Is PC gaming practical

[Last One In]

In this thread, let us discuss the practicalities of Pc gaming verses those of console gaming. Lets try to debate in a civil manner, taking objective and realistic views from both sides of the fence. So let us begin:
The pros of PC gaming as I see them are:
-The ability to mod first and foremost, adding longevity to a game that might otherwise die within a month on a console. Eg. Half Life 2 (There are no multiplayer options on the Xbox 360 nor are there any modding abilities.)
-The ability to upgrade hardware as needed when the time comes.
-Superior graphics to console games within a year or so.
-Pc gaming is usually where inovation in mechanics occurs due to its limitless power.

Cons of PC gaming
-In order to stay up to date with the latest in graphical and physical innovations, one must spend anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars in upgrading his or her system. The amount of money spent upgrading a pc could easily buy each of the three consoles put out by sony, nintendo, and microsoft, with a bit of money left over to buy a bag of chips.(I'm talking a full system overhall.)
-Games on Pc are 10 times easier to pirate than their console counterparts, which translates into less profit for the developers. In order for one to pirate a Pc game, all they have to do is download a file and emulate it. But for one to pirate a console game, they would have to download the massive file, burn it on a DVD, mod their console so that it will read the DVD, and after hours upon hours of expensive greuling labor, they can play it. There is also the risk of being black listed from Xbox live if you have a modded console, so that is another thing to consider.
-It seems that developers don't utilize their technology with pc games. If a new video card comes out with the latest in graphical technology, the developers will jump on it and say to their fan base that they need this card in order to get 100% out of their game; to upgrade tech, it costs a tremendous amount of money as stated above, which makes pc gaming cost more than it should.

Pros of Console gaming
-First and foremost there is no need to upgrade your hardware every half a year to get all the bells and wistles.
-Developers will utilize the technology on the console to its very limit(Eg. Black, ninja gaiden, God of War, a thousand other titles found on consoles)
-There are far more A+ titles found on consoles than on the pc.
-Development cycles don't seem to take as long because there's always some kick ass game to play inbetween waiting periods.
-Larger revenue for developers, so they will put more people on it.(except WOW, which turned the revenues for VU from - to +++)
-easier to code for developers once they get the architecture figured out.

Cons of console gaming
-Usually lags in graphical department (may not be this way now that kick ass consoles are on the way)
-More generalized games for the generalized public(this is a generalized view)
-Need a good tv to get all the bells and wistles, which will usually set one back a couple of grand.
-can't mod games.

Overall, I would say that console gaming wins out over pc gaming due to cost effectiveness. If PC gaming would utilize the current hardware a bit more, the cost part wouldn't be such a problem; but as it is, they expect us to spend our hard earned wads on a new comp every year or so just so we can get all the bells and wistles. If anyone has anything to add to this thread, please feel free to do so. :flame: :flame: :flame:

 

[bam23]

Agret.

 

[Pesmerga]

I think you're missing the challenge of all PC game development: making the game work well on the widest range of PC configurations possible, not to mention making them work AT ALL is rocket science in of itself. So I guess you do make a valid point, but PC gaming is generally far easier to mod, develop, and expand upon than consoles.

With the rising cost of development, although, you'd be right to predict developers will be moving on to consoles (albeit a challenging PS3 architecture, claims Newell)

The only problem with Consoles is that they are used SOLELY for gaming, nothing more. PCs let you do anything you can imagine all at the same time; it's a walking talking lean mean printing machine. I would hate to have to alternate between console -> PC just to download a custom skin or mod. Hell, I bought Half-Life(2) based on the very fact that MODS were going to come out for it. Variety is the spice of life, you can't keep playing the same game over and over if it's on the console, there's no change or patches or upgrades or 2.0.

 

[sinkoman]

Well, your post was pretty one sided, and dwelled on the fact that PC gaming takes some cash, but overall, I guess it's pretty fair.

I'd say it's all down to personal preference. To one man, PC gaming might be superior, to another, it's the console.

Take it this way. One guy loves his first person shooters. He also loves being completely immersed in a game. He also likes to play online with the same game for months at a time, no matter how repetetive or cartoonish the gameplay is. He also likes to be alone when he games. Solitude and concentration.

