PC Gaming is too much work.

Starcrossed said:
I say let me decide when I'm being arrogant.
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Well you clearly don't know when to cut the bullshit. So I figured I would help ya out.

Like mom always used to say if you can't figure out something nice to say. Use your head and say nothing. Something you were either never taught or don't consider.
 
You clearly don't know my history with the poster and may not know the distinction between oppressive orthodoxy and free thought.
 
Starcrossed said:
You clearly don't know my history with the poster and don't know the distinction between oppressive orthodoxy and free thought.
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Take our history to PM's please, and lets get back on topic about the "difficulties" of PC gaming.

Personally, out of dozens of PC and HTPC builds, I rarely have components fail. It is also very rare when I have a driver issue with anything. These days it seems console games need as many patches as PC games.
 
Starcrossed said:
You clearly don't know my history with the poster and may not know the distinction between oppressive orthodoxy and free thought.
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And this isn't the thread, nor the forum, to get into it. Take it to PM with the poster if you feel so oppressed.

holygrail007.jpg
 
if you feel so oppressed.
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I was referring to the proverbial "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say it at all" comment. You try following that cliche for the rest of your life and tell us how it turns out for you.
 
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LeninGHOLA said:
Take our history to PM's please, and lets get back on topic about the "difficulties" of PC gaming.

Personally, out of dozens of PC and HTPC builds, I rarely have components fail. It is also very rare when I have a driver issue with anything. These days it seems console games need as many patches as PC games.
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I've been building computers for over a decade now, I've run into my share of interesting hardware failures and software issues. Fried motherboards, power supplies that randomly release the magic smoke, hard drives that work perfectly expect they have no boot sector, various issues with RAM, GPU fan dying and frying the card, and so on. I can't say it's common, but I've run into my fair share. On the software side there was the early days of XP, early days of Vista, early ATI 5-series drives, various other driver issues over the years from both ATI and Nvidia. Some years driver issues seem more common than others. Nvidia drivers really screwed with Vista during it's first few months, XP just had all sorts of issues. I kind of agree with his sentiment that PC gaming (PCs in general really) can be a pain in the ass at times. Console gaming these days is getting to that point though. Constant patches, tons of firmware updates, network issues, hardware failures, buggy games that you have no control over fixing, and so on. I find console gaming a lot more frustrating than PC gaming most of the time now, at least with a PC I have the chance of fixing an issue with a game, on consoles you're pretty much screwed.
 
Starcrossed said:
Who do you think you guys are telling me to quit PC gaming because it's a pain in the ass? Quite frankly, I enjoy the tedium; however, that doesn't somehow magically make it not a pain in my ass.
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If it's such a pain in the ass then why do it or complain about it ? Seriously if it's that hard then either your system isn't up to snuff, you have software or hardware problems or just flat out don't know what the hell you're doing.

PC gaming has never been easier.I don't get why you think it's a pain in the ass because it really isn't.......
 
I think it might boil down to PC gaming not be plug-and-play enough for some personally. It is still virtually plug-and-play, but can at times require a little bit more effort than console gaming.
 
PC gaming requires more effort, period. This is not a debatable point. Now for me, and others, the appeal is precisely in applying that effort - most of the time, anyway - tweaking settings, adding mods, cranking hardware to max out graphics and smoothness.

Where it has become decidedly less fun now is that most of the effort now involves wrestling with DRM (can't play the game) or consolization (need to adjust FOV, skip startup screens, disable mouse smoothing).

Shit like that is why I periodically consider ending my PC hobby, gaming and all.
 
Matrices said:
PC gaming requires more effort, period. This is not a debatable point.
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Yes it is debatable. Single monitor, single GPU causes me practically zero issues. Every issue I've had with with PC gaming recently has involved either multi monitor, multi-GPU or 3D, of which only 3D is even available on consoles currently.

Consoles have plenty of issues that aren't dissimilar ton the PC, overheating being one that's effecting the PS3 currently. And how about that PSN?
 
Some people like to see the world in black and white; it either is or it isn't. The world rarely fits this vision. PC gaming is both fun and a pain in the ass, the way I see it.
 
Differs from person to person, if you know a lot about PC's then maintaining them in working order and making sure games run smoothly is fairly trivial. However if you have no idea what you're doing then it's going to present more problems.

Specialised configs like multi-gpu and multi-monitor are tested by developers way less or not at all and frequently have more problems, if you go this route it's just something you have to come to accept.
 
Starcrossed said:
Some people like to see the world in black and white; it either is or it isn't. The world rarely fits this vision. PC gaming is both fun and a pain in the ass, the way I see it.
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But not only that they tend to generalize. PC gaming is a term so generic it means very little. Saying PC gaming is a pain is the ass is simply too broad. Gaming on a laptop, pretty easy these days. Install game, play game. It just isn't hard. Then there's services line OnLive, anyone can set that up and it works reasonably well.

