Console or PC

[furyshinobi]

Console for me :) Used to be a PC gamer but after using my 360 for awhile, I can't stand gaming on my PC anymore...plus the games I like to play now are best suited for consoles.

[Explore]

I am both.

But Graphics, FPS, and RTS Games are more PC to me then they are console.

[LaraBoft]

Pc. Although I like the graphics of the PS3, I can't get used to the controls....

[Andre S. Veteran]

PC gamer here, has always been, and will probably always be. The PC is just an infinitely more flexible and powerful environment. I can use better controls, and the ones I prefer for each game; I can fire up fraps and record my games, I can install/create mods, I can install any game including old DOS games and emulators for old consoles, I can get better graphics if my hardware supports it or I can fine-tune them for optimal framerate.

The main reason is trying to play games on a PC is a fuss. I spent a few hundred building a good gaming computer, it had problems, and I'm always wondering "hmm I'll bump this setting up to high.... wait no that dropped the fps.... back to medium...." most of the time while playing, I'll just be focusing on how I can squeeze more performance out of it. None of those worries on my PS3 or 360. I can just get a game, know it'll work and be able to enjoy it.

I agree that having to optimize performance is a pain. I spent about 2 hours running Far Cry 2 benchmarks before finding a good compromise. And that's because Far Cry 2 has an awesome benchmark utility. With most games I don't even bother trying to find the perfect compromise because it would take way too long.

However, I've seen games run with a crappy framerate on consoles, and then you can't do anything about it but endure it. I'd rather keep the option of customizing performance.

The ideal would be if PC games shipped with an auto-tuning utility that iterate through all the settings, running benchmarks each time. You'd give it a target average framerate, a tolerance threshold, and a set amount of time to complete (at least 15 minutes, but the longer you leave it on, the finer-tuned it gets). This utility would be very similar from game to game so it could just be part of popular engines so it doesn't have to be custom-made all the time.

[TheGodofWar]

To be frank I think console gaming sucks. The entire model is broken and forces you to sacrifice quality for what the new "in" thing is.

I mean for example I was surfing the net the other day looking for a game to quench my RTS thirst. I love RTS games but haven't played in a while. I had a poke around on gameranking websites and decided to opt for Starcraft a game that is 11 years old but an undisputed classic of the genre. I had the option of purchasing newer games like Red Alert 3 but I thought Starcraft was the superior game.

The problem with console gaming is the model relies on software being sold. For example when Microsoft and Sony make a console the consoles are sold at a loss in general. In other words if the PS3 sells for 500 dollars it may cost 600 to make. Sony recoup that cost with software taking a percentage from every game sold.

Because consoles rely on software sales they have to tailor a sales pattern that dictates new games are constantly being bought up so they create a marketplace where something is big for a few months and then gets replaced and what this does is breed games that generally suck and have a short life. After all if a game on the consoles was to last in the limelight for a longer period of time it would take away sales from other games.

The problem with this model is new games are constantly pushed on you and quality is sacrificed for the "in" thing to succeed. The ultimate cut off point is generally a new generation of consoles.

The problem with this philosophy is if you are a Square Enix fan and you own a current generation console instead of getting to pick between gems like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7 you are now stuck with crap like Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant.

With PC gaming quality usually reigns supreme. I have to bring up Starcraft again for example. The game is over a decade old but due to its quality it is still the best selling RTS game. That is something you do not get with console gaming due to old games being relegated to the past generations in favour of shiny new games that are often inferior to the original product.

The model is very broken and consoles are paying for it. The 360 has yet to break a profit and Sony have conceded it is unlikely to ever turn a profit on the PS3. Not only do I think the model for consoles is broken I also don't think the Xbox franchise will become profitable in the 360's lifetime and I am convinced the PS3 won't be profitable either in its lifetime. Says a lot about winning when you look past irrelevant figures. The Wii on the other hand deserves a mention simply because it's the Jesus console.. after all what else aside from divine intervention can help that console conquer its opponents in such furious fashion?

[Death Proof]

Hands down console for me.

[DaGrayMan]

Console. I play some older pc games, but I can't afford the constant upgrades to play the new games that I want.

[svnO.o]

The problem with this philosophy is if you are a Square Enix fan and you own a current generation console instead of getting to pick between gems like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7 you are now stuck with crap like Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant.

If you mean The Last Remnant is 'crap' on consoles (and not the PC version) I agree with you (due to it being badly optimized and lagging on console versions). Some people think it was a bad game but I actually enjoyed it. The battle system took awhile to get used to, but the overall game was enjoyable IMO.

[svnO.o]

With no hesitation I'd say I'm a PC Gamer.

Give me any FPS or RTS game and I'll take mouse and keyboard on my PC any day, however for stuff like GTA4 / Saint's Row / Fable 2 / Mass Effect I find they work better with a joypad... Doesn't necessarily mean I'll play on console given the choice, but I'll certainly prefer a joypad for them.

The beauty of PC gaming is you can easily buy a 360 controller off eBay for like $25 (like I did) and is compatible with almost all games out of the box. Especially when it comes to console ports.

[TruckWEB]

See my sig, the only console missing here is the Wii. My consoles are connected (HDMI) to my 50" Sony FullHD with full surround sound.

Still, I find myself playing much more with my PC. I love to game, but I'm short on patience, so I like to run a trainer/cheat from time to time.... Something you can't do on a console.