But this other guy, he likes to play racing games, and platformers, games you can just play on the splurge of a moment. He doesn't wanna waste time with hardware and software upgrades, he just wants to jump in, BLAM BLAM BLAM! He also likes gaming parties with his friends, kick back, have a couple of brews, and just have a greate [social] time, shoulder to shoulder with the guys.

Guess which will go for which.

EDIT: And your comment on A+ titles being more plentiful on consoles? That's pure one sided bullshit, i'm sorry to say. Console games get more publicity, and face it, a large percentage of "jocks" play console games, but are too dumb to even bother with PC gaming.

Not to mention most people will buy any console game advertised as "The most immersive experience you'll ever have!".

 

[Qonfused]

I thought about this, too, when I bought my new computer, mainly about the money I spent on it. But then I think of it this way: a good video card that will run the next-gen games relitively well costs $400 -- the projected price of a PS3. Everything else in a PC you need [want] to have fast to keep up with everything else.

So I look at it this way: your video card is the console and everything else you'll need anyways.

 

[joule]

I prefer PC over consoles, now, because of everything it's capable of doing - much more than just running the latest games. It's the resource center for practicaly everything you may need. Gaming is an expensive hobby no matter which way you look at it, and you need to remember that.

 

[Last One In]

PC's are great for that kind of stuff, which is why I might just stick with my current rig(top of the line at the moment) and forget about upgrading it again. I will also likely buy one of the next generation consoles, but I will have to see what is in store for games and development. Frankly though, I regret dropping $2,000 on my current rig when I could have built a $600.00 rig and bought an xbox 360 with cash left to spare.

 

[destrukt]

this is going to go nowhere, and it will end in a useless argument, it'll just be filled with different/misc opinions and like in the past 39209 discussions/debates it will go nowhere.

i thought i'd like to tell you that, and i'm out.

 

[Last One In]

The thing that all pc gamers should be worried about is that the new line of consoles could very well crush pc gaming. Both are on the same level now, only one costs 5 times less than the other.

 

[xcellerate]

i like pc's because you can't play a FPS on a console.

 

[WhiteZero]

mod their console so that it will read the DVD, and after hours upon hours of expensive greuling labor, they can play it.

I take it you've never moded a console before?
It takes 30 minutes.

Plus, the filesize to download a console game and a PC game are equal, if not less time to get some console games, and if you have a moded x-box, you dont even have to burn it off, just put it on the hard drive.

 

[Jintor]

Agreed, but i don't really care - PC FTW.

 

[sinkoman]

The thing that all pc gamers should be worried about is that the new line of consoles could very well crush pc gaming. Both are on the same level now, only one costs 5 times less than the other.

Bullshit. These consoles just ADVERTISE themselves as being PC equivelant. You can't download or edit text or reports on a console, you can't do any sort of programming on a console, no web design, no browser and hence WCC standards upagrades, no MP3 player synching, not CD burning, no instant messaging, no forum posting, no a ton of stuff.

And even if you can "browse the web" (take not on my WCC comment) or "listen and watch music and movies" on your xbox 360, i'd like to see how many people actually use it for that.

 

[Last One In]

I take it you've never moded a console before?
It takes 30 minutes.

No I haven't. But I understand that it takes a lot of reading up on unless you want a console that's only good as a paperweight.

 

[WhiteZero]

Bullshit. These consoles just ADVERTISE themselves as being PC equivelant. You can't download or edit text or reports on a console, you can't do any sort of programming on a console, no web design, no browser and hence WCC standards upagrades, no MP3 player synching, not CD burning, no instant messaging, no forum posting, no a ton of stuff.

And even if you can "browse the web" (take not on my WCC comment) or "listen and watch music and movies" on your xbox 360, i'd like to see how many people actually use it for that.

Exactly.
PCs have always been multipurpose.

People have said that the next gen will "crush PC gaming" every time the next gen comes out. But guess what? It never happens...

No I haven't. But I understand that it takes a lot of reading up on unless you want a console that's only good as a paperweight.

There are numerious tutorials and walkthroughs on how to do it. And many MOD chips are soderless now-a-days, so theres little risk. Besides, many places also offer to MOD a console for you.