Sure, systems like my sig rig, yeah there's a good bit of work there but 90% of the time a simple web search gives me answer and most of the time out of that a quick solution. And virtually all of those issues are with technologies not on consoles.
 
all i have to say is everything you complain about, is something you choose to do, i always install a game, start it up and play at hi res, you dont have to dick around with anything %99 of the time.
 
It's not a pain in my ass. Maybe pain is subjective.
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Sometimes pain accords with disposition and the psychological outlook of the person involved. If I was younger and a bit more green, maybe I'd love more of it. I'm interested in other things outside of computers, and, to a degree, my perspective is relative to those things. To go play basketball, I simply need a ball and hoop. I don't have to worry about my network, my keyboard mapping, or whether my hardware is up to the task of operating the software. Looking at gaming a decade ago, keeping my computer running didn't seem significantly more difficult. Even when I look at gaming back on my Atari ST in the 80's, the hardware was more reliable, really. Hardware didn't use to run as hot, either. Software was also less complex. Way back in the day, games like Zork didn't even require graphics. Only so many things can go wrong with a game like that, and I certainly didn't have to figure out which settings were best.
 
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LeninGHOLA said:
Corners are cut on components, it doesn't matter the manufacturer, the specs are finalized for Dell/HP. Their components are cheaper.

Also, where did the requirement for a $600 video card come from?
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In the context of the OP spending 1700 I bet a majority of that was close to a 400-600 dollar video card. I bought a 5850 per my sig.

I agree with the OP. Console gaming is easier and cheaper. You have residual value in console based games. Not so much with PC. Say what you want about games not being a good investment but look at the massive rebates with AAA titles? Hell just about any game launches with a 20 dollar gift card.

Its too competitive and stores do not want to sit on games after release week.

Video games in the Amazon age are the equivalent to the American car rebates of the early 2000s.
 
I'm entertained, I guess that's what matters.

The PC entertained me with memorable games like Leather Goddesses of Phobos, Superhero League of Hoboken, Dune II, C&C, Red Alert, a bunch of AD&D games, Wing Commander, Master of Orion, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Half Life, and more current games.

Console-wise, I remember fondly Parasite Eve (I & II), Final Fantasy series, Gran Turismo and a few others.

I would say I here to be entertained and I don't really mind the "work" to get them to work (insert disc, play?).

Cheers!
 
Bad Company 2 is a bitch to get working sometimes and the shits been out for a year. Ok that was short I gotta come up with a counter-point..hm ok, here

I started playing grand theft auto III the other night...ON MY PC! Holy shit I know right?

GTA III on PC is fully customizable with 0 hassle. Theres an excellent mod out called realGta which adds a bunch of pretty shit to the game and real life logos and cars and on top of that it has an MP3 radio station which we all have audio players but its still a cool in game feature I dont think the PS2 has.


On a side note when ever console is done it makes its way to PC via emulators.

I own a N64 and super Mario 64 sitting next to my PC which is running PJ64 Mario64 with the AF and other filters on it making it look better on PC than console.

PC will always be worth it to me. It's worth the gaming experience.
 
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H-street said:
just get yourself an xbox360 controller for your pc and it can be as easy as any console.

Don't like to tweak the settings? then don't, set it at middle of the road settings and just play.

I do this an am really enjoying my eyefinity setup, with the xbox360 controller its just pick up and game on. (going through the force unleashed games this week)

infact i typically just go into the video settings to change the resolution and leave all other settings at default.
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Or do like I do and build a cheap system with year old parts playing 2+ year old games at max settings without issue. I've got a huge backlog of games which at release were $40-55, but I pick up for $5-20 a shot instead, hence why I've got such a huge backlog of games--picking them up in bulk on Steam during their big sales. The older I get the less I feel compelled to rush out and buy the next best thing--there's other things to do in life than play video games all the time, so waiting to play a blockbuster 2 years after release is no big deal for me.
 
Once lately I had a problem with a PC game...It was a mod I was playing and my rig froze. A quick reboot and the problem was solved. No biggie.

That's another benefit to PC gaming...Mods. You can't have custom maps on a console in MP games. And custom textures, etc etc.....

Also, FPS games are more fun on a PC. Just better and more intuitive controls, but that's a matter of personal opinion.
 
Anytime I try to play any FPS on a console it just ends in my being frustrated beyond the word. Been this way for years. Even if I somehow get passed the annoyances and somehow enjoy myself I still find my brain going back to "if I were playing this on a PC I would be doing better and having more fun so why am I here?" I see no reason to play any FPS on a console, it just sucks. Pure and simple.
 
