Console VS PC Gaming (Split-off from "Come and Rant Here")

[grossaffe]

Nope, you can't do that. But you CAN buy Super Mario Bros. again for $5 (or whatever they charge for a nearly 25 year old game)!

Or you can Twilight-hack your Wii, install the homebrew channel, and install a NES emulator on it.

[madc0w]

The point IS to move you hands away from the home for things like switching teams or typing commands ETC. Also for games like TF2 its easier to switch weapons using numbers, rather than having to cycle through. Also with PC FPS's, you can move while shooting, aiming and command other bottons, while you can't do certain things at once on a console controller (for example, aim while pressing the reload botton or melee.)

[eagle5953]

The point IS to move you hands away from the home for things like switching teams or typing commands ETC. Also for games like TF2 its easier to switch weapons using numbers, rather than having to cycle through. Also with PC FPS's, you can move while shooting, aiming and command other bottons, while you can't do certain things at once on a console controller (for example, aim while pressing the reload botton or melee.)

Ah. But that's still relatively minor.

Additionally, everyone on the console version is likewise hindered, so at least the playing field is level.

[Harshboy]

Now that I have my beastly gaming rig, I must say that PC Gaming rapes playing games on the Xbox 360 (Which kills the PS3 imo). This is coming from a person who used to play CoD4 all day on Xbox 360, but now I spend most of my time playing games on the PC.

Fallout 3: PC Version rapes console version. It looks better and has the G.E.C.K.
Crysis (Warhead): Beautiful.
Bioshock: Beautiful.
Counter Strike: Source: Most famous FPS.
Unreal Tournament: Well known fast paced shooter.
Call of Duty 4: Looks beastlier on PC than consoles, runs better.
WoW: Best MMORPG ever made.

PC Games are also much cheaper, I have over 30 Games on Steam (Real Games, not arcade or 3rd Party) for under $150. On Consoles that would be over $1000. PC Games also have a lot of cool mods and user created content, and is usually all for free unlike on Xbox Live where everything costs money.

Emulation also seals the deal. Playing classics from the N64 and SNES is just an added bonus and it's all for free.

PC Gaming is king!

[grossaffe]

The point IS to move you hands away from the home for things like switching teams or typing commands ETC. Also for games like TF2 its easier to switch weapons using numbers, rather than having to cycle through. Also with PC FPS's, you can move while shooting, aiming and command other bottons, while you can't do certain things at once on a console controller (for example, aim while pressing the reload botton or melee.)

you shouldn't be able to aim while reloading. think about it.

[Twilight Wolf]

Also for games like TF2 its easier to switch weapons using numbers, rather than having to cycle through. Also with PC FPS's, you can move while shooting, aiming and command other bottons, while you can't do certain things at once on a console controller (for example, aim while pressing the reload botton or melee.)

I can switch weapons instantly using the Dualshock 3's D-pad. I'd say that's just as convenient as pressing numbers on a keyboard; more so, because then I don't have to either take my hand off of the mouse or move away from my WASD positioning to do so, but instead just move my thumb a little bit more. I don't have to cycle through the weapons, though that's usually what I choose to do because I can keep my thumbs on the analog sticks. Also, I can move while shooting and aiming, and I can also aim while reloading (you just need to tap the button once, and I can do so without hindering my aiming ability; it's not like you have to hold the button down or anything) or performing a melee attack, too. It just takes practice.

[bioniclebert]

The main reason I like to explain why most people prefer PC controls to consoles is the ability to "Point". Since this is also able to be done with a Wii, I'll leave this arguement mostly to the XBOX and PS3 players.

I liked playing Fallout 3 on XBOX 360, but I'm finding the PC version to be much more enjoyable. The graphics appear much more stunning, and most of all, fluent. I wasn't used to such fluent movement and flow of graphics on screen when rotating around and looking at environments. On 360, things seem a bit stalled.

But back to the main point, "Pointing". Using joysticks, the ability to aim is hindered by a scrolling rate. Imagine trying to play a point and click adventure game on a console. Take "Maniac Mansion" for NES for example. I've got the game, and I enjoy playing it. However, it becomes a heck of a lot harder to control with that NES D-pad. This is especially true in high speed/risk situations such as when you're trying to run away from Mrs. Edison in the kitchen, or when giving the commando package to wierd ed. But on PC, you have the ability to nearly instantaneously point to any place on the screen, or for that matter, anywhere in the 3d environment (If you're talking about a shooter). Sure, your training on the joysticks will allow players to get very precise at aiming, but I've never seen it at the level of PC players. Not even close, if you're comparing it to the reactions of those CPL guys. (Winter 2005, what a great matchup).

Now that games are making it easier to utilize the XBOX 360 joystick into PC games, we don't even need to compare system to system, but merely from controller type to type. Take two (somewhat equally "skilled") players on a splitscreen shooter, or over the internet, one using a USB 360 joystick and the other using keyboard and mouse. Say like counterstrike source. I'd be very interested to see who wins most, what the data looks like (reaction time, aiming, manueverability) and how it matches up between the players.

So much more to say, but I think the point's been argued hundreds of times already.
-Bert.

[XCVG]

Now that controller type is out of the picture (kinda), let's talk about the other advantages of PC vs. Consoles.

