Why I no longer play games on PC. A discussion?

[mingsoup]

I've been buying new CPU's and GPU's for many years and every time, the newest 300$ GPU or CPU just doesn't cut it. It never has. That latest game always just doesn't run quite like I want it too. Or the card I bought, still isn't the 500$ one. Its like a serious disease I have.

On consoles, while the graphics may not be what a 3000$ PC behemouth will pump out, I don't care as I am more focuses on actually playing the game compared to trying to tweak FPS or graphics quality.

I found that starting with the 6th generation of consoles that the graphics of consoles had caught up to PC enough for me to put off the concept of PC even more. I do miss strategy. However, a great counterexample for me is Supreme Commander 2, it was still very very enjoyable for me on my 360, finding it just as addictive as a mouse and keyboard. Things like Deus Ex 3 and Sims 3, are coming to consoles and I'll most likely just play them there. I even played Thief 3 and Deus Ex 2 on my Xbox1, and found it enjoyable, rather than try beat my 7800GTX around to play them. If a game misbehaves on a console: Its not your fault, and that fares much better for my OCD. Look at Batman: Arkham Asylum, it seems as if I needed a 3000$ behemouth to get at the physics. 360, it just worked and looked great, I think.

The argument towards console grows greater for me, as the consoles are modded and I can have much more open experience with my WII and 360. An example: I am now playing GTA4 on my 360, as I can now rip to USB and not have an F16 take off, stutter and die as a result of the crap of technology that is disc media anymore.

Other things include modding. Sven Coop is something I still find incredibly intriguing on the PC.

I am more than content to play Just Cause, Fallout, Morrowind, etc on my 360. I would rather have a slightly reduced experience (if that) and not have to worry about my 350$ GPU not being good enough.
However, even at that, consoles still are missing one giant thing: Starcraft 2.

I don't know whether I should even post this, but I wanted to get some feedback on these thoughts. Its probably been talked about before and induced flame wars. I'm not totally impartial to either side, I just suppose I'd like a little feedback.

My now modest PC
E2160 OCed 3.2Ghz
2Gig DDR2-800
Geforce 7800GTX

 

[Ichigo]

You haven't bought the newest CPU/GPU for a few years it seems.

For the record I agree with some of your points. Play games on a console doesn't make me OCD like playing on a PC and trying to tweak everything, for example.

You contradict your own thesis, though, so I'm not sure what responses you expected besides the fact that current $350 CPU/GPU's are in fact, more than good enough.

 

[Tristicus]

I have a Q9300 and a 4850 that play everything I need to just fine and I've had those for 2 or 3 years now.

 

[BassBomb]

I bought a E6750 w/ 8800GT back at the end of 2006... It still is playing my games I want...

 

[DaveSimmons]

My $700 CPU + GPU from June 2008 (E8400, Radeon 4870) is fine for recent games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2.

Unless you're an utter graphics snob you can just drop the resolution -- you don't "need" to run a game at the native 19x10 of your monitor. And if you care that much about graphics you shouldn't be able to stomach the 12x7 graphics (or less) on the 360, often running at only 30 fps or below.

 

[smackababy]

My $700 CPU + GPU from June 2008 (E8400, Radeon 4870) is fine for recent games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2.

Unless you're an utter graphics snob you can just drop the resolution -- you don't "need" to run a game at the native 19x10 of your monitor. And if you care that much about graphics you shouldn't be able to stomach the 12x7 graphics (or less) on the 360, often running at only 30 fps or below.

I have to run the game at the native graphics 19x10 or it just feels small. I've no idea why either. Thankfully, I can afford to upgrade every year or two or else I'd be stuck with lowering stuff. =( Tis a strange disease.

Although, I still do enjoy playing my Xbox360 and PS3.

 

[Kabob]

This topic has been made 700 times in one form of another, either "why I'm giving up PC games" or "why PC games are better than consoles" or whatever.

I made the same switch as the OP and mostly play console games, although if I had a better computer I'd still game on both. I will upgrade for Diablo 3 when it comes out...

 

[JTsyo]

It's more of a personal issue than a PC gaming issue.

 

[purbeast0]

this discussion is going to turn south real quick and become a console vs pc war as usual...

