Why do you guys play a console instead of PC?

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Rudee
I don't own a console so maybe someone can tell me why a console can run a game with good fps whereas the same game on a PC is slow? What kinds of processors/ram/video cards are on consoles such as PS3 that can make them perform better than a PC?

The answer should be quite obvious when you ask yourself this question: What's easier to program for: A console with a single static configuration or (literally) 15 million different possible PC hardware configurations?

When a developer puts a game out on a 360 or PS3, they know exactly what kind of performance they can expect out of the console. For all they know, you stuffed a PB&J sandwich into your PC when you built it.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Seems the graphics would be worse. Gameplay being the same/worse is debatable.

I'm contemplating an Xbox 360 simply to game on my 61" tv.

instead? who says console gamers arnt also PC gamers...
Console games are different animals. I play much different titles on the 360 than I do on my PC.

PC are for real shooters none of this console crap with the lame controller.. Halo is lame as hell so is CoD4 for console.. other high end games that require more horse power, MMOs, and other deeper games than the consoles have.

Console is for driving games, lighter RPGs, Rock band, Sports games, and other games that dont suck with no mouse/keyboard and lower res than the PC.

totally different style games Consoles are great for get together and parties as you dont want to cluster around your PC to play a party game.

 

[Deeko]

#1 Money - I build a top of the line PC six years ago. It cost almost $2,000. It was out of date about 4 years ago. Hell, it didn't even do that well with Doom3, not even two years later.
#2 Games - the only games I preferred on PC were FPS games, and I still do - but if more console games allow keyboard/mouse like UT3, that could go away.
#3 Setup - I like my SXRD + HT system. I don't feel like dragging my PC into another room and hooking it up to the TV every time I want to play a game.
#4 Ease of use - less dealing with patches and drivers and incompatibilities and all that stuff that comes with PC gaming

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Deeko
#1 Money - I build a top of the line PC six years ago. It cost almost $2,000. It was out of date about 4 years ago. Hell, it didn't even do that well with Doom3, not even two years later.
#2 Games - the only games I preferred on PC were FPS games, and I still do - but if more console games allow keyboard/mouse like UT3, that could go away.
#3 Setup - I like my SXRD + HT system. I don't feel like dragging my PC into another room and hooking it up to the TV every time I want to play a game.
#4 Ease of use - less dealing with patches and drivers and incompatibilities and all that stuff that comes with PC gaming

If you paid that much to update a gaming PC you got robbed.
I just updated my GFs PC this weekend to a C2D with 4 gigs of ram and a new MB with a new 8800 GTS 512 all out the door for 600.

 

[Deeko]

It wasn't an update, it was a brand new box. This was early-mid 2002 - Athlon XP 2200, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1GB RAM....all top o' the line back then. I upgraded it for probably 500-600 about three years later. It's all but useless now - in March I got a Dell XPS M1530 gaming laptop and destroys it in every way. All in all, that's $4,000 in six years. That's a lot of money. It is really undeniable that in order to play the latest PC games as they're meant to be played, it's FAR more money than consoles.

 

[Schadenfroh]

This was early-mid 2002 - Athlon XP 2200, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1GB RAM....all top o' the line back then. I upgraded it for probably 500-600 about three years later. It's all but useless now - in March I got a Dell XPS M1530 gaming laptop and destroys it in every way. All in all, that's $4,000 in six years.

Does that $4000 include the cost of the gaming laptop? I do not believe that it is applicable to compare the price of a gaming laptop to a 360 and PS3.

It is really undeniable that in order to play the latest PC games as they're meant to be played

You would likely not need all of that graphical horse power if you played your PC games on your big screen HDTV while sitting on your comfy couch with your 360 controller (or a TV tray with a wireless mouse / keyboard if that is what you are into). Most (modern) console games are 720P (1280x720, iirc), I assume that you are playing the PC games at around 1600x1200 or above? You will likely need far less expensive hardware to play at 720P on your HDTV with AF and FSAA disabled, since I doubt that many console games use 16X AF or 8X FSAA. When running games with those settings, a gaming HTPC's hardware is likely not that much more than a 60gb PS3 at launch (assuming you already have a HDD, case, and HDTV). But yes, it is much more expensive if you want to play everything at max details @ 1600x1200 (or above) with FSAA and AF on the latest titles.

