Why use a PC for gaming?

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Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Originally posted by: Gimli
A true gamer will have all the consoles, pc and other electronic to play video games. So this thread really doesn't matter to me which one is better than the other. ;)

FTW!

I have a nice gaming PC, I have all 3 (soon to be 4) consoles.

But this is for the PC fanboys:
  • My PC chair is comfy, my couch is even more so.
    My 21" monitor is nice, my 52" widescreen HDTV is better.
    My soundsystem on the PC is circa late 70s and sounds awesome(265w Sansui amp and Pioneer towers), my Onkyo 5.1 digital surround easily bests it, plus I don't need 3 analog connectors or a special "Creative" cable to get surround.
    I'm good at shooters with my kb/mouse, and just as good with an xbox pad (PS2 pads hurt my hands :( )
    I can fit 3 or 4 people on my couch to play party games on the afore mentioned 52" HDTV, I can only fit me on my PC chair and it's difficult to crowd 4 people around a 21" screen, plus I only have dialup, so good luck with the multiplayer.
That being said, all I'm playing till I get my x360 is Dungeon Siege II. ;)
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,785
6,345
126
The "True Gamer" arguement is bogus. A "True Gamer" plays games, but that doesn't have anything to do with what games he/she plays or what he/she plays them on.
 

VIAN

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2003
6,575
1
0
Why use a PC for gaming?
1. It's the only way to play FPSs.
2. It's fun to build them.
3. Less frequent releases of games don't overwhelm you.
4. Much bigger online community.
5. More customization and more things that you can do while playing a game. For instance, I can spray a picture of an anime chick spreading her labia, just as I saw today in CS:S. But it will be much harder to accomplish that on a console.
6. I would say less amount of mainstream garbage games.

The things I miss about consoles though are. RPGs & a few other titles such as Resident Evil and stuff. However, they aren't enough to turn me over. I enjoy my PC very much.
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
Originally posted by: VIAN
3. Less frequent releases of games don't overwhelm you.

Frequent game releases are a bad thing? Sure, nobody likes it when game companies rush their games through the doors as quickly as possible, but come on, what the hell is overwhelming about it? As long as gameplay doesn't suffer, the more games the better.
 

Slogun

Platinum Member
Jul 4, 2001
2,587
0
0
We've got X Box, Gamecube, PS2 and Nintendo64 at my house.

I do all of my gaming on the computer cause I can't get used to the console controllers.
I want my mouse-keyboard.
But that's just me. Nuff said.
 

MBrown

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
5,726
35
91
The computer is cheaper in the long run IMO. I don't have an HDTV and I don't feel like paying 1grand for it either. My $330 LCD already does HDTV.my 7800gt is just as good as the 360 and PS3. And plus if you feel you need a gamepad you can just buy one for the computer. If you think you need a steering wheel and pedals, you can buy that also. If you need a joystick you can but that as well. And I can constantly upgrade my PC.

I dont see why people say that console games look better either. They dont especially with PS2 and XBOX. Correct me if im wrong they actually make the games on PCs so those game for the consoles are running on PCs first. Which means the PC has to be capable of playing those graphical games you see on consoles. Am I wrong?
 

Busithoth

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2003
1,561
0
76
MBrown, they use emulators and seriously heavy equipment to develop games, since materials aren't optimized for console/PC GPUs.

You've summed up why PCs are better quite nicely, though.

I think this question was asked as flamebait, myself.
Of course, the biggest reason I game on my machine is inertia.
I'm not going to junk my system to get a console, when I can add this or that to make it a kickass gaming box.

Trying to limit the multifunction of a computer is ignoring a big aspect of its existence, in my opinion.
 

Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
12,400
1,076
126
PC Pros:

1) PC games go down in price much quicker than console games.
2) Mods.
3) Cheats (edit: single player only. Online cheaters suck!) don't require a $30 add-on.
4) Keyboard and Mouse for FPS.
5) RTS games.
6) Higher resolution monitor.
7) When I upgrade my PC, it also speeds up the "other stuff" I can do with it.
8) Hard drive space for saved games is much, much cheaper.
9) Easily attainable demos.
10) xbox Live for $50 a year or All Seeing Eye for $30 lifetime?
11) Can easily play games from images on the hard drive, which keeps the original discs in pristine condition.
12) No need to get out any additional controllers for playing games since the main controls are normally a keyboard and mouse.
13) Larger community of gamers playing Online.
14) Ever tried to network consoles at a LAN party?

