Switch from Console to PC gaming? NPR wants to hear from you...

[GTaudiophile]

Reporter Laura Sydell is looking for people who used to play video games on consoles but now prefer to play on the PC for an NPR story.

Please email nprcrowdsource@npr.org with the subject "PC Gamer" to share your story.

 

[JBT]

Anything specific?

 

[Sonikku]

I moved from consoles to PC's because it's much more affordable.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I've always been both, but moved into PC much more heavily over the past couple of years.

 

[IronWing]

I used to play Odyssey and Intellivision but now play PC games. Should I tell my story?

Laura: So, why did you switch?
Ironwing: I don't have a TV set.

 

[NutBucket]

I moved from consoles to PC's because it's much more affordable.

That's funny because I feel its cheaper to be a console gamer. But I guess if you take something like Steam into account PC does have an advantage. I just hate having to deal wtih constant hardware upgrades. Plus I'd rather lounge on my couch instead of being at a desk.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I've always been both, but moved into PC much more heavily over the past couple of years.

Same here. I can't play first person games on consoles at all - I'm awful with dual thumbsticks for moving and aiming at the same time. Also, most of my gaming has transitioned into online co-op campaigns with my friends who don't live locally anymore. We all already have gaming PCs, so it's much cheaper to get all of us together on PC than a specific console. There are also considerably more co-op games on PC - mostly indies that cost less than the few options on consoles.

 

[Imaginer]

That's funny because I feel its cheaper to be a console gamer. But I guess if you take something like Steam into account PC does have an advantage. I just hate having to deal wtih constant hardware upgrades. Plus I'd rather lounge on my couch instead of being at a desk.

I lounge on my couch. My workstation is on a mobile table that pulls in front of the couch. My TV also has a PC hooked to it. I seldomly need a hard surface desk (not like I do paperwork much anymore).

Wireless trackball and keyboard makes this possible.

As for upgrading, it is about on par if not cheaper pending on the cost of video card or cards of choice and their intended life span for the performance. It is no different than a console. Hell, a HD5850 is still good today and my HD6950 is still good too.

 

[DesiPower]

I moved from consoles to PC's because it's much more affordable.

 

[DesiPower]

That's funny because I feel its cheaper to be a console gamer. But I guess if you take something like Steam into account PC does have an advantage. I just hate having to deal wtih constant hardware upgrades. Plus I'd rather lounge on my couch instead of being at a desk.

PC's can be connected to TV/Projectors and Logitech and MS make the same kind of wireless controllers.

 

[CZroe]

That'd be me except. I haven't had time for either in ages.

Still like to play the classics on their respective consoles but anything modern I prefer on PC.

 

[Linflas]

Haha when I moved from console to "PC" it was from Atari 2600 to Atari ST then to 486 PC etc.

 

[dennilfloss]

I switched from a SNES to my Windows 98 computer to play Might & Magic VI. Never went back to consoles (but I still play my SNES games on the SNES once in a while).

 

[lxskllr]

Atari2600 was the last console I had. I don't like special purpose appliances. A computer does what I need, and is the better choice for the type of games I like. PC gaming can be cheaper. It depends on what games you get. You get some of your money back for the other things a PC can do also.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Never been into consoles as they limit your freedom when it comes both hardware and software.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I never was into consoles in the first place outside of like ... playing NES or Sega Genesis with bro/sister/friends as a kid.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

That's funny because I feel its cheaper to be a console gamer. But I guess if you take something like Steam into account PC does have an advantage. I just hate having to deal wtih constant hardware upgrades. Plus I'd rather lounge on my couch instead of being at a desk.

People assume console gaming is cheaper because consoles are cheaper than gaming computers. The problem with that logic is that gaming computers are standalone machines whereas consoles need to be connected to existing infrastructure; a TV, monitor or projector. And those things aren't free. But because most people already have that infrastructure in place, they don't treat that as part of the cost of console gaming.

You mention lounging on your couch to play your console (I'm assuming on a TV). The console (let's go with the recently-released PS4) is $400; spendy, but not bad for the hardware you get. Another $60 for a game, and you're good to go. But that TV and couch weren't free; let's assume at least a few hundred bucks for each. And now you're looking at a console (and furnished living room to play it in) costing closer to $1000. I admit, I don't usually bother factoring room cost into my ideas of whether gaming is cheaper on PC or console, but I'd be remiss to ignore the fact that my home theater cost more than twice as much as my PC did, and without it, my console gaming experience would be drastically diminished.

 

[Yreka]

I've always been both, but moved into PC much more heavily over the past couple of years.

Same.. primarily in my case due to game pricing and availability (Steam).. The console hardware is also getting a bit long in the tooth being at the end of the cycle.. Games are noticeably better on PC, especially load times.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I've been both concurrently for a while now. With the huge number of xbox games also enjoying PC releases these days, I'm debating whether or not I need to hop onto the next gen bandwagon this time. I already have my gaming PC attached to an HDTV, and I already use an Xbox 360 controller with it on games that play best that way. I'm wondering what the next gen systems will offer besides somewhat poorer graphics. The PS4 is somewhat attractive because it's exclusives rarely make it to PC though.

