I just had had a thought after reading a few posts by PC gamers wondering about the PC release of GTA: San Andreas.

It seems to happen fairly often when a great game comes out for a console (GTA, MGS2, Final Fantasy, Silent Hill, etc. etc.). PC Gamers say, "When's it coming out for PC?" "Why doesn't 'so-and-so' make a PC version?" and other such comments that show a distress over a game not being released for Windows.

A question to you PC gamers. Why is it you'll spend hundreds upon hundreds for PC upgrades so you can play the newest PC game, but refuse to drop so much as $120 for a preowned console to play the newest PS2, GCN or XBOX game? You'll buy new memory and a new video card so you can play Half-Life 2 the second it comes out, but at the same time, you complain that not enough of the great console games are released for PC.

Just today I saw a post about someone saying how he's just going to have to wait a year for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas. If he wants to play it so much, is $120 or even less for a preowned PS2 really too high a price to play the game now?

I just hope it's not due to some kind of "PC is better than consoles" fanboy attitude, because if the game isn't going to come out on PC, that argument doesn't hold much water.

Just curious.

I haven't owned a console since the original playstation debuted. I'm NOT a console gamer, 90% of the best and most influential games ever have come out on computer.

Consoles are mainly for the people that dont want to bother with the technical knowhow of computers, they want something they can just drop in and play.

Any game thats worth its salt that has come out on the console, ALWAYS comes out on PC, but not visa-versa.

Because I want to.

Would have to agree there...most really good games are on the PC first. Now there are exceptions of course...but for the most part, the developer has the most room to breath on a PC. That is why.

I own a console( XBOX, Gamecube)
Just prefer my PC for gameing, thats all.

Well I dont know but If I had to pick it would mos def. be console gaming. Most pc game are and will be better then there console counter part but the thing is , console gaming equals more games simply as that alot more quality games and different types of games also well aleast more genes then the pc.

Console are kinda limiting for me. My arguments are, PC allows more genre to be played rather than console.

For example, rts games like StarCraft, WarCraft series. Try playing that on a console, even with the keyboard or mouse add on. It would just be a pc gaming in a console form. If i want to play football games like EA Fifa, i can just plug in a joypad and enjoy it like i would on a console.

Downside on pc is, you have to spend some hefty sum for upgrades. Since most i believe, use computers to get their work done, i would say the upgrade is worthwhile.

I know some of us know SA looks like $hit on the PS2 and would rather play it on a PC the way it's meant to be played which is on a system that can handle the game, not on one that is struggling to run it with low frame rates, low quality textures, short draw distances, and no AA or AF....

My favorite genre is RPGs, and quite frankly, the vast majority of PC RPGs I've played have sucked- a lot. I'm just not a fan of the style. I get bored of MMORPGs in three minutes. Console ones, on the other hand, are fun and engaging- take Star Ocean, Final Fantasy, or Xenosaga as examples.

Then there're the first party titles, especially by Nintendo, that will never be released on PC, no matter how much people whine about it.

I'm a console gamer through-and-through and I don't think that'll change anytime soon. I don't have a problem with PC games usually having to be patched or console games lacking mods, etc. etc. I just know what I like.

Nope thats the point , really you made it yourself console gaming isnt limited and pc gaming is , truly and as consoles get more more pc like they games wont have the grapich qualitys of its pc counter parts , but you will still be able to play them plus all the console games you wont be able to play on pc.

Well, you guys are kind of missing the point, and at the same time reinforcing the idea that it's one or the other.

My question is why are you willing to dish out hundreds on PC upgrades to play the newest PC games, but unwilling to dish out substantially less than that to have the best of all worlds. It just doesn't make sense to complain about the wait for good console games to get ported to PC when all you have to do is pick up a console that costs less than half of what that new video card cost.