PC Cons:

1) You can't rent the games (although you can go to a gaming cafe and try before you buy, but still not nearly as convenient).
2) Can be upgraded, but you pay for the latest and greatest every 6-12months (graphics cards).
3) Publishers tend to release games in a buggy state and just patch later.
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
Originally posted by: Golgatha
2) Can be upgraded, but you pay for the latest and greatest every 6-12months (graphics cards).

Only if you're a graphics whore. My 9200 and 1.4Ghz Thunderbird still play most games fine.
 

Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
76
Anyone that says console games look better than PC games must be stuck in the 90's when it comes to PC gaming. Or still has a 15" Packard Bell monitor from the 90's. I will admit a PC monitor makes a huge difference when compared to a PS2 and Xbox on say a normal 27" TV. But most anything that came out(FPS'er wise anyway) in the past 3 years for PC look alot better than any game on Xbox and a PS2. Some are Far Cry,Doom III,HL2,UT2003/2004,BF2 and the most recent CODII,Fear and Quake 4. Xbox and PS2 could only dream of being able to run these games and them look as good even on a HDTV. Now Xbox 360 thats a different story but of course thats a next gen console and when hooked to a HDTV some launch games look as good as PC but nothing more. IMO Xbox 360 and PS3 will never pass PC up because I think UT2007 will be the next big thing and should hit on both Xbox 360 and PC around the same time.
 

EpsiIon

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2000
2,351
1
0
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
3 Words

Because consoles suck











(except nintendo!)

:heart: Nintendo fanboys unite!

Seriously, though, I hate feeling hobbled by the controllers. The only games for which controllers are better than a mouse/keyboard are fighting, racing, and sports games.

The only really good fighting games are Soul Calibur and Smash Bros.
There are so many racing rehashes that they're starting to blur together.
Playing sports games sucks (I'd much rather play a different game or play in real life).


What really gets me about popular console gaming is the irrational fervor over sub-par games with sub-par interfaces. I'm forced to conclude that console gamers (as a demographic) are either stupid, ignorant, or both.
 

fire400

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2005
5,204
21
81
Originally posted by: mariok2006
If you can buy an Xbox 360 and PS3 for less than an awesome rig. Just focus on games when answering, dont give me that "you can use a computer for other stuff" crap ;)

Share your thoughts on why you prefer PCs over consoles...

Flame if you want...

how the hell are you going to play Starcraft on a console, has anyone seen the n64 version of the game? terrible graphics and extreme lag. ofcourse a PS2 or xBox will handle the game, but we're talkin' about the PC interface that you just can't get out of consoles. there are games made specifically for the PC and they will remain forever unchanged in the perspective of enjoying it better on a PC.

has anyone ever ran 3Dmark05 on an Xbox 360?


[/quote]

Nintendo fanboys unite!

Seriously, though, I hate feeling hobbled by the controllers. The only games for which controllers are better than a mouse/keyboard are fighting, racing, and sports games.

The only really good fighting games are Soul Calibur and Smash Bros.
There are so many racing rehashes that they're starting to blur together.
Playing sports games sucks (I'd much rather play a different game or play in real life).


What really gets me about popular console gaming is the irrational fervor over sub-par games with sub-par interfaces. I'm forced to conclude that console gamers (as a demographic) are either stupid, ignorant, or both.

[/quote]

I would like to see you suffer in a smash brothers tourney with me using a keyboard as my controller.
 

EpsiIon

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2000
2,351
1
0
Originally posted by: fire400
I would like to see you suffer in a smash brothers tourney with me using a keyboard as my controller.

Whoa whoa whoa. Somebody's getting a little big for his britches. I've only met one person who could beat me regularly at Smash Bros. (the N64 version, of course) and I've gotten a lot better since I played him last. Now, I'm not unbeatable by any stretch of the imagination, but I can pretty much guarantee that you and your goofy keyboard would never do it. :p

If only we could actually put your big mouth to the test. I'd make you post a public apology for your haughty words.

/trash talk :D

(All in good fun, right? :))