[deletedxyz]

PC Gamer hands down. Nothing is better than playing Fallout 3 or Mass Effect or Flight Simulator X at 1920x1200 with all settings set to very high. Throw in the PCSX2 emulator and I have an all around package with a Logitech Wireless Rumblepad 2, internet browsing, MS Office, AutoCAD, Firefox (with tens of addons), chat, MediaMonkey, and torrents and I think it trumps the consoles.

If I didn't depend on the software, I would have a PS3 and bought 10 games or so. :p

[Samduhman]

I own all platforms. I game 99.5% on my PC. Why, better controls, graphics, gaming experience. The only game I've been able to stomach on my consoles recently is Tigers Woods 2010 with the the new Wii motion plus. I think if more console gamers had the oppurtunity to try real PC gaming they'd become PC gamers. The current market promotes consoles in the retail stores and tv advertisements. Millions of gamers are being herded into the console arena and have no comprehension there is a platform that provides a better all round gaming experience. These gamers friends talk console, console, console so they have to assume they must be right? No those friends are clueless to. The PC has no promoter but it's fans.

With the cost of current PC gaming hardware the arguments off the console fanboy are becoming wiffs of air. I can also hook my PC to my big screen TV and sit on the couch while looking at better graphics.

While practically all games are going multiplatform the PC still gets a wealth of exclusives via mods for current games (for free may I remind you), European nations are still huge into PC gaming and we see some really decent games coming this way. Lets not forget the upcoming exclusives mainly Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3.

If your an exclusive console gamer get your head out of Gamestop and do a little research. The PC gaming library goes all the way back to the 80s. ;) There also seems to be a whole silent market for adventure games on the PC. I thought adventure gaming had died till I did some digging recently. There are a couple websites which specialize in them.

$500 gaming PC..April article so it should be cheaper now.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Samduhman

[Orien]

I own a PS3, but still consider myself a PC gamer.

[g~man]

console

imo only genre pc is good for is rts... maybe mmo's but ive never played them so no comment

for fps's give me a analogue stick anyday... yes its harder but its harder for everyone so its all good. feels more natural.

using a mouse cursor across a screen to shoot a gun.. its like some kindergarten stuff to me

now if someone can build me and keep upgrading me a gaming pc for ?160 to last me next 4 years (including a xbox 360 controller) i will take the plunge... theres even drawbacks for that... getting games later than consoles, getting gimped versions of sports games, getting downloadable content after consoles get them, having to install games and mess about with settings and drivers etc, having to boot up the pc everytime i want to play a game, not getting games like forza, gran turismo, halo 3, uncharted, fable... i dont even think the whole online thing is as good as the 360's (or even ps3's), correct me if im wrong

consoles are just easy... nothing like coming home from being infront of a pc almost all day, sitting back on the sofa infront of your 42 inch hdtv, grabbing the controller and turning on the console... joining a party within seconds

[g~man]

If your an exclusive console gamer get your head out of Gamestop and do a little research. The PC gaming library goes all the way back to the 80s. ;) There also seems to be a whole silent market for adventure games on the PC. I thought adventure gaming had died till I did some digging recently. There are a couple websites which specialize in them.

[/url]

why would i want to play games from the 80's?

adventure games? u mean like uncharted and fable? if so, doubt they will be better than those 2

[Premgenius]

PC only

[g~man]

The playability just seem far more fluid in a PC (if you have the spec right) but more to the point there is so much more you can do with a keyboard and mouse. I used to play flight sims non stop and loved to take an F/A 18 off a carrier, fly to target, take it out, shoot down a couple of MiGs on the way and return to land on the carrier and having to press a seperate key for every single operationrequired to do the tasks required. I remember reading a post on another forum where a kid thought that the button on the underside of a 360 pad made CoD more realistic cause it is like a trigger, he has obviously never fired a rifle in his life. To me a console just doesnt add anything that a PC cant do.

if your a fan of flight sims and playing on a qwerty keyboard then u should think about buying a dedicated flight joystick. a qwerty keyboard was invented for typing, people have just become acustomed to using it as a gaming device, its not ideal

as for call of duty... im not bashing but how do you differentiate run and walk on the arrow keys, just curious

[nekrosoft13]

98% of gaming I do on PC

simply there is no good games on consoles.

why would i want to play games from the 80's?

adventure games? u mean like uncharted and fable? if so, doubt they will be better than those 2

hey kiddo, uncharted and fable are not adventure games

[winrez]

World of Warcraft and all the newest high end games on the PC

Xbox 360 is just basically a Media Center Extender for my bedroom

Wii Mario Kart (need i say more here)

I have a Mame Arcade (in a Street Figher II Championship Edition Cabinet) all classic games like centipede and pacman

other than that all my other consoles are in my kids room

[TheSETh!]

Why do you need a card? I play my pc games on an HDTV with the Xbox controller using the HDMI port on my graphics card. I plug in one cable and it sends audio and video. It's really quite simple if you have an hdmi capable graphics card.

[pyehac]

Both for me. Either I play the game on our PS3 if my computer isn't powerful enough; or I play either one on our PS3 (for the sake of just playing it) and PC (so I can play with mods).

[buckboii]

i prefer PC, just easier to play with.

[kiwi89]

PC only... all other platforms suck..... except the N64 :p

[stephen_0002]

I'm a little liberal on the subject.. really depends on the game......... fps, most part, on the PC. Sports games like say NHL 09 and up, on the console... to me, it's more of a software dependantcy

[acnpt]

Mostly xbox360, I play older, flight sim or strategy games on the PC.