 

[digiram]

I've played games all my life and stopped playing console games at one point right around the end of the PS1 life cycle. I got hooked on StarCraft, then Half Life, Deux Ex, etc...and gamed on pc up untill my sister in law gave me her broken 360. I started playing Gears 2, learned the controls, and was hooked. Still skeptical about fps gaming, but got MW2, and I'm hooked on this now.

I grew tired of the endless upgrading with the pc as well, probably b/c I've gotten older, have children, etc... I still play some CS:S once in a while and I'm on the SC2 beta. Can't wait for that to come up.

As much as I love gaming on the 360 right now, there's always room for some gaming on the pc as well.

 

[Thraxen]

It's bad enough when the PC elitists come over and start this crap, we don't need console gamers starting these topics up too.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

if you weren't limited by the consoles hardware you would be in the same situation. fixed hardware is nice for stability and development, though i wouldn't say not being able to improve a console's hardware is an actual advantage

 

[Saga]

Odd. The absolute oldest/weakest machine I have running out of six is a E8400 with a 280GTX in it and it still obliterates everything on the market. Thats only a $200 graphics card..

I can't quite follow your complaint.

 

[gorcorps]

This topic has been made 700 times in one form of another, either "why I'm giving up PC games" or "why PC games are better than consoles" or whatever.

No shit... these PC gamers making these 'I've jumped ship' long ass posts are getting ridiculous. Nobody cares that you're doing what millions of others before you have done.

 

[Saga]

The reality is the OP seems to fail to grasp that PC gaming is a hobby. Like all hobbies, if you no longer justify the cost and/or time invested, find a new one? Consoles may work fine for you, but the reality is I'm pretty sure the savings I've made off hours of entertainment from $5 steam sale games probably far outweighs the cost savings of buying a $500 console instead of a $1000 PC and then shelling out $70 a game for 10-20 games..

To each his own, I guess. It's a matter of perspective.

 

[mingsoup]

Also of note....I had no intention of a flame war. I just wanted a healthy discussion. Maybe some points of views of happy PC gamers, etc. Really appreciate everyone's input so far on the subject.

I suppose I do over exaggerate the price of GPU these days, maybe I've just had some bad luck, or way too OCD.

I think the discussion however is always evolving, particularly as the developers are now targeting PC very similarly to the way they target consoles. (MW2?)
When it comes down to it, I'll shell out for a new GPU for Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3.

Can't my hobby be "gaming" in all its forms.

 

[Terzo]

The reality is the OP seems to fail to grasp that PC gaming is a hobby. Like all hobbies, if you no longer justify the cost and/or time invested, find a new one? Consoles may work fine for you, but the reality is I'm pretty sure the savings I've made off hours of entertainment from $5 steam sale games probably far outweighs the cost savings of buying a $500 console instead of a $1000 PC and then shelling out $70 a game for 10-20 games..

To each his own, I guess. It's a matter of perspective.

That's a bit extreme. Since I was used to buying PC games (usually old cheaper ones too) I had a hard time accepting the cost of entering the console market. However, I was able to snag the ps3 for $267 with tax after cash back. I own 2 psn games ($5 and free) and 4 hard copies (bought at $10, $15, and $20). Entering the market 4 years late and buying older/cheaper games on sales will keep your costs down. Taking a month or longer beating each game certainly helps too.
I agree though, pc gaming doesn't need to be costly. I'm still running an old 939 x2 (bought from a friend with mobo and memory for $125) and an 8800 gt (bought used at $80). I don't play at high resolutions or new games so the hardware does fine for me. The only upgrades I've done in the past few years is buying newer and better hard drives.

As for PC vs consoles, each has exclusives that I'd love to play, but I really don't have the time to devote to each one. I love TF2 on the pc, I love Valkyria Chronicles on the ps3, and I'd love to play Halo, Zelda, Crisis Core, and Scribblenauts among others.
I reckon most people would be able to find games they love on any system/pc, and at the same time be missing out on tons of great exclusives not available to them.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

I've still got both a gaming-capable PC and consoles, but find that more of my gaming time goes to consoles as of late, mainly because I find it more relaxing to play from the comfort of my sofa than sitting in front my desk. Although admittedly, I found the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins to be a superior playing experience to the console (360) version.

 

[crisium]

StarCraft 2.