 

[Doppel]

People assume console gaming is cheaper because consoles are cheaper than gaming computers. The problem with that logic is that gaming computers are standalone machines whereas consoles need to be connected to existing infrastructure; a TV, monitor or projector. And those things aren't free. But because most people already have that infrastructure in place, they don't treat that as part of the cost of console gaming.

You mention lounging on your couch to play your console (I'm assuming on a TV). The console (let's go with the recently-released PS4) is $400; spendy, but not bad for the hardware you get. Another $60 for a game, and you're good to go. But that TV and couch weren't free; let's assume at least a few hundred bucks for each. And now you're looking at a console (and furnished living room to play it in) costing closer to $1000. I admit, I don't usually bother factoring room cost into my ideas of whether gaming is cheaper on PC or console, but I'd be remiss to ignore the fact that my home theater cost more than twice as much as my PC did, and without it, my console gaming experience would be drastically diminished.

99% of PC gamers have a couch and tv so it absolutely does not make sense to consider those as part of the price of the console. Do you consider a flight to LA $25k because the ticket is $400 and the car $24.6k?

Unless a person has extra console specific hardware it is much cheaper than PC gaming.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

99% of PC gamers have a couch and tv so it absolutely does not make sense to consider those as part of the price of the console. Do you consider a flight to LA $25k because the ticket is $400 and the car $24.6k?

Unless a person has extra console specific hardware it is much cheaper than PC gaming.

OK, but you literally cannot pick up a $400 console and play it without attaching it to some form of monitor. If you're going to factor the price of a monitor into the price of a PC (and why wouldn't you) then you have to consider it for the console as well. And while we're on the subject of multitasking, I can use my PC for things other than gaming; general surfing, office work, etc. Granted, consoles are moving in that direction as well, but good luck writing a paper or editing expense reports on a PS4. Can I deduct the times I use my PC as a computer and not a gaming machine from the overall cost? No, that's silly. Then why does it make sense to not factor in the cost of the TV that is required to play a console?

I'm not going to argue that it's cheaper to game on a PC than on a console. But I also think it's a ridiculous argument to claim that it's cheaper to game on a console than a PC. They both have fairly similar costs that can vary based on how dedicated people want to be (thousands of dollars in PC components vs. thousands of dollars on home theater equipment). Saying one or the other is absolutely cheaper is just silly.

 

[CZroe]

If you buy a lot of games and buy them to keep, a gaming PC of equivalent performance can be a LOT cheaper.

When Circuit City was still around I was getting the same new releases consoles would get for 50% of the price or even lower. Orange Box was $35 at launch ($60 on consoles) and only $15 days later on Black Friday. I got Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for $16 less than a week after launch. Shadowrun was less than $10 while it was still $60 on 360 (1st game with Windows vs. 360 online play). Even with the current consoles, buying only exclusives on the consoles and all multiplatform ports on PC has more than paid off my PC hardware.

Hope you had fun paying $60 for inferior versions of Batman Arkham [X], Grand Theft Auto IV, Crysis, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Gears of War, etc this past generation.

Let's not forget that the vast majority of console households have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard.

 

[Rebel44]

People assume console gaming is cheaper because consoles are cheaper than gaming computers. The problem with that logic is that gaming computers are standalone machines whereas consoles need to be connected to existing infrastructure; a TV, monitor or projector. And those things aren't free. But because most people already have that infrastructure in place, they don't treat that as part of the cost of console gaming.

You mention lounging on your couch to play your console (I'm assuming on a TV). The console (let's go with the recently-released PS4) is $400; spendy, but not bad for the hardware you get. Another $60 for a game, and you're good to go. But that TV and couch weren't free; let's assume at least a few hundred bucks for each. And now you're looking at a console (and furnished living room to play it in) costing closer to $1000. I admit, I don't usually bother factoring room cost into my ideas of whether gaming is cheaper on PC or console, but I'd be remiss to ignore the fact that my home theater cost more than twice as much as my PC did, and without it, my console gaming experience would be drastically diminished.

Also, lots of console players have both XB and PS which move hardware cost much closer to price of PC.

 

[ElFenix]

99% of PC gamers have a couch and tv so it absolutely does not make sense to consider those as part of the price of the console. Do you consider a flight to LA $25k because the ticket is $400 and the car $24.6k?

Unless a person has extra console specific hardware it is much cheaper than PC gaming.

yes, but by the same token most people already have a computer so the only added hardware expense is usually a graphics card. for 1080p gaming a $200 card plays most games more than fine.

 

[Phoenix86]

99% of PC gamers have a couch and tv so it absolutely does not make sense to consider those as part of the price of the console. Do you consider a flight to LA $25k because the ticket is $400 and the car $24.6k?

Unless a person has extra console specific hardware it is much cheaper than PC gaming.

Do you only use a gaming computer for gaming, or do you also use it as your every day browser/streaming video/e-mail/word/excel computer?

You have to factor in the multi-use aspects of each, the TV and the computer.

Gaming computers cost $3-600 more than an every day use computer, which is very close to the cost of the console.