The biggest one for PC: Open platform. Anyone can develop, nothing is locked, and every little company seems to be making at least one peripheral now. There are lots of independent developers and small companies. Developing is comparatively easy, there are a lot of well documented platforms, and some game engines too. The PC world has a lot of open-source and free software. Don't want to make a game from scratch? Modding might be more your speed. There are a lot of mods- even for Source (ONE ENGINE!) there are a zillion. So go play, make, mod, hack, and cheat. Just don't break anything.

The biggest one for console: Instant, easy setup and use. All you have to do is plug it in and turn it on. Pop in a game and you're ready to play. No need to install Windows, drivers, antivirus, or shovel out the mass of bloatware on an oem PC. Just plug it in, turn it on, and you'll have a great gaming experience from then on. As long as you don't get yourself banned, that is.

[JAY]

you shouldn't be able to aim while reloading. think about it.

You also shouldn't be able to reliably get head shots while circle-strafing and jumping around. Realism is nice in some games, but when they are purely action-oriented, it usually would impede the gameplay (i.e., the different control schemes between Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil 5).

If a game is available for consoles and PC, I'll almost always get it for PC. I can use my Xbox 360 controller on my PC for platform and racing games, and mouse/keyboard for anything else. The exceptions are games like Splinter Cell, since I have them all for Xbox and play them with a controller, so I may as well keep the trend going.

When you consider the price of a gaming computer, you also have to consider how much being spent is beyond what you would normally pay for a computer. If the gaming rig that you can put together is only $400 more than the one your parents would pick up at Best Buy, then it's not that much more expensive. Upgrading isn't too bad either if you can find someone who will buy your old parts. You don't have to do it very often either: my computer is two years old (AMD Athlon X2 4200+, 8800 GTS 320MB, 2GB DDR400 RAM) and can still run Crysis at medium/high with 2x anti-aliasing at 1280x1024 and a steady 25 fps. It's not the best possible but is nonetheless still amazing. It's not fair to consider the price of a 50" LCD TV when you are determining how expensive console gaming is (since it's not necessary and you probably would have bought it anyway), so the same should apply to the PC.

..more so, because then I don't have to either take my hand off of the mouse or move away from my WASD positioning to do so...
It just takes practice.

Likewise, I can easily hit any key from `\Tab\Shift\Ctrl to 6\Y\H\B while keeping at least one finger at WASD as a reference point to return the rest of my fingers to. If you put a little nub on W, like on the F and J keys, you can also quickly find your way back without looking even when all of your fingers leave WASD, thus giving access to 40+ keys (very useful for keybinding spells in WoW). This, too, just takes practice.

[Nonsense Man]

You have to pay to play online

Since when is playing online games on a PC free?

[bicostp]

You have to pay to play online

Since when is playing online games on a PC free?

... Says the guy with a Half-Life 2 avatar.

One example: You don't have to pay to play any of Valve's games online, including The Orange Box, DOD:S, CS:S, HL2:Deathmatch, and basically every mod based on the Source engine. I'm pretty sure a lot of games where the developer doesn't host all the servers themselves are free to play.

Pretty much the only games I know of where you have to subscribe are commercial MMORPG servers.

[cowsgoquack101]

I'm sure that any game is free to play online unless it's an MMO or something. I personally prefer playing my PC over my 360 or Wii. I much prefer the controls (mouse and keyboard) over a gamepad. Have you ever played TF2 on the PS3 or 360? It's abysmal. Not to say that people can't like it, but I really, REALLY hate playing with the gamepad. I don't understand why people don't see that. Yes, moving with the analog stick is better but aiming is horrid.

[Twilight Wolf]

I've played so much "Team Fortress 2" on my PS3 it's not even funny, and I've also played quite a lot of "Half-Life" on my PC, so I have a fair deal of experience with both control schemes... And you know something? I'll take a dual-analog gamepad over a keyboard and mouse any day. I wouldn't call aiming with such a control layout horrid by any means; it just takes a liitle bit of practice to get good. I was actually disappointed when I discovered I couldn't use my Xbox 360 controller to play "Half-Life."

I think this whole "KB/M VS. Gamepad" debate all comes down to personal preference. There will always be people that say keyboard/mouse control is better, but is it really true? For some people, yes, for others, no. Simple as that.

[Nonsense Man]

You have to pay to play online

Since when is playing online games on a PC free?

... Says the guy with a Half-Life 2 avatar.

One example: You don't have to pay to play any of Valve's games online, including The Orange Box, DOD:S, CS:S, HL2:Deathmatch, and basically every mod based on the Source engine. I'm pretty sure a lot of games where the developer doesn't host all the servers themselves are free to play.

Pretty much the only games I know of where you have to subscribe are commercial MMORPG servers.

You still indirectly have to pay money for something like CS:S or HL2: DM. That is probably the worst reason to say pc > console.

[nevermind1534]

You have to pay to play online

Since when is playing online games on a PC free?

... Says the guy with a Half-Life 2 avatar.

One example: You don't have to pay to play any of Valve's games online, including The Orange Box, DOD:S, CS:S, HL2:Deathmatch, and basically every mod based on the Source engine. I'm pretty sure a lot of games where the developer doesn't host all the servers themselves are free to play.

Pretty much the only games I know of where you have to subscribe are commercial MMORPG servers.

You still indirectly have to pay money for something like CS:S or HL2: DM. That is probably the worst reason to say pc > console.

But that's only one time, to buy it. After that, it's free. The battlefield games are another good example of free online.