We can all agree that a FPS is better on the PC. But I been reading and hearing that the trend tends to favor games coming out on PC and consoles and eventually might move exclusivly to consoles.

Certain high quality titles from companies like Valve are already coming out on both consoles and PCs, but big companies have the staying power and name recognition to handle the smaller PC market.

I have heard that The Force Unleashed will be moved to console only and that Crysis did terrible on sales for PC games.

I think that the only real choice of PC games is to go for the multiplayer experience (BF2, TF2, CS, MMORPG, etc). It is really the only reason I buy games anymore because I can get so many more hours out of it.

And lets be honest consoles are cheaper than upgrading you PC, but you can always justify it because a PC can be used for so much more than just gaming.

WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE THINK?

2/18/2008 12:30:19 PM

Reason for the death of PC gaming





But there will always be RTS games and multiplayer only games (MMO and FPS) on PC.

[Edited on February 18, 2008 at 12:33 PM. Reason : ]

2/18/2008 12:33:16 PM

I prefer PC gaming and I was really disappointed when I found out that The Force Unleashed was to be released solely for the consoles. But I think it's probably just because PC game sales are in a decline and companies feel it unecessary to use resources to make some games playable on the PC.

2/18/2008 12:34:37 PM

The last condole game I played extensivly was FF7.

Controllers are so bleh.

Doesnt it seem like consoled will eventually be just like PC games with multiplayer and voice chat and all that. Minus the controller. Could they make console keyboards and mice work?

2/18/2008 12:42:56 PM

I will never buy a FPS or RTS game on a console until I can use a mouse to point with instead of a fucking thumbstick.

If they could cure that, then I wouldn't hate on consoles so much. That's the #1 problem with them.

2/18/2008 12:50:01 PM

piracy is only an issue if you're a shitty developer and/or your game sucks

I think the biggest problem for PC gaming is how good the 360 is as a platform. Its essentially a static hardware PC. Which means easier development and lower hardware prices.

Also, the 360 crowd is way easier to please than the PC crowd. Halo 3 is a mediocre FPS by PC standards, but console gamers love it. Same with gears of war.

So traditional PC shops like EPIC see the 360 as a way to cash in without much effort. Lets take UT3 for example. ut2k4/2k3 is a better game. UT3 looks like shit and plays like shit by pc standards. EPIC knows it. So they didn't bother promoting the game on PC at all. But who can blame them really. They could put in the effort to make UT3 really great so PC gamers would buy it. Or they could put in half the effort, make Gears of War 2, and toss it on the 360 and sell a ton of copies.

On the other hand you have Valve. They decided to make some really good games for PC and then sold a ton of copies. And because they're actually really good developers, they tossed out some console versions that did pretty well.

And then you have blizzard who has so cemented their position as the king of pc development. Their games all run on decade old machines. SC2, when it comes out, will run on machines with mediocre specs. Because they know that whatever they put out, everyone will buy. So they want to maximize their audience. WoW just prints money for them. So they can take their time to put out another money press every few years.

2/18/2008 1:10:12 PM

I was thinking that having a semi-standard controller for the PC (360 controller) might help boost PC gaming. I've got several games that were also for the 360. All I have to do is plug the controller in. The buttons are already pre-mapped to the regular 360 settings. No problems at all.

2/18/2008 1:11:19 PM

This is one of those things that have been greatly exaggerated by fans and the gaming media. In the first couple years of a new console cycle, there is always talk about the death of PC gaming. It's just a little louder this time because of the widespread adoption of HDTVs and the success of Xbox Live. Nothing has really changed though.

Quote :

"I have heard that The Force Unleashed will be moved to console only and that Crysis did terrible on sales for PC games."

Dunno about The Force Unleashed, but Crysis is reportedly doing just fine. Early sales sucked but it's gone on to move ~1 million copies and that is sure to grow as more people upgrade their PCs.

Look, the big problem with comparing console vs. PC sales figures is that so much of PC gaming is tied into online services these days, which NPD doesn't report on. 15 million Steam subscribers (more than XBL) and 10 million people playing WoW is all you need to know. The best games from the best developers will always have a home on the PC simply because it will always be the most capable platform. PC gaming isn't going anywhere.

[Edited on February 18, 2008 at 1:18 PM. Reason : :]

2/18/2008 1:15:28 PM

PCs are better for FPS & strategy games.
Consoles are better for basically everything else.

That's the way it's been for 20+ years and that's how it will continue to be until everyone has an hdtv and consoles start shipping with wireless kbam setups.

2/18/2008 1:18:01 PM

^and non jap RPGs.

2/18/2008 1:22:24 PM

consoles can keep jrpgs.

[Edited on February 18, 2008 at 1:23 PM. Reason : .]

2/18/2008 1:23:15 PM

A large portion of the console gaming market is casual gaming stuff that you'll find on the Wii or family games like Lego Star Wars or whatever. Even if Lego Star Wars is available on the PC, how many people are gonna buy it vs. people who buy it on the Wii? Hardcore gamers (I guess unless they are console fanboys) are always gonna get certain games on a PC instead of a console because of various reasons.