So far the replies have been, "I prefer PCs. They're better." Of course I'm paraphrasing, but it's not an answer to my question. Why not pick up a PS2 and an XBOX and then be able to play all the games you want when they come out, instead of having to wait for PC ports? If you don't like like console games period, then you can't really answer.

psybapunk says:



What is that? Is it a point of pride to not own a console? "I'm NOT a console gamer". You need the emphasis? Also, who cares if a game is the 'best' or 'most influential'? Isn't all that matters whether you like it or not? Is there a pride to be taken in the average review score of your game collection?

um, my snes doesn't work on my new tv.

whoops...meant to edit my old post, but hit reply. Anyways:


I mean, if it's worth the hundreds that it costs to keep your PC up to date so you can play the best PC games, isn't it worth $150 to get a full 3-4 years of playing the best games for that console? Over 3-4 years, it must cost well over a thousand dollars, maybe more than two, to keep your PC upgraded enough to play the new games.

I just buy all the consoles and build a mega PC that I wont upgrade/build (except minor stuff like RAM) for a few years. That way I get the best of both worlds.

Now you sir, are a video-gamer in the truest sense of the word.

If I know a game is going to come out only for a console then I buy it for that system I buy consoles because some games just dont get ported. but if a port is being made I'll wait because I like the higher res and better controls that a keyboard and mouse offer over a controller.

Look, people have their reasons. You probably won't find satisfaction in anybody's answer because obviously it makes no sense to you as to why some people would spend more money to game on a PC when they can spend a little for a console.

It's like asking someone why they smoke. They aren't going to sit ther and give you some scientific answer, they will most likely say "because I like it and I can't quit." Are you going to tell them that isn't a good enough answer?

Like I said before, I play games on my PC because I want to. I bought a PS2 3 years ago and so far the only games I have for it are sports games. When there is a lull in sports titles being released it just collects dust. I also like having the ability to upgrade my system, where as the PS2 has been the same exact thing for like 4-5 years now. There aren't games like Rise of Nations, Rome: Total War, Warcraft III, or even FarCry.

I think people want to play certain games that are PC only, or atleast were meant for a PC like Doom 3 and HL2. They want to play the games with all purdyness on so they blow all of their money on a sweet system and then don't have money to spare for a console.
In terms of graphic quality, PCs have a huge advantage because you can upgrade your graphic card, where as a console you are stuck with the same machine through the whole life cycle of the console. Consoles have a major advantage when it comes to game developers wanting to make sure their game will work with their customer's system. With PCs it takes a ton of work to make sure all of the bugs are ironed out for the multitude of different hardware types, and even then you can't count on people having the most up to date drivers and hardware, so you even have to worry about backward compatability for mr. "I won't upgrade my geforce 2 mx ever!" and mrs. "I don't need more than 400mhz". But when you are programming for a console you can optomize the hell out of your code and graphics to get the best performance for the hardware.
The Xbox is the first console to use PC parts. The PC hardware industry is already so advanced and filled with developers, why should a company waste their time developing hardware for a console when they can use hardware that is out there or in development to make a really high performance system.

I personally play both PC and console games. I would much rather all games came out for the PC because I like the keyboard and mouse for FPS and RTS games, and I can always get a controller or joystick for a flight sim or adventure game. The enoying thing with consoles is that not all games come out for one console. I'm lucky enough to have all 3, PS2 Gamecube and xbox, but not everyone can afford that. So far there haven't been any ATI only games or Intel only games, and I like the idea that I won't be restricted by my hardware and have to buy a second system to meet the requirements of a game.

In terms of cost, consoles beat out PCs, but when you add up the prices for all of the current generation consoles, before their massive price cuts down to $100-150, you get a number close to the price of a few good PC upgrades

Not true, Doom 3, XBOX, HL2, XBOX... I have a PS2, Gamecube, and soon XBOX.

well

i'm a pc gamer because

1) i can
2) i want the best, best graphics, best gameplay, best sound (and consoles can't provide that)
3) i got a xbox, which i DON"T USE!!!!, so here i did dish out the money, which are laying on the shelf
4) let me repeat, pc games are simply better!!!, playing shooters, strategy and good rpg, on consoles is simply pathetic.
5) i want more control in the game, game pads are only good for some platform, adventure and sports games
6) i want mods!!!, user created maps, enhancements, skins, new characters.
7) simply i want to enjoy my game to the max, that my system can support


oh and Liquid no offence have fun playing your stripped down versions of doom3 and hl2 on the xbox. and have fun aiming with the gamepad, in doom3 by the time you aim with the gamepad, you will loose your head in the game

Its because having to game on the console takes me away from most things i like to do,
Meanwhile the power and the abilities the pc has.......makes me want to game there more. As soon as i am done with a game i can just go on msn or surf the web with no problems and total use of my keyboard and mouse which feel just awesome when playing FPS's my favorite genre. on consoles it just doesnt feel right. One game that almost got it down was Quake 3 arena for the dreamcast.. i had so much fun with that, But it was never near as good as the pc.