 

[Last One In]

Bullshit. These consoles just ADVERTISE themselves as being PC equivelant. You can't download or edit text or reports on a console, you can't do any sort of programming on a console, no web design, no browser and hence WCC standards upagrades, no MP3 player synching, not CD burning, no instant messaging, no forum posting, no a ton of stuff.

And even if you can "browse the web" (take not on my WCC comment) or "listen and watch music and movies" on your xbox 360, i'd like to see how many people actually use it for that.

Graphically they are equivlent. And you don't exactly need a top of the line PC for the features you mentioned above.

 

[WhiteZero]

Graphically they are equivlent. And you don't exactly need a top of the line PC for the features you mentioned above.

Right, but he's saying that they money you put into a PC isnt just for gaming.
-.-

 

[Qonfused]

But face it, consoles are lacking two huge genres: RTS, and FPS. I don't care what anyone says, but FPS's on consoles blow. Hard. Like Katrina hard.

 

[Last One In]

Right, but he's saying that they money you put into a PC isnt just for gaming.
-.-

That's true, especially if your into video editing or development or what not. But that is usually a limited spectrum of people. What will happen though when the general gamer sees that the two are on par graphically? It will no longer make sense for developers to make games for the PC when the general public has switched from PC gaming to console gaming. Look at the way things are now; more games are being made for the console than for the PC, and many of the notable PC titles are being ported over to the console(quake, half life 2, call of duty). The public will precieve this as equality and down the road, when the time comes to upgrade their computer, they will likely choose the console game rather than upgrading their pc.

 

[Last One In]

But face it, consoles are lacking two huge genres: RTS, and FPS. I don't care what anyone says, but FPS's on consoles blow. Hard. Like Katrina hard.

That is a matter of opinion; I found halo 1 & 2, golden eye, and perfect dark to be damn good first person shooters. and I'm sure the RTS genre will make it's way to consoles pretty soon. Sorry for Double post

 

[Qonfused]

Quake, HL2, CoD have been ported over, yes. But look how long it took them (excluding CoD:2). Plus, look at the sales of HL2. There's no doubt there's a huge amount of players that game on the PC. And games like CS:S, UT2004, all the ma-morgs... huge amount of sales.

No doubt there's more gamers on the consoles, right now... but I believe that's going to change.

 

[Qonfused]

That is a matter of opinion; I found halo 1 & 2, golden eye, and perfect dark to be damn good first person shooters. and I'm sure the RTS genre will make it's way to consoles pretty soon. Sorry for Double post

GoldenEye is always the exception.

Heh, double post, too.

 

[Last One In]

Quake, HL2, CoD have been ported over, yes. But look how long it took them (excluding CoD:2). Plus, look at the sales of HL2. There's no doubt there's a huge amount of players that game on the PC. And games like CS:S, UT2004, all the ma-morgs... huge amount of sales.

No doubt there's more gamers on the consoles, right now... but I believe that's going to change.

There is a funny trend going on with consoles though. It seems that in the future, when the pc has overtaken the console, a new console will come out. For example, the 360 will be released very soon, and in a few months the PC will over take that console. But when that does happen, in come the revolution and the PS3, which will hone the technological edge of the console. God knows how advanced the PS3 or revolution will be, so these consoles may out last the PC by a year. When the PC releases its new line of tech to catch up to or overtake the consoles, the developers will have to figure out how to use it and by the time this happens a new console arrives. Jsut the way I see it, correct me if im wrong.

 

[Pesmerga]

TRUE DAT NIGGA.

Fps games blow on Consoles. kthx

 

[destrukt]

no they don't, mr. illiterate.

 

[WhiteZero]

Obivously, graphics arent the only thing being factored in here.
For most games, expecially FPS, the precise control of keyboard and mouse can't be touched by any console controller.

 

[Last One In]

Obivously, graphics arent the only thing being factored in here.
For most games, expecially FPS, the precise control of keyboard and mouse can't be touched by any console controller.

Resident evil 4 made me think twice about that, although that was far from the fast twitch reactions required in FPS. Anyway, the revolution looks to change that with their innovative controller design, and im sure that the other consoles will follow step. Also you can hook up a mouse and keyboard to an xbox or ps2.