 

[zerocool84]

This is just an ever ending cycle. Console's come out and they have just as good graphics as PC's but that always changes quickly. Then it happens all over again. People forget that you can play PC games without spending a lot of money. PC gamers just spend a lot of money to be able to play games at high rez @ 60+fps which takes a lot more power obviously. 99% of console games are 720 or below and even a smaller handful are run at 60fps as most are 30fps. 720 is tiny for a PC gamer and 30fps is low for a PC gamer as well.

 

[JackBurton]

This is just an ever ending cycle. Console's come out and they have just as good graphics as PC's but that always changes quickly. Then it happens all over again. People forget that you can play PC games without spending a lot of money. PC gamers just spend a lot of money to be able to play games at high rez @ 60+fps which takes a lot more power obviously. 99% of console games are 720 or below and even a smaller handful are run at 60fps as most are 30fps. 720 is tiny for a PC gamer and 30fps is low for a PC gamer as well.

I see no point in PC gaming if you don't go big.

For me, I just LOVE the simplicity of consoles. Pick up a wireless controller, turn on the console from your couch (using the same controller) and start playing on your couch on a big HDTV. I used to be a huge PC gamer, but I've since retired my PC from gaming and I'm TOTALLY happy with my consoles now. Wouldn't go back to PC gaming for anything. I now use my PC what it was intended for, WORK.

And I love it when these people come in and think they are ELITE PC gamers with these shit boxes they build. I don't consider gaming on a budget PC really PC gaming. It's just getting by, and makes for a crappy PC gaming experience, IMO. If you are going to game on a PC, it better be all maxed all the time at 1920x1200 minimum. Otherwise it's not worth it. Now if you have a triple 30" (2560x1600) Eyefinity setup playing Modern Warfare 2 close to max settings, NOW we're talking! Other than that, not impressed with what PC gaming has to offer now.

 

[mmntech]

I gave up PC gaming for three reasons
-Cost
-DRM
-Bugs

While the PC still offers the best gaming experience IMO, from a technical standpoint, I find a lot of games on the platform have severe quality control issues. Sometimes to the point of being unplayable. DRM just threw another wrench into the gears with its numerous false alarms and harassment tactics, now with 24/7 internet required thanks to Ubisoft. Screw that. Plus, PC gaming is vary expensive. It was becoming a constant battle to keep up. Game technology was moving faster than my wallet could replenish. Consoles offer more stability, they're cheaper, and games usually work flawlessly.

That said, I have moved back to the PC a bit in the last year. Namely because of Steam. I've been able to pick up some fairly good, recent titles for dirt cheap thanks to their frequent sales.

 

[secretanchitman]

i usually play console only games on consoles (wii, 360, ps3) and pc only games on the pc. the exceptions are if the pc version is much better looking (resident evil 5 for pc, as opposed to resident evil 5 for 360/ps3).

i agree though. if you get new hardware, the chances of you getting games for it goes up a lot. i definitely wouldnt want to play newer games on older hardware - it makes my experience "blah" and just say screw it and get it on a console.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Because I have a laptop that can't handle games and a new Bravia that works wonders with consoles.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've been on game overload lately and it seems like I just don't have nearly enough time to play all my games. I built my PC in 2008 (see sig) and it plays everything I have at the highest settings. For the most part, my PC gaming is currently in the realm of MMOs (AoC and LotRO) and the occasional shooter (L4D). I have a few other recent PC games such as ArmA II, but I just can't seem to get into them. I've got a bunch of Amazon gift cards so I thought about buying a 5850 as an upgrade since I have these "free" gift cards, but I am debating whether it is worth it or not. On one hand, if I don't now, I likely won't upgrade this PC again until I replace it. But on the other hand, will I even be playing a game that will challenge a 5850 in the next couple of years? Hard telling.

My consoles are used primarily for sports games and in the case of the PS3, the GoW series as well. I REALLY like my PS3 and in the future, intend on buying most games for it. But like my other platforms (Xbox 360 and PC), I have a few games on the PS3 that I bought and because of my game backlog, haven't gotten into them yet. I'm trying to go through the GoW series in sequence, so GoW III is collecting dust while I play through I and II. I also have Assassin's Creed (just doesn't seem my style, but I need to try more) and MLB 10 The Show waiting in the wings.