Things on pc are better for me, i much rather spend 300bucks on a new video card than 300 bucks on an xbox.
canadian prices by the way when xbox first came out

Everyone has their own opinion so understand that

I myself was very much a console gamer in the early stages and played mostly on my playstation when it came out, I mostly played sporting and racing games but once I got into Quake 3 my PS became obsolete to me b/c I only played those types of games on it.

Now I've owned both an XBOX and a PS2 but I found myself selling them b/c I had no need for them even though I would play some games occasionally, I played and focused mainly on my PC b/c I was fascinated by them and I continue to be.

As far as consoles I dare even think about buying another one unless it would be a modded one so it can have other functionalities than just to game.

in the past 4-6 months, i used the xbox maybe for 7-10 hours, and all i did on it was use the media center.

i was thinking about selling it too

Mouse/Keyboard>Controller.. only reason I play on PC alot more than consoles.

I don't know about that $1,000 price tag you mention. I upgraded my MB & cpu to a socket 754 AMD64 3000+ and got them for less than $500.

Now, as far as paying $150 for a used console...If you pay that much for a used one, you're daft. If, or when I do play on a console it isn't for very long. They bore me. I'm not knocking any console system. I think PCs are better for gaming. I can get ultra high resolutions at insane frame rates. Consoles are limited by the memory and physical storage (if any).

My .02

See this is what makes me wonder sometimes do they even care about the games , I thought it was all about the supposed to be all about the games and if it is then your totally wrong about what you said , who cares about if the graphics arent maxed out its the same game and using a controller isnt as bad as almost everyone points it out to be really they would adjust it for the console too.

I look at it this way I like console because there are more quality games simply as that .
Wait till consoles get more pc like then the only reason you might have to say pc only is because the game is only for pc.

Because I can be willing to spend those dollars on a computer to last me awhile plus I don't only use my computer for gaming. I use my computer for pretty much everything I guess, from school work to music to communicating with friends and stuff... so its worth the extra money you drop down on it. Consoles are: outdated technology even when they first hit the market, expensive when they are just released, and have no purpose almost besides gaming (yeah, as a dvd player maybe, but I have a dvd player on my computer plus the one on the tv). I would love to own all the consoles but its all about priorities in using the money you (don't) have...

Ha!!! That PS2 couldn't handle FarCry.

See thats what im talking about... its not about the games anymore is it .

Yes it could .. If they scaled it down for it , there releasing it for xbox you know.




Barcode true true, but what does that have to do with the games? Like ive said before its not about gaming over buying a pc or not is it. If it was for gaming only you know pc wouldnt stand a chance really , hey it may sound stupid to say that but its very much true.

yes but who wants a game when all the great graphics which is a big part of a game are taken out

I do. I use to think that but really the grapichs arent maxed out but who cares , its not like there gonna be crappy either .. Infact its werid to me kinda because I know everyone who plays pc games cant max out evey game they own , mabye some but not most and they still play the games and enjoy them and thats my point with console games they dont need to be maxed out to enjoy.

Only one exception I'll make to that rule, DS.

ok go play the original tetris or pong, and be quite already

why buy a console when a pc has:
- better in-game textures
- higher resolution
- superior controls

if you actually want to enjoy a game then 'play it the way it was meant to be played'
with responsive controls and delicious visuals
thats my 5 cents

Nice Comeback...? Hey Ill stick by my statement thank you very much , I mean the GamePlay is the same no matter if graphics are maxed out or not.

So I will go play pong on my gameboy and you can play it on your computer. I bet its better on the computer better graphics right.