 

[destrukt]

Bullshit. These consoles just ADVERTISE themselves as being PC equivelant. You can't download or edit text or reports on a console, you can't do any sort of programming on a console, no web design, no browser and hence WCC standards upagrades, no MP3 player synching, not CD burning, no instant messaging, no forum posting, no a ton of stuff.

And even if you can "browse the web" (take not on my WCC comment) or "listen and watch music and movies" on your xbox 360, i'd like to see how many people actually use it for that.

this is a game console it's purpose is to play games, last few ads i saw [in the past 7years] there were no references to pc's and being able to match/be better than them; when i buy a console i don't give a damn about being able to burn cd's or post on a forum, and either do 99% of the other console buyers. your individual needs aren't what make a product.

also, your last part about how many don't browse the web and so on, EXACTLY, you said it yourself, so why the hell do you expect that on game console (i know heaps of people who play music/movies on their console, heaps as in almost everyone i know) and they never directly compare consoles to pc's, only people on forums and gamers do; the only other thing i seem them flaunt the console as other than a videogame player, is a media centre type machine.

- you can edit text on an xbox, but not by default, same with browsing.
- there is support for playing music off/adding it to x360.
- instant messaging, well, there will be on the new live.

you expect too much/the wrong things, it's kind of like expecting orange juice from an apple, sure they're both fruits, both round, both make juice, both have skin which you may/may not eat, grow on trees and so on, but they have their obvious/main differences.

^ could think of a better analogy, but i don't think anything will convince you.

also, you know what a pc's original purpose is, for work, number crunching and things like that, all these other things are just progressive bonuses.

 

[VirusType2]

Half Life 2 (There are no multiplayer options on the Xbox 360 nor are there any modding abilities.)

This game isn't even comming to Xbox360. It's come out for the Xbox and reported as comming to the PS3.

@ Last One In
However much you spent on upgrading your PC, you can still get games like CoD2 for you PC, then you can download lots of mods and things. The thing about all systems is they have particular games that come only to their system. I wouldn't live with regret about your recent upgrade for you PC.

-Superior graphics to console games within a year or so.

I wouldn't say superior, I'd say on par if you have the latest and greatest PC hardware.

-The ability to upgrade hardware as needed when the time comes.

I was thinking about this the other day. Console manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo need to seriously consider future compatiblity.
For example the Xbox360 and PS3 hard drive should be able to plug right into the Xbox540 and PS4. We are tired of buying the same thing again. I understand the controllers are getting upgraded and don't work but things like Memory cards and Hard drives should work on the next systems.
It also wouldn't be a bad idea to allow upgradeable RAM, things like that. Although by the time they need more RAM, i guess its almost time for a new console.

Pc gaming is usually where inovation in mechanics occurs due to its limitless power

I see alot more innovation on consoles. PC games are almost entirely FPS, RTS, and the occasional MMORPG.
And limitless power? huh?

I think you're missing the challenge of all PC game development: making the game work well on the widest range of PC configurations possible,

yea there are different processors, graphics cards, sound cards, controllers. Everyone has a different configuration. Every PC game I have has some issues with either the sound or graphics not free of glitches. Some games require a lot of tricks to get them to run well, or at all, like for half-life2, it wasn't untill I joined this forum and spoke with a lot of people about the issues I was having with corrupt textures before I got this game to work right.
And thats just one game. All my other games have issues. This is alot of the reason consoles are a better choice for many. I can't immagine any little kids or computer illiterates having a PC for a game machine.

In the case of consoles, the game is designed to run on the exact processor, graphics card, sound card and controller. The PC was designed like 30 years ago by IBM, and consoles are always newly designed from the ground up to be well suited for gaming.
there are never any compatability issues, and the game is designed to take full advantage of all the processing power, memory, and sound.

I think the future of console gaming is going to really take off with multi-threading in all the new consoles.