2/18/2008 1:37:13 PM

this argument has come about every time new systems are introduced. when the first xbox came out, these exact same arguments were made.

2/18/2008 1:41:40 PM

Until MMOs can come out for consoles, there will never be a death of PC games.

2/18/2008 2:51:16 PM

I dont buy the death to computer gaming argument, but I have found I really love the online xbox 360 games. I hated the thumb controller to begin with, but I am very use to it now, and find that I am better in FPS games with the thumb than I was with the mouse. its also nice knowing that everyone is on a level playing field (you all are getting the same frame rate/performance/etc).

2/18/2008 2:59:16 PM

good conversation

Now I need to make a thread about direct X 10

2/18/2008 5:08:09 PM

Quote :

"but you can always justify it because a PC can be used for so much more than just gaming."

if you're buying a Wii vs a PC sure....but now with the Xbox360/PS3....its so much more than just gaming...or in the PS3's case...its so much everything else and no gaming.

2/18/2008 5:10:07 PM

I am sad.

I have a 360 that I don't use because there is nothing I want to play. I beat Halo 3, but TF2 is so much better than Halo 3 online, so I don't play that. I basically bought a really expensive DvD player.

I do this every time a new console comes out.

BUT I WILL GO TO HELL BEFORE I PLAY A VALVE GAME ON A CONSOLE!!!1

umm, cant wait for Left 4 Dead from valve.....and basically anything valve makes.....

Blizzard > Valve?

2/18/2008 5:14:02 PM

Crysis sales have been disappointing because the game is severely disappointing. Aside from having some awesome eye candy, the gameplay sucks.

2/18/2008 5:20:45 PM

first of all, you can use a mouse on a 360 or PS3

although i seriously hope you don't use a mouse on a flying game or driving game

but i like playing a console game while having my laptop available to do whatever i need to do

Quote :

"I beat Halo 3, but TF2 is so much better than Halo 3 online, so I don't play that"

Call of Duty 4 blows them all out of the water, I sure hope you've played that

2/18/2008 5:24:04 PM

I've played COD4. It's awesome, but I greatly prefer TF2.

2/18/2008 5:26:33 PM

Quote :

"but i like playing a console game while having my laptop available to do whatever i need to do"

i have that when i use my desktop to game on too tho

[Edited on February 18, 2008 at 5:26 PM. Reason : ]

2/18/2008 5:26:43 PM

Quote :

"BUT I WILL GO TO HELL BEFORE I PLAY A VALVE GAME ON A CONSOLE!!!1 "

Portal loses nothing from PC to console.

2/18/2008 6:32:19 PM

Well I have principles heathen

2/18/2008 7:02:16 PM

Good FPS or good RTS games that justify a gaming PC are few and far between. Also, you have much less time to game once you are out of college.

2/18/2008 8:16:48 PM

Unless you live in burlington nc

2/18/2008 8:29:07 PM

Quote :

"Also, you have much less time to game once you are out of college."

That is totally not true. When I was in school a year ago, I barely had an hour of free time a day, and even then I couldn't always devote that to gaming. Now, after working full time 5 days a week, I am totally free after 4:30 every day to do whatever I want, gaming included. I play a lot more video games now then I did a year ago.

2/18/2008 8:39:56 PM

^definitely

i just got off essentially a year long co-op and i have no time for gaming now

hell, i don't have tww time..................

2/18/2008 8:57:15 PM

^^ you are supposed to be making us go to mars. NO SLEEP FOR YOU!

2/18/2008 9:22:01 PM

strategy games on the console suck




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasy_Star_Online

Quote :

"Until MMOs can come out for consoles, there will never be a death of PC games."

not that it's particularly good...

[Edited on February 19, 2008 at 11:13 AM. Reason : d]

2/19/2008 11:06:09 AM

Quote :

"We can all agree that a FPS is better on the PC."

Actually I prefer the stick controls for most FPS games... there are a few that play better on PC, but I think the turn sensitivity and other limitations just make for much better gameplay.

Anyway, as long as the RTS genre still exists, PC gaming will not die.

2/19/2008 11:20:26 AM

I actually prefer Call of Duty 4 on console than on PC. Thumbsticks work fine for me.

2/19/2008 11:27:10 AM

Know what I freakin' hate? Less and less you see the "Invert Y axis" option in FPSes. I'm dead in the water without it.

2/19/2008 11:59:23 AM

i think its just because theres more money to be made by releasing a game on a console, rather than just releasing it on the PC. think of all the people that buy a new madden game every year.

2/19/2008 12:04:18 PM

Quote :

"turn sensitivity and other limitations just make for much better gameplay."

Quote :

"Thumbsticks work fine for me."

ehe...

2/19/2008 12:11:45 PM

Quote :

" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasy_Star_Online not that it's particularly good... "

From the link you posted, first sentence:

Quote :

" Phantasy Star Online (PSO) is an online Action RPG title, "

2/19/2008 2:55:50 PM

I still do a lot of gaming on my computer. But I also don't have massive fucking time to play either.

