Why do you guys bother with PC gaming?

[jalo2]

it's pretty insane what PC gamers spend just on video cards. a video card can cost the same or more than an entire PS3/360. all these $1,000+ rigs, all the questions and research on cooling, power consumption, SSD, and so on, when you can just buy a PS3 for $250 and turn it on and be done with it.

not to mention the dearth of games for PCs in the last decade. when i did most of my gaming on a PC back in the 80s/90s, there were new titles left and right.

 

[Revolution 11]

Obviously you have not played PC games anytime in the last few years if you think there is a lack of quality PC games. I will agree with you that we PC gamers don't have enough games.:'(

I will admit that a console is easier to use. No patches, no viruses, etc. But once you have a good PC, you really can't go back to nerfed games.

 

[nleibert]

It's not just gaming, it's a hobby in itself. Not only do I love pc gaming, I love upgrading my pc and playing around with it to make it even better. With a PC, I can do all sorts of things.

 

[jalo2]

But once you have a good PC, you really can't go back to nerfed games.

It's not just gaming, it's a hobby in itself. Not only do I love pc gaming, I love upgrading my pc and playing around with it to make it even better. With a PC, I can do all sorts of things.

ok it's starting to make a little more sense now.

 

[lehtv]

For sake of comparison, A PC that plays games fluidly on 720p with no antialiasing etc. - i.e. console graphics settings - doesn't cost much at all, and it'll do everything PC's do, instead of being just a gaming platform. Gaming on 1080p which is what most people do, is only a little bit more expensive (i.e. 50-100 eur more expensive GPU). Then also consider the fact that for those willing to pay, PC games can be run on many times higher resolutions, multi-monitor configs and with higher image quality settings. And PC games can take advantage of mods. Plus, gaming with keyboard and mouse is infinitely better for FPS games and probably better for all other genres as well.

 

[GaiaHunter]

First there are several good games that don't require really expensive rigs.

Second the really expensive rigs are only required for max settings, but those settings generally far surpass the image quality of console (sometimes those settings are just a gimmicky new tech that is reduces performance for small IQ gains though) - even medium settings generally give as high or higher IQ than consoles.

Third several genres of gaming are still exclusive or at least better suited for PCs.

Fourth once you get used to addons, utilities, mods, etc, that turn your gaming experience in something that surpasses the original title, you just can't go back to not have them.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

People paid over 1,000 for ps3's when they were first released because no one could get them. That wasn't weird?

 

[amenx]

It's not just gaming, it's a hobby in itself. Not only do I love pc gaming, I love upgrading my pc and playing around with it to make it even better. With a PC, I can do all sorts of things.

Yep, same for me.

 

[Tarvaln]

For sake of comparison, A PC that plays games fluidly on 720p with no antialiasing etc. - i.e. console graphics settings - doesn't cost much at all, and it'll do everything PC's do, instead of being just a gaming platform. Gaming on 1080p which is what most people do, is only a little bit more expensive (i.e. 50-100 eur more expensive GPU). Then also consider the fact that for those willing to pay, PC games can be run on many times higher resolutions, multi-monitor configs and with higher image quality settings. And PC games can take advantage of mods. Plus, gaming with keyboard and mouse is infinitely better for FPS games and probably better for all other genres as well.

Don't forget about the ability to cheat!

 

[s44]

You should try out a Conquest Large map on a friend's High/Ultra-level BF3 rig before asking...

 

[exar333]

Nice troll post.

<------ Answering troll post: Some of us enjoy building PC rigs and we use them for other things than just gaming. PC gaming has many more options than consoles; resolution, 3D, multi-monitor, development platform.

 

[Rhezuss]

Like another poster said, it's a hobby to upgrade your PC, it's just plain fun.

Researching, buying, testing, enjoying.

 

[XLNC]

Building a good rig IS the game for me. Once in a while, I buy a new game and see how well I did. Besides, there are some games (FPS, MMO, etc) that are inherently better on the PC with keyboard and mouse.

 

[Barfo]

For sake of comparison, A PC that plays games fluidly on 720p with no antialiasing etc. - i.e. console graphics settings

Actually that would be better than consoles. AFAIK no games other than XBLA types of games run at 60 fps at an actual 720p resolution.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ right, most console games are 720p or lower and 30 fps.

I spent about $1600 on a high-end gaming PC in early 2006, then $700 in 2008 and then another $200 last year to upgrade the video card. That's $2,500 but spread over 5 1/2 years.