Yup...all thats true but I dont know what you mean when you say enjoy a game.
Most games are console games only made for consoles so shouldnt you play it on a console and 'play it the way it was meant to be played' according to your theory?

i have a ps2 as well, but some games like nfsu graphics are below standard on the ps2, i dont see how anyone with a decent pc can swtich to ps2 for that game. so wheres the harm in waiting if a pc version comes with better graphic quality? my hundreds spent on better components for the pc can help me with other things anyway like my cad work. with the ps2 i play some fighting games, rpgs, which are very limited on the pc.

gameplay its not the same!!!

try playing starcraft, c&c generals, aom, aoe with a damn gamepad.

try playing first person shooters, with a gamepad, aiming with a thumb sticks is horrible

why i said pong and tetris i didn't mean to play them on pc, you said that graphics don't matter to you, if they don't then play those games.

at this age graphics are big part of games, and they do influence allot of people when they choose what games to play

No man you simply dont understand I fully understand what you mean about graphics but get this straight , console graphics arent that bad...but yet that doesnt matter does it if there not bad you dont care , only if there the best. What is this damn retarted controller argument those are pc games !!!! Im sure if they released the game for a console they would change the control system duh , I have played many first person shooters with a gamepad on console not pc , which they have made my they make the controls to work with a a controller just fine . I think you mean using a game pad sucks when using it on the computer to play a fps and if you do I agree but If you mean using a controller on a console to play a fps your wrong.

1. I don't play games often enough to warrent buying a console
2. I can't look at CRT displays for long periods of time, and I can't afford a plasma/LCD tv.
3. I can do far more with my computer.
4. I don't spend any money on upgrading my computer.
5. The only games I play are FPS and the only way to play them is with a keyboard/mouse (as far as I am concerned).
6. As for game exclusives, I would have to buy a PS2, X-BOX and Game Cube if I wanted to cover all games.
7. Game consoles seem childish to me.
8. Graphics and features tend to be superior on PC.
9. I don't know much about modern consoles but I would guess it would be difficult to apply patches and modifications to games (if any exist).
10. There are plenty of games I like that don't come out on a console that come out on PC.

And that’s why I would never waste money on a game console.

see those are all good reasons to me why not to be a console. It had nothing to do with graphics ..because they said they dont update there computer which is werid kinda but they said pc games are grapics are superior which is true depending on huh new your computer is , if you dont update it.

even when they would make a strategy game for a console you still wouldn't have enough control to play it fully with a game pad.


doesn't matter where the game is, here are the controls best for the genres

strategy, rpg, fps = keyboard, mouse
sports games = gamepad
racing = force feedback wheel
flight simulator = stick and throttle control


like i said before playing fps with gamepad its not right


and TheBlackGuy, stop trying to force your useless opinions on everyone here.

all the points that virtorio brought up are valid



edit
TheBlackGuy


you wanna be a console

Well thats just the reason I don't buy consoles, which was the point of the thread. I have nothing against console games. The only other argument I could make would be controls and saves in a game. Consoles play very differently than PCs. Not to say thats a bad thing either. I would have much rather played halo on an xbox, although I can't say the same for GTA games which are still more designed for the pc it seems.

Consoles are much better if you have friends you like to game with. Unfortunately, not many of my friends are that into games so they don't really want to. Consoles can be played a lot easier in a comfortable area. While I can move my PC out into the living room or something in front of the couch, my mom would kill me and it would be an eyesore.

I would like to write a proper response to your post, but I just can't figure out what you are talking about.

eyesore?


not really




i'm buying one of these, and i will equip it with my spare 9800 pro, hook it up to my soon to be bought hdtv

Sigh Sigh...you dont get it do you mabye thats true on a PC , but on a console all of the games are made to be played with a gamepad...So if you get a console game say a fps its not made to be played with a keyboard and mouse trust me thats the big deal eveyone isnt it , and im just trying to say its not that much of a big deal really. Well Im not trying to force my opinions on everyone im just trying to answer questions and tell the truth , if I wanted to force my opionions I would start my own religon.

haha, i know what you mean


in that post of his, he said he wants to be a console

Well how do you play RTS games with a gamepad? And then games ported to consoles from the PC like Half-Life 2 (someday supposedly coming to the xbox). Its just that some games just can't be designed for a console, unless consoles start using keyboards and mice by default.

yup but you know what I mean...its just you'd rather make fun of me and hey I cant blame you .