I also have a Wii and enjoy quick games with the kids. But when you work 1.5 jobs, got 2 kids, and have a house to take care of, games are a lot farther down the list than they were when your in college.

2/19/2008 3:56:02 PM

Quote :

"Actually I prefer the stick controls for most FPS games... there are a few that play better on PC, but I think the turn sensitivity and other limitations just make for much better gameplay."

i think turn sensitivity is so much easier/more accurate for me personally with a mouse.

2/19/2008 3:57:40 PM

its possible he means he likes the restricted turn sensativity. the sheer speed of turning really makes the games a lot different on the different systems.

2/19/2008 7:17:38 PM

Microsoft provided so that 360 controllers easily integrate to work with Windows based PC's...

they have 10 buttons, 2 joysticks, 1 dpad and 2 analog triggers... all analog portions are signed 16bit

sensitivity is actually a PITA to work with b/c different controllers depending on their level of use have different dead zones on the analog sticks so basically tension takes up around d'1000 and they don't auto center so you have to be really careful when programing them or you can have your character slowly trailing one direction...

somewhat of an aside... but fun info... Nobody mentions FNR3 or Forza2... those are the games I play for hours and hours on end... Also I personally don't like buying a new >$1k PC every year or so when I can buy a $400ish console ever 4-5... The HDTV thing is a wash b/c you can hook most of them up to a PC anyways

2/19/2008 7:18:45 PM

I use consoles for console games...driving, sports, RB/GH

the PC is for everything else...CoD, Orange Box, RPG's, Civ, etc

I look at the joke of a Civ they're releasing for consoles and it just looks like it is made for the retard who plays everything on his 360 and needs shit limited or dumbed down so they can compete

2/19/2008 7:26:50 PM

^ pretty much the case... hey are you involved with 21cw anymore?

2/20/2008 8:53:29 AM

Yeah, FUCK THE PC!!!

I'm kidding.

Actually, in all honesty, there are games that I'd never play on a PC, and PC games I'd never play on a console. I refuse to play RTS on a console, and I will not play Valve's games on a console either. Although side scrollers work on a PC pretty well, I think everything else is better done on a console.

2/20/2008 7:10:46 PM

Don't we have this debate every new console generation?

2/20/2008 7:19:01 PM

Yes, we do, actually.

2/20/2008 7:20:17 PM

Quote :

"i think turn sensitivity is so much easier/more accurate for me personally with a mouse."

It is easier, that's the reason I think console controls offer better FPS gameplay. Personally I don't think shooting in games should be a point-and-click action. And "more accurate" isn't really true if someone's good on the sticks. Both control schemes have the potential for perfect aim, one just takes less skill.

Quote :

"its possible he means he likes the restricted turn sensativity. the sheer speed of turning really makes the games a lot different on the different systems."

Yeah, exactly. Really, though, you can turn up the sensitivity on a console controller to virtually the same speed as swinging the mouse around if you want, but it's going to hurt your precise adjustments unless you're VERY used to it. PC FPS controls don't really have anything like that unless you're using a gaming mouse with multiple sensitivity settings... which I do have, and it's interesting to use, to say the least.

Basically, I think that the limitations of stick controls create better gameplay, since it is somewhat harder to have perfect precision with a thumbstick when compared with the point-and-click action of a mouse. The more difficulty there is to overcome, the more player skill comes into play.

2/21/2008 3:41:28 AM

Quote :

"I use consoles for console games...driving, sports, RB/GH the PC is for everything else...CoD, Orange Box, RPG's, Civ, etc"

I used to be that way until the 360 controller came along for the PC.

The only reason I was like that before was because of the pain associated with mapping controls to a PC controller (and still feeling like something wasn't quite right) and in some cases being faced with having to use a keyboard and mouse in games where that just doesn't work out (sports, etc.).

Now I just plug in the 360 controller and most newer games that benefit from controller use automatically detect it and map all the buttons. If it is already a 360 game it uses the same mappings. Now the only limiting factor is whether or not the game makes it to the PC - like NCAA Football, which never will.

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 9:03 AM. Reason : -]

2/21/2008 9:02:27 AM

Quote :

"Basically, I think that the limitations of stick controls create better gameplay, since it is somewhat harder to have perfect precision with a thumbstick when compared with the point-and-click action of a mouse. The more difficulty there is to overcome, the more player skill comes into play."

thats like saying im going to use old golf clubs or an old tennis racket because, even tho the new ones are faster and allow for more control and accuracy, Its more fun to try and overcome the shortcomings are equipment that isnt as good as it could be. I guess some people like that, but I dont. I have so much more control for a FPS with a mouse and always prefer that control.

2/21/2008 9:08:36 AM

I dont understand the problems with thumbsticks, they are much easier than mouse keyboard.

2/21/2008 9:39:20 AM

negative. theyre not bad, just nowhere close to a mouse. i mean i can set it up so one click turns me 180 degrees in several games. cant do that with a thumbstick

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 9:41 AM. Reason : ]

2/21/2008 9:40:29 AM