And my PS3 in 2006 cost $800 not $250. PC costs have dropped just like PS3 / 360 costs.

I actually own a PC, PS3 and 360, because each has exclusives that I want to play. It's fanboys who say"my platform X is good, all others are teh stoopid!"

When I can, I play most games on the PC because the graphics and framerates are much better (even with my old 2008 CPU), and games like Oblivion and Fallout New Vegas allow using mods.

 

[NTAC]

it's pretty insane what PC gamers spend just on video cards. a video card can cost the same or more than an entire PS3/360. all these $1,000+ rigs, all the questions and research on cooling, power consumption, SSD, and so on, when you can just buy a PS3 for $250 and turn it on and be done with it.

not to mention the dearth of games for PCs in the last decade. when i did most of my gaming on a PC back in the 80s/90s, there were new titles left and right.

Sounds like you are a bit out of touch.

PC games are plentiful, and the PC versions of games are always the best around because you aren't limited by HW that is now 3 or 4 years old.

BF3 for example on the highest settings blows away the PS3 / 360 version, not to mention the fact that on PC you can have 64 players where as on the consoles you are limited to 32 or 24.. I forget which one.

 

[tigersty1e]

Why would you buy a porsche when a honda can do the same thing?

 

[veri745]

A) I prefer KB+mouse to controllers (not for all games, i.e. driving / flight)
B) Games are way cheaper; most games are $5-15 instead of $50-60
C) PCs are used for things other than games.
... I could go on, but I'll stop here...

 

[uclaLabrat]

For sake of comparison, A PC that plays games fluidly on 720p with no antialiasing etc. - i.e. console graphics settings - doesn't cost much at all, and it'll do everything PC's do, instead of being just a gaming platform. Gaming on 1080p which is what most people do, is only a little bit more expensive (i.e. 50-100 eur more expensive GPU). Then also consider the fact that for those willing to pay, PC games can be run on many times higher resolutions, multi-monitor configs and with higher image quality settings. And PC games can take advantage of mods. Plus, gaming with keyboard and mouse is infinitely better for FPS games and probably better for all other genres as well.

This. Saying you can get a high end gaming rig for $1000 isn't really a fair comparison. Everyone who has a $250-$350 console also has in all likelihood a $400-700 PC or laptop. If you spent that $250+ on upgrading your PC, you'd have a system that destroys any console now, and will be either comparable or better than the next gen systems when they come out. PC gaming isn't for everyone, but the cost difference isn't nearly as great as people like to claim.

 

[pauldun170]

My gaming rig, which plays tons of games that no console could ever match is the equivalent of a $700-$900. Not top of the line but I can play just about any game on max settings at 1920x1080 in ways that no console could ever match.

Its also serves as a general use PC.

PS3 or xbox= $300-$400
A seperate PC\laptop = Anywhere from $500-$1000 or if you are a Mac dooshebag 1000-1500

There is the argument that there is always this chase to get the latest and greatest PC components is not applicable to all.

I am able run all sorts of games at MAX settings at 1080p resolution on a 3 year old processor and a close to one year old video card. I could probably do the same with some two year old video cards I have running around. I could do the same with the $100 low end "budget processor" I have sitting around.

I've played plenty of top titles on PS3 and Xbox that friends drool over "come look at these graphics...it will blow you away".
To my eye, they look like crap compared to what I play on my PC. The controls suck compared top mouse and keyboard and having the extra crap around my entertainment center adds clutter. There are some great games that are exclusive to consoles but its not worth it too me to pick up another console. I have no use for either an xbox360 or Playstation3 since so many titles available to those are also on the PC, my Wii has been retired and now my Wii catalog is run from an emulator on my PC (I also have emulator for most consoles release in the past 20 years including a huge catalog of titles).


Would I recomend what I do to someone else? No.
I certainly wouldn't criticize someone else for the gaming choice they make either.

 

[imaheadcase]

The difference is you can buy a $300 video card when PS3 was released..and its still better than ps3

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

OP

 

[westernmetaphor]

ok seriously, IT IS A PC, not just a gaming console, there is a vast amount of potential as to what it can do

plus pc games are amazing!

if they added a keyboard, mouse and handheld controller to consoles, I will play those more

 

[busydude]

not to mention the dearth of games for PCs in the last decade.

Can you back this up.

 

[paul878]

Personally, I just can't handle all theose buttons on the console Controller.
How in the world do people play FPS with these thing? What a match with a PC Gamer?