PC or Console?

[-Brett-]

When given the choice between a console version and a PC version of a game, which do you typically opt for?

All other things being equal, console.

An Xbox is and Xbox is an Xbox. If a game works on one, it'll work on them all. Mostly.

With PC's there's so many "if's", "and's" and "but's". It'll work if you have a certain brand of video card but not another brand of equal quality. It'll run, but it'll be ridiculously slow and look like shit. It'll run and it'll put a bunch of spyware on your computer, and disable your DVD drive.

The red ring of death is a headache, but it's still less painful than dealing with PCs.

 

[Geckothan]

Consoles are for casuals.

 

[BigFoot]

^ Honestly, that's a load of bull.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The only console I'd ever owned was the original Nintendo GameBoy. For me, it's always been about the home computer and, later, PC gaming. OK, so the likes of Wii gaming and Guitar Hero would be hard to run on a PC, but through emulation even the old console games are still alive - and you can get a whole host of joypads or joysticks for that purpose too.

Plus, you cannot fully appreciate the FPS, RTS and RPG genres unless you've experienced them with a keyboard and a mouse.

Yes, there are issues with compatibility and getting games to run, and poorly optimised running of the graphics and sound etc. but the PC gaming scene is such that over the years it has developed a huge community to help with these things, and through patches and feedback your favourite games can run better and even have tons of added free content from the official developers. The X space trading/combat series was a good example of this - rewarding the players' patience with bonus content.

Steam and its like have made PC gaming more accessible, and kept the spirit of the independent gaming developers alive - something that has been at the very heart and soul of the home computer gamer.

In general, computer gaming has endured since the 80s, and as long as people still need PCs and Macs and other desktop/laptop computers to surf the Net, complete their office work, make music and artwork, and design tomorrow's magazines, so I feel they'll still be around to play games.

 

[JuanBolio]

Some games I prefer to play on a PC, others are better on a console. It depends on a variety of factors. Both for me.

 

[Arrqh]

I play games on both.

I've never understood people complaining about problems with PC gaming. I haven't had a problem with compatibility in any real way for years and things like Steam and Impulse make it quite easy. I'm the sort who actually likes going in and tweaking graphics settings and the like, so I do that fairly often... but never do I actually have to for something to run.

 

[eastman23]

But some games PC still rules, basically anything that requires mouse movement. So RTS, strategy, building-like games PC still rules. I bought Tropico 3 on PC over 360... but admitedly 360 isn't out yet! I couldn't image Red Alert 3 on a console, whichh I got for the PC.

I don't think there's much argument when it comes to those type of games. I don't know how anyone could manage a C&C game without the keyboard/mouse combo.

So a mix, but I tend to gear towards the 360 now unless the game is better on the PC.

What do you look for when figuring out if a game is better on the 360 or the PC?

I play games on both (though my only current gen console is a Wii, so that kinda narrows the choice in games down to Wii-only), but looking at where I spend most of my time, it tends to be PC. I have been looking at a 360 from time to time, but most of the games I have been looking at are also on the PC. I suppose the easy answer is to save the 300 bucks and just get the PC versions.

 

[ATimson]

I have been looking at a 360 from time to time, but most of the games I have been looking at are also on the PC.

This used to be the case for me, but I finally gave up on waiting for Gears of War 2 and Halo 3 to get ported to PC. When MS offered their rebate a month ago, I sprang for a 360. Still only have four games for it at the moment, though the dangling temptation of achievements is making me consider the 360 version over the PC one for some games.

 

[CommodoreKong]

Time to break out this picture yet?

For big games that I really want typically I'll get the PC version, for games I don't care about that much and buy on clearance months after release I don't care if it's the PC version or the 360/PS3 version.

Of course I also buy a lot of Wii and DS games that never appear on the PC.

 

[Servo]

Console. PC gaming is too much of a pain in the ass

This.

I used to be a PC gamer, but I can't be arsed having to keep upgrading in order to be able to keep up with the market and be able to play games as they were meant to be.
I'd still only ever play games like C&C on a PC, though. I used to spend hours of my life playing games like Red Alert 2, Imperium Galactica 2 and Star Trek: Armada, but those kinds of games don't translate well onto consoles, and I can't afford to shell out hundreds of pounds on a new PC at the moment.

Maybe one day I'll return to PC gaming, but for now, I'm happy to stick with my PS3 and my 360.

 

[ATimson]

I used to be a PC gamer, but I can't be arsed having to keep upgrading in order to be able to keep up with the market and be able to play games as they were meant to be.

It's not like you have to upgrade every week; my previous machine lasted six years (with one minor upgrade--more RAM and a new video card--in the middle) before upgrading. That's longer than your typical console lifespan, and I can still play older games unlike people with PS3s and 360s.

 

[clint g]

I used to be a PC gamer, but I can't be arsed having to keep upgrading in order to be able to keep up with the market and be able to play games as they were meant to be.

