true, but I wish they can just have the games package the same in all platforms. Why have co-op same screen play on consoles and not on PC? Doesn't make any sense. Maybe back in the days, when you play with a mouse and keyboard, but it's 2014. If PC wants to compete and have more people switch over, they should have same features as consoles.

Well first off though, PC's aren't trying to compete with consoles. That is not what it is about. PC's are machines that game in addition to everything else, not game systems. It is the consoles that are competing with PC's, that is why they are making them more like PC's not the other way around...and even that is a stretch to say they are competing against PC's. They are really only competing amongst the other consoles.

 

[Majcric]

It takes some time, but M/KB will grow on you and then you'll dislike a controller for the most part. To me, controllers feel awkward and laggy. The only games I prefer a controller are fighting games. Believe it or not I can even drive better M/KB in racing/driving games.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Personally, I am terrible with controllers, and I have some overuse problems with my thumbs that make using the thumb buttons on a controller actually painful, so using a mouse/kb is one of the major plusses for the PC to me, along with the cheaper and much wider variety of games.

I do agree with you however, about the lack of split screen co-op on the PC. It just seems absurd that with all the processing power of a PC that you cannot do this for most games. It is even more aggravating that even LAN co-op between 2 separate computers has pretty much disappeared. So not only do you have to have 2 gaming capable PCs but also 2 copies of the game for 2 people in the same household to play co-op or against each other. This has been one of my pet peeves against PC gaming for quite a while now.

 

[rgallant]

Some people like me, like to plug and play on a TV screen and lay back on the couch and play, so I prefer a controller. The two games that I've mention does very well with controller support on consoles. I don't know why it would be a problem on PC.

I was thinking the same. Maybe most PC gamers likes to play different games than console gamers.

if given a choice
what is your pc spec's ?
why not try some new games on your pc

"controller support on consoles". like in auto aim ?

most people on pc's like a oldish 3 game series called STALKERS [google]
a mod single player only was released today ,follow it for a few weeks if it looks good to you give it a try. free btw should have added it's a stand alone as in the game is not required [14ish gb]
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=388057&page=3
only pic's so far post 55

 

[JamesV]

Some people like me, like to plug and play on a TV screen and lay back on the couch and play, so I prefer a controller. The two games that I've mention does very well with controller support on consoles. I don't know why it would be a problem on PC.

I was thinking the same. Maybe most PC gamers likes to play different games than console gamers.

In the game Battlefield Bad Company 2, my Xbox 360 stats were something like 17% accuracy; on the PC my stats were like 41% accuracy using a mouse and keyboard.

If you like using a controller, go right ahead, but you are missing one of the major advantages of PC gaming, which you might want to at least try out first. KB/M gives far greater precise control in shooters than any controller. It will take a while to get used to, but that huge increase in accuracy will make going back to a controller a hard thing to swallow (as when I go to friends houses to play 360 games).

 

[shadow9d9]

The biggest advantage, imo, that PCs have is the sheer amount of indies and mods available. Also, it has a wider variety of genres(4x, point and click adventures, RTS, games with larger player counts).

 

[Lil Frier]

It takes some time, but M/KB will grow on you and then you'll dislike a controller for the most part. To me, controllers feel awkward and laggy. The only games I prefer a controller are fighting games. Believe it or not I can even drive better M/KB in racing/driving games.

It's very dependent on your lifestyle, though. Like I've said in the past, I've always used my PC from a bed. There's no point in time where a mouse and keyboard is comfortable on a bed, but that's how my room was set up. I've since rearranged it for my Kinect/Xbox One, and while I now have a chair and table to use my mouse and keyboard on, it's still not AS comfortable to use (it's a small table, so it's fairly cramped), when compared to sitting back, putting my feet up, and using a controller.

My preference on PC really comes down to older games that are on deep Steam discounts, like when I got the GotY edition of Dishonored for $13.49. I'm sure there's a nice benefit of comfort for many who have a nice setup for a PC, but when you're in a limited spatial area (like a bedroom), you have a tough time getting a decent PC gaming setup. I can do it for something like WoW, where it's fairly slow-moving, but playing an FPS in my room would suck (I tried with CS:GO).