There is a funny trend going on with consoles though. It seems that in the future, when the pc has overtaken the console, a new console will come out. For example, the 360 will be released very soon, and in a few months the PC will over take that console.

in a few months there might be a new graphics card coming out that is extremely powerful, but A graphics card alone does not make the PC superior. like i said for consoles, its designed to play games and has superior gaming architecture. things like BUS speed and multi-threading, along with all games optimized to run on that very game console.

But when that does happen, in come the revolution and the PS3, which will hone the technological edge of the console. God knows how advanced the PS3 or revolution will be, so these consoles may out last the PC by a year. When the PC releases its new line of tech to catch up to or overtake the consoles, the developers will have to figure out how to use it and by the time this happens a new console arrives. Jsut the way I see it, correct me if im wrong.

Well, when new consoles come out, you haven't seen their full potential for at least a year. So by the time the Revolution and PS3 come out, Xbox360 will be coming into its own, showing its full capability. The PS3 and Revolution will be showing their potential way down the line also.
Sony is touting the PS3 as "2 times as powerful as the Xbox360 and 15 times more powerfull as the Nintendo Revolution" This is floating point calculation speed, which is highly debatable how important this is for games.

You keep saying how these consoles will "outlast PC by" a few months or years. (certain time).
The PC (IMB PC Compatible) has been out for like 30 years and nothing will outlast it.
These consoles are comming out, and they will continue to impress visually for years. Whether PC games can match it or out-do it graphically won't be by a great margin. And has little to do with what system is better for whoever.

Like I said in another thread. People need to figure out what games they like, then decide on a particular game system or PC. All of the systems have the power to impress.

I like the direction Nintendo and Microsoft are going. They are making video game machines. Relatively Cheap but extremly powerful video game machines. They realize that most homes that would buy one of these systems already have a PC.

It seems like Sony is going towards re-creating a PC without all the important things that PC's can do. 8 USB ports or whatever and compatability with all your video cameras and such is like.. "WHY?" I already have a PC

Lastly I have to disagree with most people on this forum. FPS are awesome on consoles.
control, graphics, sound, multi-player
And the future for FPS looks bright for consoles with games like Condemned, Oblivion Elder Scrolls 4, and Perfect Dark Zero with Xbox Live as some of the first games comming out for Xbox360 im very happy.

I can have my cake and eat it too.
PC + Xbox360 and/or Revolution

 

[Raz]

Oh noes! Games and consoles will be graphical equivalents for one month! PC gaming is surely dead, just like it was dead a few years ago, right? This thread is nothing but a bad rerun.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Or, you could just go for the middle ground and buy both a PC and your favourite console? It's not like you have to have just the one.

But yeah, the battle between Consoles and PCs will always be a game of outdoing the other. There won't be a winner - everytime a new console comes out, some new hardware for the PC will be released to beat the Console. And every time the PC brings out some new hardware, the Console developers will release a new box.

My personal preference is the PC, because I do more with my computer time than just play games.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Gray Fox]

Though I agree with the fact that consoles win it from PC.

One point I haven't seen mentioned or I haven't paid attention is that console games cost more. Normally about 10 to 20 bucks more.

Apart from that a PC my be more varied, but you know what you can buy a console for gaming and a cheap 500,- pc for internet and word and small online games. Plus on a pc you have to deal with a lot of bugs.

I mean if I just had to choose between the 2 and wasn't allowed to buy both, I would chose a PC. Because pc has a more varied selection of games, you can still play a lot of old games on it from 15 years ago, and ps,n64,gba emulators. But tha smartest thing to do is buy a console for gaming and a cheap pc for all the rest.

 

[Cole]

The thing that all pc gamers should be worried about is that the new line of consoles could very well crush pc gaming. Both are on the same level now, only one costs 5 times less than the other.

Worst Statement Ever.
If Pc Gaming is crushed, Nvidia and ATI == Less Sales. Less $$$ for them, plus having to wait periods of 5+ years between console generations to make graphic card chips == Horrible.

If Nvidia or ATI shut down == Monopoly. If both Shut Down == who will make the graphic cards? If Pc Gaming takes a huge fault == Less Moders, Less Future Programmers & we need more programers == Crush in whole gaming community.

Pc Gaming keeps the whole community ALIVE. Various Pc Gamers turn into programmers and modelers because of modding. With companies needing to go from about 20,40 to 80,100 employs we will need more people and even more so in the future generations. If Pc Gaming falls, the gaming community falls.