It's not like you have to upgrade every week; my previous machine lasted six years (with one minor upgrade--more RAM and a new video card--in the middle) before upgrading. That's longer than your typical console lifespan, and I can still play older games unlike people with PS3s and 360s.

With a console however, when you do make your upgrade you dont have to worry about what parts to buy and whether it will be compatible or not. Its a nice and easy one time purchase. On top of that, the whole patching issue is far worse on PCs than it is on consoles (though it seems as if console games are rapidly trying to catch up to PC games in that area).

 

[NCC1701]

Im a PC gamer first and foremost, although I own a PS2 and we have a Wii in the house as well. Can't even remember the last time I used either of the consoles though, while I gamed on the PC two days ago.

 

[Jadzia]

I don't play games enough to justify having a console. But I'm also quite fussy with games about what I find entertaining. In my experience, the kinds of games released for consoles just fail to interest me, and I'd rather do something other than play them. I'm not sure what it is about them -- shallower game mechanic, awkward user interface, poor presentation, unpleasant controls, lack of customisation, or something like that...

I find that PC games are more likely to interest me, and also to be a more casual convenience (nothing to plug in nor set up nor any physical media). Once installed that is.


But one feature I do like about consoles is the constancy of the hardware. I know it makes life easier for developers because they don't have to worry about minimal systems. If their game runs well, then it runs well for all people equally.

 

[Rincewiend]

Some games I prefer to play on a PC, others are better on a console. It depends on a variety of factors. Both for me.

Same here...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Console. PC gaming is too much of a pain in the ass

This.

I used to be a PC gamer, but I can't be arsed having to keep upgrading in order to be able to keep up with the market and be able to play games as they were meant to be.
I'd still only ever play games like C&C on a PC, though. I used to spend hours of my life playing games like Red Alert 2, Imperium Galactica 2 and Star Trek: Armada, but those kinds of games don't translate well onto consoles, and I can't afford to shell out hundreds of pounds on a new PC at the moment.

Maybe one day I'll return to PC gaming, but for now, I'm happy to stick with my PS3 and my 360.

This.

 

[TheBrew]

^That.

I used to be a really avid PC gamer, but I mostly just play classics now and again. Most modern games I prefer to play on my console (except WoW, which I have played more than any other game this last year. I looked at my /played and shuddered).

 

[FPAlpha]

It heavily depends on the genre and the company producing the game.

PCs, for now, will lead the strategy and "serious" shooter genres because of their better (and i case of shooters more precise) controls.. there is not a single top strategy title on the console that can take it up with a PC strategy game.

With racing and action oriented games it tends to balance itself out.. here it depends on the company producing the game. If they develop well there will be few bugs in the game (or they are corrected fast) and it then comes down to controls.. some games benefit from a pad control and not many PC gamers are willing to buy a state of the art pad just for one game.

Beat em ups and the like are the domain of the console and will ever be.. PC keyboards just can't match a good pad.

So there is no clear answer.. console games are safer in quality because there is just one configuration developers have to pay attention too whereas PCs have hundreds which tend to cause problems later on.
However the PC is far more versatile than a console.. mods, add-ons and the like tend to be far more prevalent on the PC and probably always will.

So one needs to look at his preferred genres and work from there.

 

[Adagio]

I never have been a huge PC gamer. I'll pull out Command and Conquer or Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns occasionally. Also, the new Monkey Islands are getting some use. However, I've considered the PC as a work machine first and foremost. If I'm trying to relax, I'll go to my couch and play on a console.

Also, for a gaming session with friends, consoles tend to work better for me. They take up less space and the games are designed to accommodate multiple players on a single machine.

Also, RPGs have worked better on consoles for me than on PCs. Maybe I just have bad luck there. The last RPG I tried playing on PC was KOTOR 2, and it would keep freezing. I picked up the XBox version and was able to play it with few problems. Furthermore, consoles have gotten to the point where you can get serious depth in them, as can be seen in many of the PC RPGs. Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion come to mind right away.

For me, it would be consoles.

 

[Trubinator]

This thread ought to liven up the forum a bit.

So what are your thoughts on this admittedly well-trod discussion?

When given the choice between a console version and a PC version of a game, which do you typically opt for?

Of the two games I have that are on consoles and PC (Oblivion and Mass Effect), I only have the PC versions since I don't have a PS3 or 360. But that is always open to change, so I'm curious as to what others look for when trying to figure out which version to get.

(Incidentally, the two games I'm thinking of in the near future are Fallout 3 and Prototype...)

Provided money isn't an issue, there's no contest -- PC. PC does everything better by miles. Console games pale in comparison to the PC in terms of graphics, controls, multiplayer integration, editing capability, mods, etc. The only situation in which I could ever imagine choosing the console over PC would be for a fighting or racing game, but only because of the controller. And nowadays you can buy a cheap tool that will allow you to use 360 controllers on PC. Problem solved.