 

[Deeko]

Yes, that includes the laptop - my desktop was beyond the point of upgrading, I would have had to replace basically everything but the case, so it would have cost me a decent chunk of change to "upgrade" the desktop. To be fair, the "gaming laptop" is not on par with the latest desktops, so I spent $1500 but still didn't get something that's going to blast through Crysis without breaking a sweat. If I wanted to actually upgrade to near-top-of-the-line PC gaming, it would have cost just as much...just a desktop, not a laptop.

My TV supports 1080p. Some PS3 games output in 1080p, some don't, but either way its high resolution and would require a pretty expensive system to really surpass it. A top of the line graphics card alone costs more than a PS3. Plus, games are always getting better and better on PC, so it's a trade off - how much are you willing to sacrifice in quality before you upgrade? See my Doom3 reference - my "top of the line system" that was barely two years old couldn't handle Doom3 with all the details turned up.

 

[Piuc2020]

Remember that you can also plug a PC to a TV and play on a couch

I'd say the biggest reasons would be ease of use and exclusive games, the social aspect is a bonus too.

 

[BoberFett]

Sheer simplicity.

I've been playing consoles since the 2600, but was pretty hardcore into PCs at about the time 3D hardware started showing up. The Voodoo2 was my first 3D card and I got into it pretty heavily for a number of years.

Nowadays I just like to pop in a disc and play. It just works. And with Xbox Live and the Xbox dashboard MS has really nailed it as far as usability goes. Totally integrated friends list, online play, voice chat, downloadables. It's not perfect, but there isn't too much more I could ask for. Did I mention it just works? I've been lucky and not seen the RRoD, not sure if that would sour me at all, but it can't be any worse than the pain of getting some games to work on the PC.

 

[coreyb]

Originally posted by: Jules

Originally posted by: JE78
I was strictly a PC gamer until earlier this year. My wife wanted a Wii so we got one and the social aspect was great. We would have people over and spend hours playing Wii sports and Guitar Hero. Shortly after that I bought a PS3 for its blu-ray capability's, I also picked up MLB 08 The Show and it blew me away. It was the first console sports game I had played in years. After that I picked up Burnout: Paradise City and its nice to sit on my couch with a wireless controller, a 42" HDTV and surround sound. My PC is no slouch, and I have a 22" monitor but for games like that I would rather play them on a console. I still play FPS on my PC because I can't get used to the controls on consoles, I need a keyboard and mouse. I also play Race SIMS on my PC with my G25 wheel/pedal combo because all the race games on a console are very arcadeish.

Then you really haven't played many of them at all.

Originally posted by: coreyb
Same here, I've tried many times but I just can't accept using a controller for fps' games.

You mean you just suck at it? Ive played COD4 for the PS3/360/PC and didn't have a issue with any of them.

No I don't suck at it at all. It's just if I have a choice between to two, it's far more comfortable and fun to use my computer. It's what I'm used to!

 

[coreyb]

I also prefer the computer because most of the time it looks better. Gaming at 1920x1200 with AA and AF maxed looks much better then gaming on my PS3.

 

[Wuzup101]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
As far as my personal tastes. I generally will buy the console version of a game for several reasons:
4) NO DRM to deal with ++++++++

You do not think that consoles have DRM?

Not to the extent that it ruins my gaming experience. When my xbox 360 starts telling me how many different xbox 360's I can play the game that I paid for on... then there will be a problem. For now... all I need to know is that with the disc in hand... I can play it anywhere/anytime.

I should have highlighted the "limited install" DRM... which is really what I was referring to. I could care less about the DRM that "prevents" me from copying the 360 disc that I purchased (as I have no reason to do that...).

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Deeko
It wasn't an update, it was a brand new box. This was early-mid 2002 - Athlon XP 2200, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1GB RAM....all top o' the line back then. I upgraded it for probably 500-600 about three years later. It's all but useless now - in March I got a Dell XPS M1530 gaming laptop and destroys it in every way. All in all, that's $4,000 in six years. That's a lot of money. It is really undeniable that in order to play the latest PC games as they're meant to be played, it's FAR more money than consoles.