This game isn't even comming to Xbox360. It's come out for the Xbox and reported as comming to the PS3.

?? No, They are releasing it for Xbox and that version can be played on the Xbox360 with enhanced graphics.


Though right now my cousins have put more money into there Xbox than I have put into my Pc.
They have had 3 Xbox's(1 broke), and have bought a total of 9 controllers because of them breaking.
And I've actually learned something besides games on my computer. Like PHP, HTML, Javascript, CSS and little C++ for instance. Things that can open up another future for me.

 

[destrukt]

consoles were strong without large outside graphic card developers for a very long time, and that gaming community will continue if ati/nvidia were no more, which obviously won't happen.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Buy a PC and a console says the smarties. Best of both worlds. I have been hearing an awful lot of 'console supremacism' recently...but then, you always get that when the 'next generation' is about to appear.

Things the people say (I would do three but I can only think of 2 for now):

PCs are expensive as hell and you have to upgrade them all the time.

You're being short-changed then. I bought my PC 2 years ago for only £600 (including the monitor) - it wasn't top of the range then, but I haven't upgraded it and I probably won't for a while. It seems to handle everything I throw at it. Perhaps a RAM upgrade at some point during the next year, but that won't cost that much. Besides, if you want to get the most out of the whole console world you'd have to buy all the consoles - and how much would that cost you?

The new wave of consoles can do anything a PC can do. PCs are going down!

Sinkoman articulated it perfectly: bullshit. Same thing as Pesmerga said: the whole point of a PC is that it can do anything and everything. It's a blank canvas. Open platform. Games just happen to be one of the things you can play on it. Consoles by contrast are narrow and built purely for games - which is why they're cheaper. Problem is, console companies don't seem to realise that they're not going to be able to match the PC by stitching and bolting on new features like a computerised Doctor Frankenstein. You're not going to be able to match the PC by adding more and more - now music, now hard drive, now internet. Those things are still going to be narrow and highly regulated - you won't be able to do anything that a PC can do - all you'll have is what Microsoft or Sony wants you to have. It's approaching it from the wrong damn end. And hell, is it even what people want?

Plus, people are always going to need PCs. As long as they have PCs, they'll use them to play games.



One of my fears is that PCs and consoles will meet to create a standardised 'everything box'. /shiver

 

[destrukt]

Sinkoman articulated it perfectly: bullshit. Same thing as Pesmerga said: the whole point of a PC is that it can do anything and everything. It's a blank canvas. Open platform. Games just happen to be one of the things you can play on it. Consoles by contrast are narrow and built purely for games - which is why they're cheaper. Problem is, console companies don't seem to realise that they're not going to be able to match the PC by stitching and bolting on new features like a computerised Doctor Frankenstein. You're not going to be able to match the PC by adding more and more - now music, now hard drive, now internet. Those things are still going to be narrow and highly regulated - you won't be able to do anything that a PC can do - all you'll have is what Microsoft or Sony wants you to have. It's approaching it from the wrong damn end. And hell, is it even what people want?

Plus, people are always going to need PCs. As long as they have PCs, they'll use them to play games.

read my analogy about oranges/apples (lol), you people expect the wrong things from videogame consoles, no matter what the creator uses for advertising which usually shouldn't be taken as 100%.

 

[[eXp]Grey]

hm i think no side wins, couse of the difference.


a console can bring the feeling and the features of pc gaming, and inversely.
I can play with 4 ppl in front of one TV, without hours of explaining how to use the controler. Just turn it on, and play. PC takes 1 to 10 minutes to boot and start the game. Cant play with others (okay you can, but it totaly sucks ... this is 2005 and not 1990), have to learn how the game works, have to deal with bugs and performance issues etc.
but therefore i can have as much custom contant as i want (a point wich is not important to every gamer), allways up to date, build my own part of the game etc.

that are just two different worlds. Which one is the better, depends on the gamer. Some just want to play, others want more.
I cant agree to a "vs" between these two plattforms, even if its objective like here ... depends on the individual gaming style.