 

[xantub]

Like I said in another very similar thread ("thinking of retiring from PC gaming", check it out, it's in this or the 'console' forum), the main difference of PCs and Consoles is not the technology but the games that are made for them. Consoles: Shooters, platformers, sports, 3rd person action/adventure. PCs: Strategy, RPGs, MMOs, RTS, etc. There are overlaps of course, but for these types of games, a mouse+keyboard works much better than a controller would.

Personally I play both, when I just want to lay down and play on the TV, I play my PS3. When I want to play more involved games, I play in the PC.

 

[DC 10]

Hi

think mouse/Keyboard is a lot faster - the controller, but I will ask in other forum -
Dan

 

[PrincessFrosty]

PCs can already be played on a TV with video and audio out capable of being patched to your entertainment system.

There's hundreds of gaming peripherals for the PC including controllers, those which arent officially supported by games can often be configured to simply act as a keyboard input that allows them to work with basically any game.

Generally speaking the keyboard and mouse are vastly superiour control methods to controllers for the majority of games, it takes longer to learn and get good with but controllers simply cannot compete with mouse/keyboard controls.

If you're a sofa/tv kinda guy you can totally arrange that with PCs, I have my HDMI out patched to my living room projector where I throw a 125" screen and use a home theatre audio system for audio, I play from my sofa with a PS3 controller which you can get to work wirelessly with your PC using a USB bluetooth adaptor and some software. There really is no way (other than usability) that PCs don't already dominate consoles, the idea that PCs need to compete in some way is simply not true, they're far superiour in almost all regards.

 

[BrightCandle]

About the only thing I don't think you can do with a PC in regards to the sofa is compete in multiplayer. While you can play BF4 on the sofa with a controller you can't do so and do well. The KB+M guys are going to take your head more often than not. Which basically says the one advantage that the console players have is they are all using controllers that cripples everyones ability to aim almost evenly. The steam controller might change this a bit however, its quite a bit better than a basic controller and should be more competitive although still I think it wont be viable.

 

[CRV]

if given a choice
what is your pc spec's ?
why not try some new games on your pc

"controller support on consoles". like in auto aim ?

most people on pc's like a oldish 3 game series called STALKERS [google]
a mod single player only was released today ,follow it for a few weeks if it looks good to you give it a try. free btw should have added it's a stand alone as in the game is not required [14ish gb]
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=388057&page=3
only pic's so far post 55

i5 4440 with Nvidia GTX 760.
My two favorte games on console was the Battlefield series and Madden. Found out the PC doesn't have the latest Madden games. Now and days I don't have the patient for story games.

 

[CRV]

It takes some time, but M/KB will grow on you and then you'll dislike a controller for the most part. To me, controllers feel awkward and laggy. The only games I prefer a controller are fighting games. Believe it or not I can even drive better M/KB in racing/driving games.

Maybe I'm just to used to a controller. I do have a wireless keyboard and mouse, and did tried to get used to it, but I just hate the fact that I'm using a mouse and keyboard to play video games. Plus it felt awkward. With a controller, every button seems close to reach and it feels much comfortable in the hands vs a mouse and keyboard.

I know that a lot of people have mention that a mouse and keyboard is much better than a controller with fps, but I feel that the more that I get used to a controller on the PC, I will be fine. Maybe some people are just better at one thing then the other.

I'm getting a bit better now with a controller on PC with BF4, since my upgrades on guns and attachments. I was level 55 on the PS4. Started from level 1 on PC with a controller was a bit difficult.

 

[Phanuel]

I know that a lot of people have mention that a mouse and keyboard is much better than a controller with fps, but I feel that the more that I get used to a controller on the PC, I will be fine. Maybe some people are just better at one thing then the other.

You'll never be competitive with a controller on a platform designed for keyboard and mouse unfortunately. The control schemes aren't close enough in relative precision or speed.

 

[BladeVenom]

If you're going to play online, you better start using a mouse and keyboard.

 

[CRV]

I love the mouse, but hate the keyboard.

 

[rgallant]

I love the mouse, but hate the keyboard.

could try a G13
I map all the keys to a profile ,start the game keys remap to the profile
the little joy stick for me are 4 buttons that my thumb can flick/push [7 easy thumb keys in total]in the middle of a fire fight and not move my fingers off the wsad keys
love it.
also the G13 and mouse pad allows for arms straight out vs spread out [kb + mouse pad inches]
g15 sits above the tray for slow typing or non mapped keys for the game