4k in 6 years? man good thing youre not into RC Helicopters for a hobby I spend that in 6 months.

blades alone are 140 bucks a set =P

I dont find 4k over 6 years to be anything to even blink about.. thats not that much cash these days.

and if you factor in the amount of time you used those items the cost per minute of entertainment goes way way down.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Sheer simplicity.

I've been playing consoles since the 2600, but was pretty hardcore into PCs at about the time 3D hardware started showing up. The Voodoo2 was my first 3D card and I got into it pretty heavily for a number of years.

Nowadays I just like to pop in a disc and play. It just works. And with Xbox Live and the Xbox dashboard MS has really nailed it as far as usability goes. Totally integrated friends list, online play, voice chat, downloadables. It's not perfect, but there isn't too much more I could ask for. Did I mention it just works? I've been lucky and not seen the RRoD, not sure if that would sour me at all, but it can't be any worse than the pain of getting some games to work on the PC.

I think Bober nailed it for me. Not to mention it looks SWEET on my living room TV.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Sheer simplicity.

I've been playing consoles since the 2600, but was pretty hardcore into PCs at about the time 3D hardware started showing up. The Voodoo2 was my first 3D card and I got into it pretty heavily for a number of years.

Nowadays I just like to pop in a disc and play. It just works. And with Xbox Live and the Xbox dashboard MS has really nailed it as far as usability goes. Totally integrated friends list, online play, voice chat, downloadables. It's not perfect, but there isn't too much more I could ask for. Did I mention it just works? I've been lucky and not seen the RRoD, not sure if that would sour me at all, but it can't be any worse than the pain of getting some games to work on the PC.

Exactly. It's not that the PC isnt technically capable of auto-patching, auto-driver downloading, separate voice chat channels, friends lists etc - theres just no central body thats stepped up to the plate to integrate it all. Steam is getting there, but its a long ways away from XBL.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
Racing games on the PC overall are a tragedy, they can't come close to the consoles offerings on... well..... anything. Even the 'strong' PC category, sims, aren't remotely close to an actual simulator(I own a few of the cars that some of the 'best' PC sims have used, and they aren't remotely close to right on handling dynamics, looks like they read a magazine article and guessed).

What do consoles have to offer in competition with GTR2, Live4Speed and rFactor? I'm debating a new console in the near future, and racing is a top priority.

 

[syn0s]

Oh boy.. here we go again :roll:

First things first (and I LOVE this quote):

Buying and playing games for graphics is like paying a hooker for conversation.

You are totally missing the point of gaming.

It's different for everyone and IMHO the OP is ignorant for even considering one being better than the other.

For myself:

1. I sit in front of a PC for about 12 hours a day for work anyways. Last thing I want to do it play on the PC at home.

2. Someone else said Sheer Simplicity - I would have to agree. Forget drivers and the upgrade cycle..

3. Games - Most PC games are played out for me. It's nothing more than an MMORPG/RTS machine now. Even then, RTS are manageable on consoles and FPS do equally as well on consoles with a few exceptions.

Don't get me wrong.. I've done my fair share of PC gaming (played Quake/TF for 9 years) and I was actually contemplating buying another gaming PC until just barely.

Heck, I even bought a CPU/GPU/Mobo/RAM and just need the case, PSU and HDD. I'm going to sell off the parts though since my 360 is collecting dust. If I do finish the build, I know for a fact I'll never use it anyways.

Just my .02

 

[Jules]

Games.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Deeko
It wasn't an update, it was a brand new box. This was early-mid 2002 - Athlon XP 2200, Radeon 9700 Pro, 1GB RAM....all top o' the line back then. I upgraded it for probably 500-600 about three years later. It's all but useless now - in March I got a Dell XPS M1530 gaming laptop and destroys it in every way. All in all, that's $4,000 in six years. That's a lot of money. It is really undeniable that in order to play the latest PC games as they're meant to be played, it's FAR more money than consoles.

4k in 6 years? man good thing youre not into RC Helicopters for a hobby I spend that in 6 months.

blades alone are 140 bucks a set =P

I dont find 4k over 6 years to be anything to even blink about.. thats not that much cash these days.

and if you factor in the amount of time you used those items the cost per minute of entertainment goes way way down.

Uhhhh, dude, what does that have to do with anything? Consoles cost between $300-$600 every 5 or so years, depending on which one you go with. I'm not sure how your math skills are, but that's a whole lot less than $4000.