The only problem i discovered over the years, are the multi-plattform games in addition to the horrible marketing strategy of microsoft since they released the xbox.
They destroyed two most wanted games for PC.
First Halo - It was a so outstanding title .... would have kicked every PC game at the time back then. But then came microsoft, buyed it, destroyed it, now its just crap (yes ive played it. it totaly sucks, i dont care what any other ppl think, i just hate it couse i KNOW what it COULD have been if it were released at the PC). Secondly there is Deus Ex 2. I guess many would agree that this game is not worth the title Deus Ex. I think thats up to 50% becouse its multiplattform. For example: the graphics could look like Splinter Cell CT, but it doesnt, looks like ordinary xbox gfx.
I dont know why ... but there are a few examples that it dont have to be that way. But i guess the companies dont care of the PC, becouse the sell much more copys on console plattform (like GTA) then at the PC. But this is all the wrong way. Splinter Cell CT recently showed everyone, that even MP games can be outstanding, in both Gameplay and Graphics - IF the producer care, but mostly they dont. (like the just released Fahrenheit (got any weird name over in the us ... dont remeber) - i dont have green or red or any other color buttons at my keyboard, neither do i need lowres textures and a laggy control of my character - couse i have a 800dpi precice mouse and not a crapy controller)
Thats a point wich i discovered only at the xbox ... i never saw sony buying a company only for an PSX/PS2 exclusive title ... i saw many crapy PS2 games at the PC (like resident evil or metal gear) but thats not the point, couse they are playstation games. GTA could be an example, but only the graphics sucks at the PC, gameplay is just fine. But rockstar decided that by themselfs, and they are still rockstar and not an only-one-game-for-one-plattform-produrcer.
Its very subjective i know, the objective parts are on top and at the end.



ah and btw. "expensive"
console HARDWARE is enormous expensive.
I didnt buy a PS2 memory card in nearly 3 years now ... couse i NEVER spend 30 bucks for ****in (sorry) EIGHT MB, only becouse sony wants it. Either did i spend any money in addition controllers or a remote.
That prices (especialy the one of sony, PSP is a good example for their marketing ... 100€ for what ? 1GB ? no way!) are just sick in my eyes.

 

[Sulkdodds]

read my analogy about oranges/apples (lol), you people expect the wrong things from videogame consoles, no matter what the creator uses for advertising which usually shouldn't be taken as 100%.

Missing my point. What I'm saying is that's what I hear from a lot of console fans - "the new generation of consoles can do everything a PC can do." That's what they keep saying and that's what's being advertised. As far as I can see, the PS3 and Xbox360 are trying to do that, and a lot of emphasis is being placed on these extra non-gaming features. Like you said, that's not what the new consoles should be concentrating.

 

[destrukt]

the only non-gaming features i've seen the focusing on are media (home theatre and so on) and communication type things (xblive been expanded) both which are fine by me.

the ps3 though, and it's mythical cell processor i've seen been mentioned as being better than pc's and being used in pc's/handheld devices.

 

[VirusType2]

I like how MS has Xbox live with all games supporting Voice Communication.
even games like Phantasy star online MMORPG for xbox which originally required a keyboard on Dreamcast, now supported voice chat. Everyone knows its kind of a pain in the ass to type messages while fighting monsters!

Sony must have thought it a great idea too, and released a game (SOCOM) with a voice communicator.

It's too bad this was the only game to use this voice communicator

Everyone is saying a mouse/keyboard combo is the best for FPS.

I disagree, i prefer a control pad becuase of the obvious advantage of more precise character movement allowed by the analog control stick. i can walk, run and anything in between. I've said this before. I also notice no down-side to using the second analog stick for aiming.

While i agree that a mouse is great for aiming, I think they could come out with something better.
Why a keyboard? w a s d? why not something like nintendo's revolution control?

A seperate control stick for your left hand with buttons, for character movement instead of a keyboard. Then control the mouse with your other hand. and who knows how their motion part of their control may be better than a mouse even.

http://www.nicholasroussos.com/images/revolution-controller-2.gif
http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275/img_3073863.html
See this is what im saying. Nintendo=controller innovation. they set the standard for everyone else.

Bring on the future