I'm the opposite of OP been a console gamer for years and now just want to build a PC (unfortunately broke college student) cant wait till I can afford to make a PC

Got sick of all the 12 year olds on consoles
 
Main reason that FPS games suck on a console is because of the input device. Something that console gaming needs to rectify. Matter of fact, a main issue facing computing in general is the obtaining of user input.
 
I don't think pc gaming could be an simpler for me. Steam has definitely made gaming such an easy proposition. Just download, install, and play. I'll usually max out settings and just play. I'm not constantly tweaking anything. If I want to play a racing or fighting game, I just plug in my 360 controller and that's it, system detects it and away I go.

Of course I don't mess with mods or community add on type stuff, I can see that being a bit of a hassle. But at least the PC gaming platform gives you those opportunities for community created content.

I think PC gaming is healthier now than ever before, thanks to the extra long life cycle of today's console. High end games and engines will use PC as lead platform now that the tech in ps3 & 360 are so far behind modern day video cards.
 
Starcrossed said:
Main reason that FPS games suck on a console is because of the input device. Something that console gaming needs to rectify. Matter of fact, a main issue facing computing in general is the obtaining of user input.
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What I don't understand is why? I would be a HUGE console gamer if I could use a keyboard and mouse... They would have my money, easily. I'm not into the various keyboard/mouse hardware adapters either. Tried a couple, worked like crap and were a waste of money.

Is it that they don't want to have to change the design of the game play? I truly don't get this part.
 
diableri said:
What I don't understand is why? I would be a HUGE console gamer if I could use a keyboard and mouse... They would have my money, easily. I'm not into the various keyboard/mouse hardware adapters either. Tried a couple, worked like crap and were a waste of money.

Is it that they don't want to have to change the design of the game play? I truly don't get this part.
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Because they don't want to deal with diving the user-base or deal with supporting something not included with the console. Same reason things like Kintec or Move will never get a lot of support.
 
PC gaming isn't really that much work for me but I don't complicate it with multi-screen setups and bleeding edge hardware either (which you don't even have the option to do on consoles). It's definitely not for everyone though, especially if you value your time.

Since I started gaming on the PC, I find it hard to play anything but racing games on a gamepad.
 
I am not sure why you guys are using steam as an example of how PC Gaming is better? Sure Steam is easy, but there is a huge majority of console games that never buy games new or buy new at discounted deals and sell the games after they are done playing them.

That doesn't exist with steam.
 
roaf85 said:
I am not sure why you guys are using steam as an example of how PC Gaming is better? Sure Steam is easy, but there is a huge majority of console games that never buy games new or buy new at discounted deals and sell the games after they are done playing them.

That doesn't exist with steam.
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It isn't about which is better, it's about which is easier. Going to a retail store twice to buy/sell a game is harder than clicking a button on Steam.
 
I'm weird I guess; I like re-reading books, re-watching movies and replaying (some) games. I don't really sell any of these used because of it, thus Steam not allowing me to sell a used game isn't an isue.
 
The only hassle regarding PC gaming is the publishers and their anti-piracy/anti-second hand measures.
 
FoxhoundOp said:
PC gaming isn't really that much work for me but I don't complicate it with multi-screen setups and bleeding edge hardware either (which you don't even have the option to do on consoles). It's definitely not for everyone though, especially if you value your time.

Since I started gaming on the PC, I find it hard to play anything but racing games on a gamepad.
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Have you tried playing a fighting game with a mouse or keyboard? Even worse then racing games IMO. I regularly play racing games with a KB/Mouse and I own with them lol.
 
ZodaEX said:
Have you tried playing a fighting game with a mouse or keyboard? Even worse then racing games IMO. I regularly play racing games with a KB/Mouse and I own with them lol.
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3D Fighter or 2D? I personally find games like Street Fighter to be significantly easier with a keyboard than a gamepad.
 
Derangel said:
Because they don't want to deal with diving the user-base or deal with supporting something not included with the console. Same reason things like Kintec or Move will never get a lot of support.
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I would think they could manage to put out a keyboard mouse controller for their consoles easily enough. They put out all this other controller crap. I can't imagine the KB/Mouse is any more difficult and definitely cheaper to produce.

Just make us buy an xbox KB/Mouse or PS3 KB/Mouse and be done with it. I don't think it's a support issue. Just doesn't make financial sense as a reason not to do it. Don't support anything other than the endorsed controllers. Joysticks for sims and wheel set ups for drivers etc. Controller for the genre. Seems like yet another cash cow for them.
 
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