That aside....$4000 just for the base hardware, not including games, peripherals, subscriptions, etc.....that is NOT cheap. If you have that much expendable income that you think it is, congrats, but it's still a lot of money.

 

[Stuxnet]

Simple: The best games are now coming out on consoles more often than PC, and Xbox Live can't be touched.

 

[Piuc2020]

Originally posted by: syn0s
Oh boy.. here we go again :roll:

First things first (and I LOVE this quote):

Buying and playing games for graphics is like paying a hooker for conversation.

You are totally missing the point of gaming.

It's different for everyone and IMHO the OP is ignorant for even considering one being better than the other.

For myself:

1. I sit in front of a PC for about 12 hours a day for work anyways. Last thing I want to do it play on the PC at home.

2. Someone else said Sheer Simplicity - I would have to agree. Forget drivers and the upgrade cycle..

3. Games - Most PC games are played out for me. It's nothing more than an MMORPG/RTS machine now. Even then, RTS are manageable on consoles and FPS do equally as well on consoles with a few exceptions.

Don't get me wrong.. I've done my fair share of PC gaming (played Quake/TF for 9 years) and I was actually contemplating buying another gaming PC until just barely.

Heck, I even bought a CPU/GPU/Mobo/RAM and just need the case, PSU and HDD. I'm going to sell off the parts though since my 360 is collecting dust. If I do finish the build, I know for a fact I'll never use it anyways.

Just my .02

I get your point but obviously you must not like games if you can "manage" playing RTS on a console, a FPS I can get, the control is worse but the games are still fun but RTS are beyond horrible on a gamepad.

 

[syn0s]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020

I get your point but obviously you must not like games if you can "manage" playing RTS on a console, a FPS I can get, the control is worse but the games are still fun but RTS are beyond horrible on a gamepad.

LOL.. Insinuating that I "don't like games" because I can manage to control RTS games on consoles? Pssh... I wont even make a comment.

Face it. Take a look at some of the games coming out for consoles that are in the RTS market:

Halo Wars, Tom Clancy's EndWar, Red Alert 3 (even if it is a port), Universe at War, etc.

They are all on the console or coming to console for a reason.

...and when it comes to FPS games, the thumbsticks are fine. It does take some adapting, but nobody was good when they first picked up a mouse and keyboard now were they? Skill comes with practice and that's all there is to it. It also gives everyone an even battlefield so you don't have to rely on twitch movements in order to do well.

 

[abhinit90]

I like gaming on consoles.......as consoles are generally no only for gaming......but double up as a HTPC...(owner of a ps3)

also i dont have to worry about updating my concole like the pc has to be done.........

also i am saved form the hassles that occur from complication on a pc.....for eg:- sometimes a game that should run stutters.......you find out that there is a driver issue with your motherboard or your set of graphics card........then you have to update it and all.....

BTW i may be wrong but gaming on a console is FAR less tedious than gaming on a pc......

This is coming from a person who was gaming on a pc since 7 yrs.......and has joined the console (ps3) bandwagon recently.......

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: syn0s

Originally posted by: Piuc2020

I get your point but obviously you must not like games if you can "manage" playing RTS on a console, a FPS I can get, the control is worse but the games are still fun but RTS are beyond horrible on a gamepad.

LOL.. Insinuating that I "don't like games" because I can manage to control RTS games on consoles? Pssh... I wont even make a comment.

Face it. Take a look at some of the games coming out for consoles that are in the RTS market:

Halo Wars, Tom Clancy's EndWar, Red Alert 3 (even if it is a port), Universe at War, etc.

They are all on the console or coming to console for a reason.

...and when it comes to FPS games, the thumbsticks are fine. It does take some adapting, but nobody was good when they first picked up a mouse and keyboard now were they? Skill comes with practice and that's all there is to it. It also gives everyone an even battlefield so you don't have to rely on twitch movements in order to do well.

What do consoles have to compare with Neverwinter Nights / NWN2, The Witcher, Baldur's Gate series, etc?

 

[BenSkywalker]

What do consoles have to compare with Neverwinter Nights / NWN2, The Witcher, Baldur's Gate series, etc?

Baldur's Gate for starters, KoTOR and Jade Empire are also along those lines(Jade Empire probably moreso then KoTOR).