PC or Console?

[crouteru]

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.

Only problem is I can't play Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid on a PC...

 

[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.

Only problem is I can't play Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid on a PC...

Sure ya can. Get an emulator for those systems. Windows can handle running PS3 and 360 emulators these days...

 

[Kelthaz]

Sure ya can. Get an emulator for those systems. Windows can handle running PS3 and 360 emulators these days...

360/PS3 Emulators? PS2 emulation is still in its infancy. It'll be a long time before we're emulating Gears of War.

 

[Trubinator]

You can emulate the newer systems if you've got the hardware for it. I'm not saying that the consoles don't have their strong points, particularly for those strapped for cash. I just don't see why somebody would choose the console when there are so many more things you can do with the PC.

 

[CommodoreKong]

You can emulate the newer systems if you've got the hardware for it. I'm not saying that the consoles don't have their strong points, particularly for those strapped for cash. I just don't see why somebody would choose the console when there are so many more things you can do with the PC.

There are no PC emulators for the 360 or PS3. You need a decently powerful PC to run PS2 or Wii emulators at full speed. It's going to be a long time before we see emulators for the 360 or PS3, and even longer before you can easily run most or all games with a good framerate.

 

[PKerr]

I used to be an avid PC gamer but October '06 changed that when I bought a 360.
My PC gaming days are well over now.

I pop the disk in my 360 adjust the sound/brightness and such and play my game.
The hours of adjusting this that and the other just to get the game to play halfway right are over.

Plus the fact my 67" HDTV, kickass surround sound system and very comfortable lazy boy out do a 20' computer screen and somewhat comfortable computer chair any day of the week.

I will admit I miss not getting all the added DLC for some of these games.

I don't know how many extra hours I played games like Half Life, Duke Nukem, Max Payne and many many others due to user made DLC.

 

[watermelony2k]

i wouldn't be able to play the countless half life and half life 2 usercreated mods if it weren't for steam (and previously WON) on the pc.

 

[Reverend]

My preference in these things is to just stay about one generation behind whatever happens to be the latest thing. Generally more reliable hardware, plenty of well reviewed games and it's all much cheaper. The only downside to that strategy being that you miss out on playing "the latest thing" and are forever behind the times. I think I'll live.

 

[CommodoreKong]

I used to be an avid PC gamer but October '06 changed that when I bought a 360.
My PC gaming days are well over now.

I pop the disk in my 360 adjust the sound/brightness and such and play my game.
The hours of adjusting this that and the other just to get the game to play halfway right are over.

Plus the fact my 67" HDTV, kickass surround sound system and very comfortable lazy boy out do a 20' computer screen and somewhat comfortable computer chair any day of the week.

I will admit I miss not getting all the added DLC for some of these games.

I don't know how many extra hours I played games like Half Life, Duke Nukem, Max Payne and many many others due to user made DLC.

You do realize it's not hard at all to hook up a PC to a TV and play PC games on your comfy lazy boy and your 67" HDTV with kickass surround sound right?

My computer monitor doesn't have a DVI port only HDMI and VGA so I spent a couple of bucks on a DVI to HDMI cable, which I'm sure would work fine with HDTVs, not to mention many HDTVs have VGA ports.

Of course I also have to agree about the content, if I had played the Xbox 360 version of Team Fortress 2 I would of never put as much time into it as I have the PC version. Valve is showing other developers the right way to support their multiplayer games post launch, with lots of free content every few months.

I almost never buy extra content for games on the 360 anymore, it always seems like a huge rip off. $10 for 3 or 4 maps when I get that and more for free every few months in TF2? I just can't do it.

 

[Cutter John]

Strictly a PC gamer. I like the convenience of being able to switch from say, e-mail, to my favorite game with just the click of a mouse. Besides, FPS's just feel wrong without a keyboard and mouse. (although whoever did the PC port for Resident Evil 4 needs to be cockpunched)

Plus I really can't justify paying $300-400 for a game machine.

 

[Nick Ryder]

I'm really well off PC gaming lately, ever since my "new" computer didn't have the right video card to play a $20 game I bought a PS2 and started going to GameStop and raiding the cheap video games. No drivers to mess with, no ever expanding games on a hard drive, no $100 video cards to buy every couple of years. $100 for a PS2 and I never have to do anything to it. Definitely planning on a PS3 or upgrading the XBox 360 and getting more involved in other more online games.

Consoles for heavy gaming, PC's for lighter crap when I'm bored or Flash games.

 

[JuanBolio]

My preference in these things is to just stay about one generation behind whatever happens to be the latest thing. Generally more reliable hardware, plenty of well reviewed games and it's all much cheaper. The only downside to that strategy being that you miss out on playing "the latest thing" and are forever behind the times. I think I'll live.

I tend to stick to this strategy myself, most of the time.